1 Paralipomenon xii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Siceleg, which had been given to David for a retreat. Hither many brave men came to join him. — Fled. Hebrew, “was shut up through fear.” (Calmet) — Septuagint, “was under anxiety.” (Haydock)
Ver. 2. Hand, like Aod, Judges iii. 15. (Menochius) — Brethren, of the same tribe. The opinion which they entertained of David, must have been very great, to make them expose themselves to such dangers. In adversity, true friendship and virtue shine the most. (Calmet) — The hand of providence is here conspicuous. (Tirinus)
Ver. 4. Thirty. Hebrew sheloshim, denotes “the officers” of the army. (Calmet) — Protestants style this hero “Ismaiah.”
Ver. 6. Jesbaam. Probably the second after Joab, chap. xi. 11. (Haydock) — Of Carehim. Hebrew, “the Korhites.” (Kennicott) — So also the Septuagint. There[They?] were Levites, descendants of Core. (Menochius)
Ver. 8. Gaddi, a city of the tribe of Gad, (2 Kings xxiii.) from which many went to join David, when he was in the country of Moab, (Menochius) as others of the Gadites did, ver. 14. — Mountains. A fierce countenance and swiftness were much commended in soldiers. “The eyes are always first conquered.” Primi in omnibus præliis oculi vincuntur, says Tacitus, Mor. Germ. (Calmet) See Proverbs xxx. 30., and 2 Kings ii. 18. (Menochius)
Ver. 14. Thousand, after David had ascended the throne. (Calmet) — At Siceleg he had only 600. (Menochius) — Some suppose that each of these officers was worth 100 men, &c. (Vatable)
Ver. 15. Month, Nisan. (Tirinus) — Banks. This circumstance enhances their courage. Maundrel (Alep. p. 136) went to see the Jordan, 13th March, 1697, but the river was nine feet from the banks. Its rapidity has perhaps made its bed so much deeper, that it does not overflow so frequently at present. (Calmet)
Ver. 16. Hold, in Moab, (1 Kings xxii. 4.; Du Hamel; Menochius) or to Siceleg. The people of Benjamin come with those of Juda, to avoid suspicion. (Calmet)
Ver. 17. Hands. At that time he had done no injury to any man. (Haydock)
Ver. 18. Spirit of God (Calmet; or good will, Du Hamel) prompted Amasai, the chief of “the officers.” (Calmet) — Band, or “of a company.” (Haydock)
Ver. 19. Fight. They joined him after he had left the Philistines. (Calmet) — But he. Hebrew, “they helped them not.” Neither David nor his partizans were involved in this danger, which might have caused their fidelity to be suspected, 1 Kings xxix. (Haydock)
Ver. 20. Thousands: heads of the principal cities, Micheas v. 2. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 21. Rovers of Amalec, 1 Kings xxx. 1.
Ver. 22. Of God; very great, (Calmet) particularly when Isboseth was slain, 2 Kings v. 1. (Haydock) — The angels are to us innumerable, Job xxv. An army in concord is compared to them. (Worthington)
Ver. 27. Joiada had the post of Eleazar over the Levites, (Numbers iii. 32.) and was at the head of the warriors of his tribe, while Abiathar was high priest. (Calmet)
Ver. 28. Of excellent. Hebrew, “of great valour.” Saul had appointed him in the place of Achimelec, and David permitted him to retain his dignity.
Ver. 29. Followed. Hebrew, “kept guard at the palace.” These guards submitted to David, like the rest, after the death of Isboseth. (Calmet)
Ver. 31. Manasses, west of the Jordan. See ver. 37. (Haydock)
Ver. 32. Should, in agricultural pursuits, in which those of Issachar excelled, Genesis xlix. 14. Countrymen have often more skill about the weather, than the greatest astronomers, Virgil, Georg. i. (Menochius) (Tirinus) — Others think that these men could calculate when the festivals would occur, (St. Jerome, Trad.) or they were well versed in politics, &c. See Esther i. 13.
Ver. 40. Nephthali. All, both far and near, contributed to regale the deputies. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Who followed David when he fled from Saul. And who came to Hebron to make him king.
1 Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, *while he yet fled from Saul, the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors,
2 Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul and Benjamin.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samaa, of Gabaath, and Jaziel, and Phallet, the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu, an Anathothite.
4 And Samaias, of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel, and Johanan, and Jezabad, of Gaderoth;
5 And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia, the Haruphite;
6 Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam, of Carehim:
7 And Joela, and Zabadia, the sons of Jeroham, of Gedor.
8 From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness, most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains.
9 Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third,
10 Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth.
11 Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth,
13 Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh,
14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand.
15 These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the vallies, both toward the east and toward the west.
16 And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda, to the hold in which David abode.
17 And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies, whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge.
18 But the spirit came upon Amasai, the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19 And there were some of Manasses, that went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: *because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel, sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master, Saul.
20 So when he went back to Siceleg, *there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas, and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses.
21 These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army.
22 Moreover, day by day there came some to David to help him, till they became a great number, like the army of God.
23 And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to David, when he was in Hebron, *to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, according to the word of the Lord.
24 The sons of Juda, bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred, well appointed to war.
25 Of the sons of Simeon, valiant men for war, seven thousand one hundred.
26 Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred.
27 And Joiada, prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.
28 Sadoc also, a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two principal men.
29 And of the sons of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.
30 And of the sons of Ephraim, twenty thousand eight hundred, men of great valour, renowned in their kindreds.
31 And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names came to make David king.
32 Also of the sons of Issachar, men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel.
33 And of Zabulon, such as went forth to battle, and stood in array well appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his aid, with no double heart.
34 And of Nephthali, a thousand leaders; and with them seven and thirty thousand, furnished with shield and spear.
35 Of Dan also, twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle.
36 And of Aser, forty thousand, going forth to fight, and challenging in battle.
37 And on the other side of the Jordan, of the sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses, a hundred and twenty thousand, furnished with arms for war.
38 All these men of war, well appointed to fight, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel, were of one heart, to make David king.
39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover they that were near them, even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephthali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: and meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep, in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.
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1: 1 Kings xxvii. 2.; Year of the World 2948, Year before Christ 1056.
19: 1 Kings xxix. 4.
20: Year of the World 2949.
23: 2 Kings v.; Year of the World 2956.