1 Chronicles 12 · Geneva Bible Notes (1599)
Now these [are] they that came to David to (a) Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they [were] among the mighty men, helpers of the war. (a) To take his part against Saul: who persecuted him. 1 Chronicles 12:2
[They were] armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in [hurling] stones and [shooting] arrows out of a bow, [even] of Saul's (b) brethren of Benjamin. (b) That is, of the tribe of Benjamin, of which Saul was, and in which were excellent throwers with slings, ( Jdg 20:16 ). 1 Chronicles 12:8
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, [and] men of war [fit] for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces [were like] the faces of (c) lions, and [were] as swift as the roes upon the mountains; (c) Meaning, fierce and terrible. 1 Chronicles 12:15
These [are] they that went over Jordan in the (d) first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all [them] of the valleys, [both] toward the east, and toward the west. (d) Which the Hebrews called Nisan, or Abib, containing half March and half April, when Jordan was wont to overflow its banks, read ( Jos 3:15 ). 1 Chronicles 12:18
Then the (e) spirit came upon Amasai, [who was] chief of the captains, [and he said], Thine [are we], David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace [be] unto thee, and peace [be] to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. (e) The spirit of boldness and courage moved him to speak thus. 1 Chronicles 12:19
And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they (f) helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads. (f) They came only to help David, and not to help the Philistines, who were enemies of their country. 1 Chronicles 12:21
And they helped David against the (g) band [of the rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. (g) That is, of the Amalekites who had burned the city of Ziklag, ( Sa1 30:1 , Sa1 30:9 ). 1 Chronicles 12:22
For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of (h) God. (h) Meaning, mighty or strong, for the Hebrews say a thing is of God when it is excellent. 1 Chronicles 12:27
And Jehoiada [was] the leader of the (i) Aaronites, and with him [were] three thousand and seven hundred; (i) Of the Levites who came by the descent of Aaron. 1 Chronicles 12:29
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had (k) kept the ward of the house of Saul. (k) That is, the greatest number took Saul's side. 1 Chronicles 12:32
And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the (l) times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment. (l) Men of good experience, who knew at all times what was to be done. 1 Chronicles 12:38
(m) All these men of war, that could keep rank, 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. (m) So that his whole host were 322,222. 1 Chronicles 12:39
And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their (n) brethren had prepared for them. (n) The rest of the Israelites.