seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Chronicles 12:23 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:
24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
26 from Levi—4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
30 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
37 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
26 from Levi—4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
30 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
37 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
See... thousands and thousands of men volunteering.... wow....
This is from the easy English commentary.
After the death of Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, all these people came to David at Hebron. They came on behalf of each of their tribes. They came to make David the king of all Israel. For the last 7 years, he had been the king of Judah, which is in the south of Israel.
All the Israelites wanted David to be their king. They sent their soldiers to show that they completely supported David. The soldiers carried their weapons and they were ready for war. But they did not have to fight on this occasion. Everyone in Israel now agreed that David should be king. So this was a very happy event.
All the people who came to Hebron had a great party for three days. Many people had brought food for the soldiers. The people from as far away as the tribes of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali supplied food. These tribes along with Dan and Asher are the furthest north in Israel. They brought the food on their animals, that is, donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. Among the food, the passage mentions figs and raisins. These are sweet dried fruit. Also the people had plenty of meat and other good foods.
After this party, David took control of Jerusalem. He made it his capital city. In chapter 13, we shall read about the events when David first tried to bring the ark into Jerusalem.
All the Israelites wanted David to be their king. They sent their soldiers to show that they completely supported David. The soldiers carried their weapons and they were ready for war. But they did not have to fight on this occasion. Everyone in Israel now agreed that David should be king. So this was a very happy event.
All the people who came to Hebron had a great party for three days. Many people had brought food for the soldiers. The people from as far away as the tribes of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali supplied food. These tribes along with Dan and Asher are the furthest north in Israel. They brought the food on their animals, that is, donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. Among the food, the passage mentions figs and raisins. These are sweet dried fruit. Also the people had plenty of meat and other good foods.
After this party, David took control of Jerusalem. He made it his capital city. In chapter 13, we shall read about the events when David first tried to bring the ark into Jerusalem.
All those cousins.... all having a party.... On top of that.... all that figs, raisins, and sweet dried fruit.... why that might be the first fruitcake!
The biblestudytools.com post points out some of the value of Davids new volunteers.
these are the numbers of the bands . . . that came to David to Hebron--after the death of Ish-bosheth
to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord--( 1 Chronicles 10:14 , 1 Chronicles 11:3 1 Chronicles 11:10 ). The account commences with the southern tribes, Levi being associated with Judah and Simeon, as the great majority of the leading men in this tribe resided in Judah; and, after recounting the representatives of the northern tribes, it concludes with those on the east of Jordan.
27. Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites--not the high priest, for that was Abiathar ( 1 Samuel 23:9 ), but the leader of the Aaronite warriors, supposed to be the father of Benaiah ( 1 Chronicles 11:22 ).
29. Benjamin . . . three thousand--This small number shows the unpopularity of the movement in this tribe; and, indeed, it is expressly stated that the mass of the population had, even after Ish-bosheth's death, anxiously endeavored to secure the crown in the family of Saul.
32. children of Issachar, . . . that had understanding of the times, &c.--Jewish writers say that the people of this tribe were eminent for their acquirements in astronomical and physical science; and the object of the remark was probably to show that the intelligent and learned classes were united with the military, and had declared for David.
33. Zebulun . . . could keep rank--that is, were more disciplined soldiers than the rest.
not of double heart--Though their numbers were large, all were in a high degree well affected to David.
38. all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king--that is, entertained a unanimous desire for his elevation.
39, 40. there they were with David three days, eating and drinking--According to the statements made in the preceding verses, the number of armed warriors assembled in Hebron on this occasion amounted to three hundred thousand. Supplies of provisions were abundantly furnished, not only by the people of the neighborhood, but from distant parts of the country, for all wished the festivities to be on a scale of liberality and magnificence suitable to the auspicious occasion.
to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord--( 1 Chronicles 10:14 , 1 Chronicles 11:3 1 Chronicles 11:10 ). The account commences with the southern tribes, Levi being associated with Judah and Simeon, as the great majority of the leading men in this tribe resided in Judah; and, after recounting the representatives of the northern tribes, it concludes with those on the east of Jordan.
27. Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites--not the high priest, for that was Abiathar ( 1 Samuel 23:9 ), but the leader of the Aaronite warriors, supposed to be the father of Benaiah ( 1 Chronicles 11:22 ).
29. Benjamin . . . three thousand--This small number shows the unpopularity of the movement in this tribe; and, indeed, it is expressly stated that the mass of the population had, even after Ish-bosheth's death, anxiously endeavored to secure the crown in the family of Saul.
32. children of Issachar, . . . that had understanding of the times, &c.--Jewish writers say that the people of this tribe were eminent for their acquirements in astronomical and physical science; and the object of the remark was probably to show that the intelligent and learned classes were united with the military, and had declared for David.
33. Zebulun . . . could keep rank--that is, were more disciplined soldiers than the rest.
not of double heart--Though their numbers were large, all were in a high degree well affected to David.
38. all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king--that is, entertained a unanimous desire for his elevation.
39, 40. there they were with David three days, eating and drinking--According to the statements made in the preceding verses, the number of armed warriors assembled in Hebron on this occasion amounted to three hundred thousand. Supplies of provisions were abundantly furnished, not only by the people of the neighborhood, but from distant parts of the country, for all wished the festivities to be on a scale of liberality and magnificence suitable to the auspicious occasion.
It says here that David was already king of Judah. 300,000 Valiant men volunteered to show David that they wanted him to be king of a United Israel. It took seven years for David to become king of Israel after Saul, that insane pretty boy king from a good family, fell on his own sword. All but a few men of the tribes of Jacob [Israel] stood behind David as king. A few... wanted to keep Saul's family on the throne... but that wasn't in God's plan. Saul blew it... David picked it up.... and Israel threw a three day party!
That's good news.... all those cousins came together to support a king. Of course there were a few who wanted someone else on the throne... "you can't please everyone" as the phrase goes.
