seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Chronicles 12:1 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,[a] 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,[a] 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
a. 1 Chronicles 12:4 In Hebrew texts the second half of this verse (Jeremiah … Gederathite) is numbered 12:5, and 12:5-40 is numbered 12:6-41
This is from biblestudytools.com.
Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the order of time when the parties joined the standard of David.
while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the country. that Philistine town that he was joined in rapid succession by the heroes who afterwards contributed so much to the glory of his reign.
of Saul's brethren of Benjamin--that is, of the tribe of Benjamin (compare 1 Chronicles 12:29 ), but some of them might be relatives of the king. This movement to which the parties were led, doubtless by the secret impulse of the Spirit, was of vast importance to the cause of David, as it must have been founded on their observation of the evident withdrawal of God's blessing from Saul, and His favoring presence with David, to whom it was universally known the Divine King of Israel had given the crown in reversion. The accession of the Benjamites who came first and their resolution to share his fortunes must have been particularly grateful to David. It was a public and emphatic testimony by those who had enjoyed the best means of information to the unblemished excellence of his character, as well as a decided protest against the grievous wrong inflicted by causelessly outlawing a man who had rendered such eminent services to his country.
Ismaiah the Gibeonite--It appears that not only the Canaanites who were admitted into the congregation ( Joshua 9:1-27 ), but people of the tribe of Benjamin, were among the inhabitants of Gibeon. The mention of "the Gederathite," probably from Gederah ( Joshua 15:36 ), in the lowlands of Judah; of the Korhites ( 1 Chronicles 12:6 ), from Korah ( 1 Chronicles 2:43 ), and of Gedor ( 1 Chronicles 12:7 ), a town in Judah, to the southwest of Beth-lehem (compare 1 Chronicles 4:4 ), shows that this first list contains men of Judah as well as Benjamin [BERTHEAU].
while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the country. that Philistine town that he was joined in rapid succession by the heroes who afterwards contributed so much to the glory of his reign.
of Saul's brethren of Benjamin--that is, of the tribe of Benjamin (compare 1 Chronicles 12:29 ), but some of them might be relatives of the king. This movement to which the parties were led, doubtless by the secret impulse of the Spirit, was of vast importance to the cause of David, as it must have been founded on their observation of the evident withdrawal of God's blessing from Saul, and His favoring presence with David, to whom it was universally known the Divine King of Israel had given the crown in reversion. The accession of the Benjamites who came first and their resolution to share his fortunes must have been particularly grateful to David. It was a public and emphatic testimony by those who had enjoyed the best means of information to the unblemished excellence of his character, as well as a decided protest against the grievous wrong inflicted by causelessly outlawing a man who had rendered such eminent services to his country.
Ismaiah the Gibeonite--It appears that not only the Canaanites who were admitted into the congregation ( Joshua 9:1-27 ), but people of the tribe of Benjamin, were among the inhabitants of Gibeon. The mention of "the Gederathite," probably from Gederah ( Joshua 15:36 ), in the lowlands of Judah; of the Korhites ( 1 Chronicles 12:6 ), from Korah ( 1 Chronicles 2:43 ), and of Gedor ( 1 Chronicles 12:7 ), a town in Judah, to the southwest of Beth-lehem (compare 1 Chronicles 4:4 ), shows that this first list contains men of Judah as well as Benjamin [BERTHEAU].
Godvine.... lays out the lists a little clearer for me.
This chapter is composed wholly of matter that is new to us, no corresponding accounts occurring in Samuel. It comprises four lists:
(1) One of men, chiefly Benjamites, who joined David at Ziklag 1 Chronicles 12:1-7;
(2) A second of Gadites who united themselves to him when he was in a stronghold near the desert 1 Chronicles 12:8-15;
(3) A third of Manassites who came to him when he was dismissed by the Philistines upon suspicion 1 Chronicles 12:19-22; and
(4) A fourth of the numbers from the different tribes who attended and made him king at Hebron 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.
(2) A second of Gadites who united themselves to him when he was in a stronghold near the desert 1 Chronicles 12:8-15;
(3) A third of Manassites who came to him when he was dismissed by the Philistines upon suspicion 1 Chronicles 12:19-22; and
(4) A fourth of the numbers from the different tribes who attended and made him king at Hebron 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.
Godvine also has a comment on the talented shepherds in these verses.
The skill of the Benjamites as archers is noted in 1 Chronicles 8:40, and 2 Chronicles 14:8. Their proficiency in using the left hand appears in the narrative of Judges (Judges 3:15) where their special excellency as slingers is also noticed.
Ehud is the narrative in Judges mentioned above. Ehud.... that fun left handed swordsman.... who murdered a king... and then told the guards to leave his victim alone for a while... intimating that the victim was on the "throne".... relieving himself. It was true... he was on a throne... and he was relieving himself of blood and gut.... but it was going to take a while to die... this was a very fat man with lots of gut.
Everywhere David went... people joined him. He didn't have to promise them anything. He didn't have to compromise. They wanted to join him. They could see he was the one to be aligned with.
I guess these verses here are more payroll records. I don't know how they were paid.... maybe it was in good will.... but it's important to notice... they wanted to be aligned with him.... not crazy Saul, that pretty boy from a good family that loved throwing things at the musician who only wanted to calm his soul [no there was no valium back then].
