Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Chronicles Chapter 12
Overview
Ch1 12:1, The companies that came to David at Ziklag; Ch1 12:23, The armies that came to him at Hebron.
these are: Sa1 27:2, Sa1 27:6; Sa2 1:1, Sa2 4:10
while he yet: etc. Heb. being yet shut up, Sometimes, in the East, when a successful prince endeavoured to extirpate the preceding royal family, some of them escaped the slaughter, and secured themselves in an impregnable fortress, or in a place of great secrecy; while others have been known to seek an asylum in a foreign county, from when they have occasioned, from time to time, great anxiety and great difficulties to the usurper of the crown. The expression shut up, so often applied to the extermination of eastern royal families (Deu 32:32. Kg1 14:10; Kg1 21:21. Kg2 9:8; Kg2 14:26), strictly speaking, refers to the two first of these cases; but the term may be used in a more extensive sense, for those who, by retiring into deserts, or foreign countries, preserve themselves from being slain by the men who usurp the dominions of their ancestors. Thus the term is here applied to David, though he did not shut himself up, strictly speaking, in Ziklag. It is described as a town in the country, and was probably an unwalled town; and it is certain that he did not confine himself to it, but, on the contrary, was continually making excursions from thence.
the mighty: Ch1 11:10, Ch1 11:19, Ch1 11:24, Ch1 11:25
could use: Jdg 3:15, Jdg 20:16
in hurling: Sa1 17:49
Shemaah: or, Hasmaah
Gibeathite: Sa1 11:4; Sa2 21:6
Azmaveth: Ch1 11:33
the Antothite: Ch1 11:28
Gibeonite: Jos 9:3, Jos 9:17-23
a mighty man: Ch1 11:15
Gederathite: Jos 15:36
Gedor: Ch1 4:18, Ch1 4:39; Jos 15:58
into the hold: Ch1 12:16, Ch1 11:16; Sa1 23:14, Sa1 23:29, Sa1 24:22
of war: Heb. of the host
whose faces: Ch1 11:22; Sa2 1:23, Sa2 17:10, Sa2 23:20; Pro 28:1
as swift as the roes upon the mountains: Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste, Sa2 2:18; Pro 6:5; Sol 8:14
one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand: or, one that was least could resist an hundred, the greatest a thousand. Lev 26:8; Deu 32:30
it had overflown: Heb. it had filled over, Jos 3:15, Jos 4:18; Jer 12:5, Jer 49:19
the children: Ch1 12:2
the hold: Ch1 12:8
to meet them: Heb. before them
If ye be come: Sa1 16:4; Sa2 3:20-25; Kg1 2:13; Kg2 9:22; Psa 12:1, Psa 12:2
heart: Sa1 18:1, Sa1 18:3; Kg2 10:15; Psa 86:11; Co2 13:11; Phi 1:27
knit: Heb. one, Jer 32:39; Act 4:32; Co1 1:10
wrong: or, violence
God: Gen 31:42, Gen 31:53; Sa1 24:11-17, Sa1 26:23, Sa1 26:24; Psa 7:6; Pe1 2:23
the spirit: Jdg 6:34, Jdg 13:25; Isa 59:17
came upon Amasai: Heb. clothed Amasai, Ch1 2:17; Sa2 17:25, Sa2 19:13, Sa2 20:4-8, Amasa, Thine are we. Kg2 10:5, and on they side, Rut 1:16; Sa2 15:21; Kg2 9:32; Mat 12:30
peace: Gal 6:16; Eph 6:23, Eph 6:24
thy God: Sa1 25:28, Sa1 25:29; Sa2 5:2; Zac 8:23; Joh 6:67, Joh 6:68
captains of the band: Sa1 8:12, Sa1 22:7; Kg1 9:22
when he came: Sa1 29:2-4
to the jeopardy of our heads: Heb. on our heads
As he went: These captains of Manasseh seem to have met David as he was returning from the army of the Philistines to Ziklag. It is probable that they did not bring their companies with them; yet they both assured him of future assistance, and very seasonably helped him against the Amalekites who had spoiled Ziklag. Sa1 29:11
captains: Exo 18:21; Deu 1:15, Deu 33:17
against the band: or, with a band, 1Sam. 30:1-17
mighty men: Ch1 12:20, Ch1 5:24, Ch1 11:10, Ch1 11:21, Ch1 11:22
day by day: Sa2 2:2-4, Sa2 3:1; Job 17:9
like the host of God: That is, says the Targumist, a very numerous army, like the army of the angel of God. Gen 32:2; Jos 5:14; Psa 148:2
am 2956, bc 1048, An, Ex, Is, 433
the numbers: Ch1 11:1-3; Sa2 2:3, Sa2 2:4, Sa2 5:1-3
bands: or, captains, or men, Heb. heads
came to David: Some learned men understand this as relating to the time when David was make king over Judah, on his first coming to Hebron, but it seems wholly to refer to his being made king over all Israel, after the death of Ishbosheth; for there was no such union or assembly of the several tribes on the former occasion, as is here described.
to turn: Ch1 10:14
according: Ch1 11:10; Sa1 16:1, Sa1 16:3, Sa1 16:12, Sa1 16:13; Sa2 3:18; Psa 2:6, Psa 89:19, Psa 89:20
armed: or, prepared
the leader: Ch1 9:20; Kg2 11:4, Kg2 11:9, Kg2 25:18
Aaronites: Ch1 6:49-57, Ch1 27:17
Zadok: Ch1 6:8, Ch1 6:53; Sa2 8:17; Kg1 1:8, Kg1 2:35; Eze 44:15
kindred: Heb. brethren, Ch1 12:2; Gen 31:23
the greatest part of them: Heb. a multitude of them, Sa2 2:8, Sa2 2:9
famous: Heb. men of names, Gen 6:4
the half tribe: Josh. 17:1-18
understanding of the times: That is, as the following words indicate, intelligent men, who understood the signs of the times, well versed in political affairs, and knew what was proper to be done in all the exigencies of human life; and who now perceived that it was both the duty and political interest of Israel to advance David to the throne. Gen 49:14; Est 1:13; Isa 22:12-14, Isa 33:6; Mic 6:9; Mat 16:3; Luk 12:56, Luk 12:57
all their: Pro 24:5; Ecc 7:19, Ecc 9:18
expert in war: or, rangers of battle, or ranged in battle, keep rank. or, set the battle in array. they were not of double heart. Heb. they were without a heart and a heart. That is, they were all sincerely affected towards David, though so numerous. Psa 12:2; Joh 1:47
expert in war: or, keeping their rank, Ch1 12:33; Joe 2:7
the other side: Ch1 5:1-10; Num 32:33-42; Deu 3:12-16; Josh. 13:7-32, Jos 14:3, Jos 22:1-10
with a perfect heart: The meaning of this expression may be inferred from that of a double heart in Ch1 12:33. If a double heart be expressive of insincerity or duplicity, a perfect heart, which seems to be put in opposition to it, must signify a sincere, faithful, and entire attachment. Kg1 8:61, Kg1 11:4; Kg2 20:3; Psa 101:2
all the rest: Ch1 12:17, Ch1 12:18; Gen 49:8-10; Ch2 30:12; Psa 110:3; Eze 11:19
eating and drinking: Gen 26:30, Gen 31:54; Sa2 6:19, Sa2 19:42
brought: The Septuagint reads εφερον αυτιος, "brought (to) them" which is probably correct; the Hebrew lahem, "to them" might be easily mistaken for lechem, "bread." The passage will then read, "bought them on asses, on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, meat, meal, cakes of figs," etc., which renders the introduction of and unnecessary. From the mention of oil, figs, and raisins, Mr. Harmer thinks that this assembly was held in autumn. Sa2 16:1, Sa2 17:27-29
meat, meal: or, victual of meal
cakes of figs: Sa1 25:18
there was joy: Kg1 1:40; Kg2 11:20; Pro 11:10, Pro 29:2; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Luk 19:37, Luk 19:38; Rev 19:5-7