“Now these are they that came to David to 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. while: Heb. being yet shut up”
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)
“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 brethren of Benjamin.”
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)
“And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,”
Thirty. Hebrew sheloshim, denotes “the officers” of the army. (Calmet) — Protestants style this hero “Ismaiah.”
“Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,”
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)
“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 lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; of war: Heb. of the host as swift: Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste”
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)
“These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand. one: or, one that was least could resist an hundred, and the greatest a thousand”
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)
“These are they that went over Jordan in the 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. overflown: Heb. filled over”
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)
“And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.”
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)
“And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. to meet: Heb. before them be knit: Heb. be one wrong: or, violence”
Hands. At that time he had done no injury to any man. (Haydock)
“Then the 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. came: Heb. clothed”
Spirit of God (Calmet; or good will, Du Hamel) prompted Amasai, the chief of “the officers.” (Calmet) — Band, or “of a company.” (Haydock)
“And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they 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. to the: Heb. on our heads”
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)
“As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.”
Thousands: heads of the principal cities, Micheas v. 2. (Du Hamel)
“And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. against: or, with a band”
Rovers of Amalec, 1 Kings xxx. 1.
“For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.”
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)
“And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;”
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)
“And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.”
Of excellent. Hebrew, “of great valour.” Saul had appointed him in the place of Achimelec, and David permitted him to retain his dignity.
“And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. kindred: Heb. brethren the greatest: Heb. a multitude of them”
Followed. Hebrew, “kept guard at the palace.” These guards submitted to David, like the rest, after the death of Isboseth. (Calmet)
“And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.”
Manasses, west of the Jordan. See ver. 37. (Haydock)
“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”
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.
“Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel. meat: or, victual of meal”
Nephthali. All, both far and near, contributed to regale the deputies. (Calmet)