1 Chronicles 12:19

19 Some Manassites defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. However, they did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers, following consultation, sent David away. They said, "It will be our heads if he defects to his master Saul."[a]

1 Chronicles 12:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 12:19

And there fell some of Manasseh to David
Of the tribe of Manasseh; they took his part, and on his side, and joined him:

when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle;
which was a strong proof of their cordial attachment to him:

but they helped them not:
the Philistines; neither David nor his men, nor the Manassites that joined them:

for the lords of the Philistines, upon advisement;
counsel taken among themselves: sent him away; that is, David and his men:

saying, he will fall to his master Saul, to the jeopardy of our heads;
meaning, that he would go off with his troops to Saul, and betray them into his hands, and with their heads make his peace with him, see ( 1 Samuel 29:4 ) .

1 Chronicles 12:19 In-Context

17 David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies even though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors look on it and judge."
18 Then the Spirit took control of Amasai, chief of the Thirty, [and he said]: [We are] yours, David, [we are] with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to him who helps you, for your God helps you. So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.
19 Some Manassites defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. However, they did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers, following consultation, sent David away. They said, "It will be our heads if he defects to his master Saul."
20 When David went to Ziklag, some men from Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
21 They helped David against the marauders, for they were all brave warriors and commanders in the army.

Footnotes 1

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