1 Chronicles 12:19

19 Some men from Manasseh had deserted [Saul's army] to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn't help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, "It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.")

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 to meet them. He told them, "If you've come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you've come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven't committed a crime, may the God of our ancestors see this and judge you."

18 Then the Spirit gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength [to say], "We are yours, David. We are with you, son of Jesse. Success, success to you! Success to those who help you, because your God is helping you." So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.

19 Some men from Manasseh had deserted [Saul's army] to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn't help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, "It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.")

20 When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh deserted to join him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each one was an officer over 1,000 men in Manasseh.

21 They helped David fight raiding parties because they were all warriors, commanders in the army.