1 Chronicles 12:19-29

19 ¹From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, "At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul."

20 As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh.

21 They helped David against ²the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.

22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army ³like the army of God.

Supporters Gathered at Hebron

23 Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, ⁴who came to David at Hebron, ⁵to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, ⁶according to the word of the LORD.

24 The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800 * * *, equipped for war.

25 Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100 * *.

26 Of the sons of Levi 4,600 * *.

27 Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were 3,700 * * *,

28 also ⁷Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty-two * captains.

29 Of the sons of Benjamin, ⁸Saul's kinsmen, 3,000 *; for until now ⁹the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

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1 Chronicles 12:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 12

This chapter gives an account of those that came to David at different times, and joined and assisted him both before the death of Saul, and when persecuted by him, and after he was made king of Judah in Hebron, and before he was king of all Israel, in order to it; of the Benjaminites that came to him when at Ziklag, 1Ch 12:1-7 of the Gadites that came to him when in the hold, 1Ch 12:8-15 of some of Judah and Benjamin, who came to him in the same place, 1Ch 12:16-18, and of the Manassites at the time he came with the Philistines against Saul, 1Ch 12:19-22 and the number of the several tribes are given, that came to him at Hebron to make him king over all Israel, 1Ch 12:23-40.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

1. 1 Samuel 29:2-9
2. 1 Samuel 30:1
3. Genesis 32:2; Joshua 5:13-15
4. 2 Samuel 2:3, 4
5. 1 Chronicles 10:14
6. 1 Chronicles 11:10
7. 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:8, 53
8. 1 Chronicles 12:2
9. 2 Samuel 2:8, 9

Footnotes 3

[a]. Or "chiefs"
[b]. Lit "heads"
[c]. Lit "mouth"