1 Chronicles 12:23

23 These are the numbers of the soldiers ready for battle who joined David at Hebron. They came to help turn the kingdom of Saul over to David, just as the Lord had said.

1 Chronicles 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 23-37. And these are the numbers of the bands that were
ready armed to the war
That were trained up to it, and accounted for it:

and came to David to Hebron;
after the death of Ishbosheth and Abner, and when David had reigned seven years in Hebron:

to turn the kingdom of Saul to him;
to transfer it to him and his family:

according to the word of the Lord;
by Samuel, which they were acquainted with; and the number of those of the children of Judah, who made him their king already, and so there was the less need of a numerous appearance of them, were 6800 armed men, ( 1 Chronicles 12:24 ) , of the tribe of Simeon, valiant men, 7100, ( 1 Chronicles 12:25 ) , of the children of Levi 4600, ( 1 Chronicles 12:26 ) , of the Aaronites or priests, with Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, according to Jarchi and Kimchi, at the head of them, 3700, ( 1 Chronicles 12:27 ) , besides Zadok, a young man of the line of Eleazar, who was made high priest in the time of Solomon, who brought with him twenty two captains, ( 1 Chronicles 12:28 ) the heads of the courses of the priests, which were afterwards twenty four, ( 1 Chronicles 24:4 ) of the tribe of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, the greatest part of whom had been sticklers for the continuance of the kingdom in the family of Saul, 3000, ( 1 Chronicles 12:29 ) , of the tribe of Ephraim, valiant men, 20,800, ( 1 Chronicles 12:30 ) , of the half tribe of Manasseh on this side Jordan, whose names were pricked down, being given, to make David king, 18,000, ( 1 Chronicles 12:31 ) , and of the tribe of Issachar, two hundred of the heads of them; men of knowledge and understanding, either in chronology or astrology, or in the proper seasons for husbandry, or for the fixing the beginning of years and months, and the intercalation of them, for keeping the several festivals; or rather were men of prudence and wisdom, and knew that this was the proper time for making David king, Ishbosheth and Abner his general being dead; and as they were men in high esteem for their parts and abilities, their brethren were at their beck and command, ( 1 Chronicles 12:30 ) , and of the tribe of Zebulun, warlike men, skilful in war, and well armed, 50,000 men; and their numerous appearance showed that they were hearty and sincere, being the greatest number of all the tribes, ( 1 Chronicles 12:33 ) , and of the tribe of Naphtali, 1000 captains, and with them armed men, 37,000, ( 1 Chronicles 12:34 ) and of the tribe of Dan, men skilled in war, 28,600, ( 1 Chronicles 12:35 ) and of the tribe of Asher, warlike men, 40,000, ( 1 Chronicles 12:36 ) and of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan, military men, well armed, 120,000, ( 1 Chronicles 12:37 ) , which in all made 348,800 men, and upwards.

1 Chronicles 12:23 In-Context

21 All these men of Manasseh were brave soldiers, and they helped David fight against groups of men who went around the country robbing people. These soldiers became commanders in David's army.

22 Every day more men joined David, and his army became large, like the army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the soldiers ready for battle who joined David at Hebron. They came to help turn the kingdom of Saul over to David, just as the Lord had said.

24 There were sixty-eight hundred men with their weapons from Judah. They carried shields and spears.

25 There were seventy-one hundred men from Simeon. They were warriors ready for war.