1 Chronicles 12:15

15 These it be that passed over (the) Jordan in the first month, when it was wont to flow over his brinks; and they drove away all men, that is, heathen men, that dwelled in the valleys at the east coast, and [at the] west coast. (These it were who passed over the Jordan River in the first month, when it was wont to overflow its banks; and they drove away all the people, that is, all the heathen, who lived in the valleys to the east, and to the west.)

1 Chronicles 12:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 12:15

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month
The month Nisan or Ab; as they must come over Jordan to come to David, since they dwelt on the other side of it:

when it had overflown all its banks;
as it did at this time of the year, see ( Joshua 3:15 ) which is observed to show both the time of the year when they came over, and their zeal and ardour to assist David, and their boldness and intrepidity; fearless of danger, they threw themselves into Jordan, and swam over it, in all probability when the waters of it were so deep they could not ford it, and so rapid that they were in danger of being carried away with them:

and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both towards the east,
and towards the west;
who dwelt in the valleys, or plains of Jordan east and west; who seeing a number of men come over, took them for enemies, and fled, so Kimchi; or, as others think, these were the Philistines, who, on the defeat of Saul, took possession of the cities of Israel, in the valleys forsaken by them, ( 1 Samuel 31:7 ) or rather these were the Moabites or Arabs, who made incursions into the land of Israel for prey, the Gadites met with, when they came over Jordan.

1 Chronicles 12:15 In-Context

13 Jeremy the tenth (Jeremiah the tenth), Machbanai the eleventh;

14 these of the sons of Gad were princes of the host; and the least, that is, he that had the least power, was sovereign over an hundred knights, and the most was over a thousand. (these of the Gadites were leaders of the army; and the least, that is, he who had the least power, was the ruler of a hundred horsemen, and he who had the most power, ruled over a thousand.)

15 These it be that passed over (the) Jordan in the first month, when it was wont to flow over his brinks; and they drove away all men, that is, heathen men, that dwelled in the valleys at the east coast, and [at the] west coast. (These it were who passed over the Jordan River in the first month, when it was wont to overflow its banks; and they drove away all the people, that is, all the heathen, who lived in the valleys to the east, and to the west.)

16 And also (some) men of Benjamin and of Judah came to the stronghold, wherein David dwelled (where David lived).

17 And David went out against them, and said, If ye come peaceable to me, for to help me, mine heart be joined to you; forsooth if ye set ambush to me for mine adversaries, since I have not wickedness in the hands, God of our fathers see and deem. (And David went out to meet them, and said, If ye have come in peace to me, yea, to help me, my heart shall be joined to you; but if ye set ambush against me for my adversaries, since I have no wickedness in my hands, let the God of our fathers see and judge.)