1 Chronicles 12:1

“Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, etc.] Given him by Achish to live in, when he fled from Saul, (<092706>1 Samuel 27:6) while he yet kept himself close, because of Saul the son of Kish; when he was an exile from his own country, and obliged to live retired in a foreign one, because of Saul’s persecution of him, and seeking to take away his life: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war; not against Saul, with whom David had none, but with the Amalekites, and others, (<092708>1 Samuel 27:8 30:16,17).”

“THE COMPANIES THAT CAME TO DAVID AT ZIKLAG. (1Ch. 12:1-22) Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the order of time when the parties joined the standard of David. while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the country. Ziklag--(See on Sa1 27:6). It was during his retirement in that Philistine town that he was joined in rapid succession by the heroes who afterwards contributed so much to the glory of his reign.”

“This chapter is composed wholly of matter that is new to us, no corresponding accounts occurring in Samuel. It comprises four lists: (1) One of men, chiefly Benjamites, who joined David at Ziklag 1 Chronicles 12:1-7; (2) A second of Gadites who united themselves to him when he was in a stronghold near the desert 1 Chronicles 12:8-15; (3) A third of Manassites who came to him when he was dismissed by the Philistines upon suspicion 1 Chronicles 12:19-22; and (4) A fourth of the numbers from the different tribes who attended and made him king at Hebron 1 Chronicles 12:23-40. return to 'Top of Page'”

“12:1-22 Support for making David king did not begin with Saul’s demise. When Saul was king and David was a fugitive, warriors went to David and eventually became a vast camp of various tribes, representing all of Israel. Even relatives of Saul deserted to David and supported him as king (12:2). Of course, David was prudent about such deserters (12:17), making sure they were not traitors who would betray him to Saul. Before David’s actual anointing took place at Hebron, the will of the people reflected the will of God that David should become king.”

“these are: Sa1 27:2, Sa1 27:6; Sa2 1:1, Sa2 4:10 while he yet: etc. Heb. being yet shut up, Sometimes, in the East, when a successful prince endeavoured to extirpate the preceding royal family, some of them escaped the slaughter, and secured themselves in an impregnable fortress, or in a place of great secrecy; while others have been known to seek an asylum in a foreign county, from when they have occasioned, from time to time, great anxiety and great difficulties to the usurper of the crown. The expression shut up, so often applied to the extermination of eastern royal families ( Deu 32:32. Kg1 14:10; Kg1 21:21. Kg2 9:8; Kg2 14:26), strictly speaking, refers to the two first of these cases;…”

“The Benjamites who came to David to Ziklag. - Ch1 12:1. Ziklag was originally allotted to the Simeonites by Joshua ( Jos 19:5; Ch1 4:30), but at a later time came into possession of the Philistines, and was assigned and presented by king Achish to David, who had fled for refuge to him, as a dwelling-place for himself and his followers; see Sa1 27:1-7. As to its situation, which has not yet been with certainty ascertained, see the discussion on Jos 15:31. In it David dwelt for a year and four months, until he went to Hebron on the death of Saul. During this time it was that the warriors of the tribe of Benjamin mentioned in the succeeding register went over to him, as we learn from the words…”