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1 Chronicles 12:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Chronicles 12:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
1 Chronicles 12:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Chronicles 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host: he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.
15These are they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold unto David.
17And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, [and he said], Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not; for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
20As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh.
← 1 Chronicles 12:161 Chronicles 12:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And David went out to meet them, etc.] Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them, some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion, fearing they were not his friends, being, it may be, chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them: and said unto them, if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me; if they were come with a good will to him, and intention to help him against his enemy, and protect him: mine heart shall be knit unto you; they should have such a share in his affections, that their hearts would be as one, as his and Jonathan’s were, (<091801>1 Samuel 18:1), but if ye be come…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The God of our fathers - He calls God, the God of our fathers, both his fathers and theirs; thus he minds them, not to deal ill with him; for they were both descendents from the same patriarchs, and servants of the same God. And thus he encourages himself to believe, that God would right him, if he was abused. For he was the God of his fathers; therefore a blessing was entailed upon him: and a God to all Israel in particular, as well as a Judge to all the earth. 1 Chronicles 12:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“to meet them: Heb. before them If ye be come: Sa1 16:4; Sa2 3:20-25; Kg1 2:13; Kg2 9:22; Psa 12:1, Psa 12:2 heart: Sa1 18:1, Sa1 18:3; Kg2 10:15; Psa 86:11; Co2 13:11; Phi 1:27 knit: Heb. one, Jer 32:39; Act 4:32; Co1 1:10 wrong: or, violence God: Gen 31:42, Gen 31:53; Sa1 24:11-17, Sa1 26:23, Sa1 26:24; Psa 7:6; Pe1 2:23 rebuke it: Zac 3:2; Jde 1:9 1 Chronicles 12:18”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Chronicles 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification