1 Chronicles 12:23

“THE ARMIES THAT CAME TO HIM AT HEBRON. (1Ch. 12:23-40) these are the numbers of the bands . . . that came to David to Hebron--after the death of Ish-bosheth (see on Sa2 5:1). to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord-- (Ch1 10:14; Ch1 11:3, Ch1 11:10). The account commences with the southern tribes, Levi being associated with Judah and Simeon, as the great majority of the leading men in this tribe resided in Judah; and, after recounting the representatives of the northern tribes, it concludes with those on the east of Jordan.”

“Rather, “These are the numbers of the men, ready equipped for the host, that came to David, etc.” In the list which follows such points as (1) The large mumber sent by the trans-Jordanic tribes; (2) The large numbers from Zebulon, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, all tribes somewhat remote, and generally speaking undistinguished; (3) The small size of the contingent from Judah, which is generally represented as numerically superior to every other tribe, and which might have been expected to be especially zealous on behalf of its own prince and tribesman; throw some doubt upon the numbers, which may be suspected of having in some instances undergone corruption. return to 'Top of Page'”

“12:23-40 The succession of a king was often a contentious matter, particularly when the new king represented a different family lineage. The gathering of all twelve tribes at Hebron, including some of Saul’s relatives (12:29), to confirm David’s rule showed that the animosity of the war among different tribes following Saul’s death had been overcome (12:23-37). The Chronicler stresses the unity among the tribes with the declaration that they all, without reservation, had the single purpose of making David the king over all Israel (12:38).”

“am 2956, bc 1048, An, Ex, Is, 433 the numbers: Ch1 11:1-3; Sa2 2:3, Sa2 2:4, Sa2 5:1-3 bands: or, captains, or men, Heb. heads came to David: Some learned men understand this as relating to the time when David was make king over Judah, on his first coming to Hebron, but it seems wholly to refer to his being made king over all Israel, after the death of Ishbosheth; for there was no such union or assembly of the several tribes on the former occasion, as is here described. to turn: Ch1 10:14 according: Ch1 11:10; Sa1 16:1, Sa1 16:3, Sa1 16:12, Sa1 16:13; Sa2 3:18; Psa 2:6, Psa 89:19, Psa 89:20 1 Chronicles 12:24”

“List of the warriors who made David king in Hebron. - The superscription ( Ch1 12:23) runs: "These are the numbers of the bands of the men equipped for war, who came," etc. החלוּץ is a collective noun, denoting the equipped manhood. ראשׁי signifies here, not principes exercitus, as the Vulgate renders it, heads, i.e., leaders of the army (Berth.), but literally denotes sums, i.e., companies, bands of soldiers, as in Jdg 7:16, Jdg 7:20; Jdg 9:34, Jdg 9:37, Jdg 9:44; Sa1 11:1; or it may perhaps also be heads for individuals, as ראשׁ in Jdg 5:30. Both these meanings are linguistically certain; so that we cannot say, with Bertheau, that ראשׁי before החלוּץ denotes, according to the…”