1 Crônicas 12
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 12
NJB (LXX versing) David's Supporters in Ziklag The Growth of David's Army David's Ability to Attract Men of Valor David's Early Followers From the Tribe of Benjamin Early Defections to David (one verse different) 12:1-7 12:1-7 12:1-7 12:1-7 (3-7) 12:1-2a David's Followers from the Tribe of Gad 12:2b-8 12:8-15 12:8-15 12:8-15 12:8-13 12:9-16 12:14-15 Followers From Benjamin and Judah 12:16-18 (18b) 12:16-18 (18b) 12:16-18 (18b) 12:16-17 12:17-18 12:18 (18) Followers From Manasseh 12:19-22 12:19-22 12:19-22 12:19-22 12:19 (19) Supporters Gathered at Hebron David's Army at Hebron List of David's Forces 12:20-22 12:23-37 12:23-37 12:23-37 12:23-37 12:23 The Warriors Who Assured David's Kingship 12:24-40 12:38-40 12:38-40 12:38-40 12:38-40 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter is about David's army which came from all of the tribes. This reinforces "all Israel's" whole-hearted (cf. 1 Chr. 12:33,38) support of the new king. In Samuel it developed slowly but in Chronicles it is telescoped. This support is divinely ordained (cf. 1 Chr. 12:18). It documents the soldiers from different places and tribes who joined David in his wilderness stronghold (i.e., Ziklag). from Benjamin, 1 Chr. 12:1-7 from Gad, 1 Chr. 12:8-15 from Benjamin and Judah, 1 Chr. 12:16-18 from Manasseh, 1 Chr. 12:19-22 list of the divisions who came to David at Hebron, 1 Chr. 12:23-40 Since the prophecy in poetic form is not repeated in Samuel or Kings, this may be evidence that the Chronicler had extra pieces of information (written and/or oral).
1 Crônicas 12:1-7
12:1 "at Ziklag" This was David's wilderness camp (BDB 862; cf. 1 Chr. 12:8,16; 1 Sam. 27:6; 30:1-31). It was one the cities of the Negev given to the tribe of Simeon (cf. Jos. 15:31; 19:5) but apparently was controlled by the Philistines. 12:2 This verse lists two weapons. bows (cf. 1 Chr. 8:40) slings (cf. Jdgs. 20:16) 1 Chronicles 12:8 adds "spear" and "shield." ▣ "they were Saul's kinsmen from Benjamin" David questioned their loyalty at first (cf. 1 Chr. 12:17) but they assured him of their loyalty (1 Chr. 12:18).
1 Crônicas 12:8-15
12:8 "the stronghold in the wilderness" This phrase could reflect David's time at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:1) the Cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22) Engedi (1 Sam. 23:29; 24:1) ▣ "like the faces of lions" This is an idiom for a ferocious warrior. Notice how 2 Sam. 1:23 uses animal characteristics to describe the military actions of Saul and Jonathan. SPECIAL TOPIC: LIONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 12:14 This verse, like 1 Chr. 12:8, describes the effectiveness of these warrior officers from Gad. 12:15 This shows the fearlessness and ferocity of these warriors. The Jordan flooded due to snow melt from Mt. Hermon in March ‒ April. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, Peshitta "put to flight" "scattered" "driven out" "cleared" "chased out" The VERB in the MT (BDB 137, KB 156 I, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) means "flee." Some scholars (i.e., Rudolph and Tyndale OT Commentary, p. 152) suppose "bar" (i.e., "they barred all the valleys"). flee, ברח (BDB 137, KB 156, NIDOTTE,vol. 1, PP. 743-745) bar/obstruct, לברח (KB 156 III, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 746)
1 Crônicas 12:16-18
12:16 "the stronghold" See note at 1 Chr. 12:8. 12:17 "look on it and decide" These are both JUSSIVES look/see ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal JUSSIVE decide ‒ BDB 406, KB 410, Hiphil JUSSIVE (i.e., know their true inner thoughts) This verse is a confession of innocence (lit. "with no violence in my hands") on David's part and a warning/curse about their agenda. God Himself will be their judge. 12:18 "the Spirit came upon " This VERB (BDB 527, KB 519, Qal PERFECT) is normally used for clothing but here as a metaphor for being empowered/inspired by the Spirit (cf. Jdgs. 6:34; 2 Chr. 24:20). A similar usage is Job 29:14. The Jewish Study Bible (p. 1738) has an interesting comment about this verse. "This reflects Chronicles' innovative view on prophets and prophecy. Whereas many biblical books view prophecy as the exclusive prerogative of "professional" prophets whose activity centers on the monarchy, Chronicles maintains that any individual, even a non-Israelite, may, under the proper circumstances, serve as a conduit for conveying the divine will; hence, Amasai, a military man, experiences ad hoc prophecy. The possession formulae (the spirit seized) introduce the speeches of "non-prophets" only, indicating that Chronicles differentiates between this group and "professional" prophets." SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE ▣ "came upon" There are several ways to describe the special empowering of the Spirit. "clothed" ‒ BDB 527, KB 519 Gideon (a judge) ‒ Jdgs. 6:34 Amasai (a soldier) ‒ here Zechariah (a priest) ‒ 2 Chr. 24:20 "came upon" ‒ BDB 224, KB 243 Moses ‒ Num. 11:25,29 Balaam ‒ Num. 24:2 Othniel ‒ Jdgs. 3:10 Samson ‒ Jdgs. 14:6,19; 15:14 Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 10:6,10; 11:6 David ‒ 1 Sam. 16:13 the messengers of Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 19:20,23 Azariah ‒ 2 Chr. 15:1 "rested upon" ‒ BDB 628, KB 679 elders in Israel ‒ Num. 11:25,26 Messiah ‒ Isa. 11:2 "filled" ‒ BDB 569, KB 583 tabernacle artisans ‒ Exod. 28:3; 31:3; 35:31 Joshua ‒ Deut. 34:9 Micah ‒ Mic. 3:8 "stir" ‒ BDB 821, KB 952, Jdgs. 13:25 (Samson) "rouse" or "wake" ‒ BDB 734, KB 802 Pul ‒ 1 Chr. 5:26 Cyrus II ‒ 2 Chr. 36:22; Ezra 1:1 exiles ‒ Ezra 1:5 Zerubbabel ‒ Hag. 1:14 Joshua ‒ Hag. 1:14 remnant ‒ Hag. 1:14 "entered" ‒ BDB 97, KB, Ezek. 3:24 Be careful of making too much of a distinction between the OT and NT when it comes to being empowered, even indwelt, by the Spirit. The NT is a fulfilment of Jer. 31:31-34, described as "a new spirit" in Ezek. 36:27-38 (cf. Luke 24:49). SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT (filling) ▣ "Amasai" This may refer to "Amasa" of 1 Chr. 2:17; 2 Sam. 17:25, because they have the same father. If so, this was Absalom's military commander. David reinstates him to assure the unity of all the tribes in 2 Sam. 19:13-15. ▣ "Peace" The term shalom (BDB 1022) is used in 1 Chr. 12:17 and three times in 12:18. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT) ▣ "your God helps you!" See 1 Chr. 11:9,14.
1 Crônicas 12:19-22
12:19 The account is found in 1 Sam. 29:2-9. ▣ "defected" The MT has the VERB "fell upon" (BDB 656, KB 709, Qal PERFECT, which is usually an idiom of attack (i.e., Jos. 11:7), but here of joining with (cf. 2 Chr. 15:9; Jer. 37:14; 39:9). ▣ NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, REB "lords" "rulers" "Kings" "chiefs" "commanders" The MT has BDB 710 I, which occurs in the OT only in connection to the Philistines. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 295, suggests three options. Hittite ‒ judge or king LXX ‒ tyrant, ruler, lord Indo-Aryan ‒ ruler, commander The LXX translated it by the same word used for the ruler of a Greek city-state. The Philistines were organized by five city-states on the southern coastal region of Judah (Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, Ekron). I think the term denotes the supreme ruler of a city-state who had judicial, civil, and military authority. 12:20 "at the cost of our heads" This is an oath formula. The other Philistine military leaders were afraid to allow David to fight Saul. 12:21 "the band of raiders" The JPSOA, in a footnote, has "the band of Amalekite raiders," from 1 Sam. 30:8,15. 12:22 This is a summary verse. ▣ "like the army of God" The title "Lord of hosts" has a military connotation. God has thousands of angels at His command (i.e., divine aid, cf. 2 Kgs. 6:17; Ps. 68:17; 103:20,21; 148:2). The NASB Study Bible, p. 570, has an interesting note about the large numbers used in this chapter which add up to 346,880 supporters at a feast in Hebron. This seems beyond possibility. The NASB Study Bible offers two approaches. the word "thousand" means a clan or tribal military unit it is purposeful hyperbole to align with "the arm of God" in 1 Chr. 12:22 the Jewish Study Bible, p. 1738, suggests the numbers are literal, but includes all supporters, not just warriors It is possible that "God" (Elohim) is used as an idiom meaning "great" or "enormous" (cf. Gen. 23:6; Ps. 68:15; Jon. 3:3; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 446). SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph)
1 Crônicas 12:23-37
12:23 NASB, NRSV, LXX "to turn" "to turn over" "to help make him king in place of Saul" NJB, JPSOA, REB "to transfer" The VERB (BDB 685, KB 738, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is a technical term for transferring kingship to another (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:15). The change of sovereigns was a major event, both civically and religiously. Saul was God's anointed but now David has replaced him as God's royal choice, not based on family or tribe, but on the sovereign choice of Israel's covenant God (cf. 1 Samuel 13:13-14; 15:22-23,28; 1 Chr. 10:13-14). ▣ "according to the word of the Lord" See note at 1 Chr. 11:10. 12:24 "equipped for war" This VERB (BDB 323 II, KB 321, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 157-158) has two connotations. the removal (i.e., "stripping") of unnecessary clothing to put on battle armament, cf. Num. 32:21,27,29,30,32; Deut. 3:18 fully equipped for battle, cf. Jos. 6:13; 2 Chr. 28:14 There are several Hebrew VERBS used to describe men armed for battle. This shows how common warfare was in the ANE. 12:26-28 It is surprising to me that there were soldiers from the tribe of Levi. Only one family of this tribe became priests and Levites. Probably it was a literary way of showing total support for David from all tribes. 12:28 "Zadok" Josephus, Antiq. 7.2.2, calls him "the priest," which denotes "the High Priest." If so, this is the earliest information we have on the priest at Gibeon who anointed Solomon king. During David's day, there were two High Priests, but one (Abiathar) supported a rival of Solomon and was removed from office by Solomon and restricted to his home city. 12:32 This verse is rather unusual. These tribal leaders had knowledge about their own times (cf. Esther 1:13) YHWH's patriarchal promises to Israel of "the word of the Lord through Samuel" (cf. 1 Chr. 11:3; 12:23, which may refer to the choice of David over Saul, cf. 1 Sam. 16:1,3,12,13) 12:33 "with an undivided heart" "stouthearted" "with singleness of purpose" "staunch-hearted" "wholehearted" "bold and single-minded" "unwavering" The MT has a PREPOSITION (ב, "with") plus a negation (לא) and the NOUN for "inner men" (לב , BDB 524) twice. Possibly "without a heart and a heart," which is an idiom for a person who is not totally loyal (cf. Ps. 12:2; the Peshitta totally missed this idiom's meaning). David is described in similar idiomatic language (i.e., "had a heart for YHWH"), but Solomon had a divided or half heart (i.e., 1 Kgs. 11:1-8). Similar idioms for total loyalty are found in 1 Chr. 12:38; 28:9 (i.e., "a perfect heart") and ("of one mind").
1 Crônicas 12:38-40
12:38 "who could draw up in battle formation" "who could keep ranks" NRSV, LXX "arrayed in battle order" "ready for battle" "in battle array" "manning the battle line" "trained for war" "who were ready to march" The MT has Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE (עדר, BDB 727 I, KB 793) probably meaning "help." Many translations assume an emendation to עזר (BDB 740, KB 811 I or II), which means "help." The USB Text Project does not mention this verse. NET Bible assumes an emendation to ערכי (BDB 789), which means "arrange" or "set in order." The CONSTRUCT FEMININE NOUN (BDB 790) means "battle-line." ▣ "over all Israel" This is a key theological phrase for the Chronicler (see note at 1 Chr. 11:1). 12:39 This describes a covenant meal (i.e., Gen. 31:54; Exod. 24:11). The provisions came from as far as Zebulun and Naphtali (1 Chr. 12:40).