*H Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet fled from Saul the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors,
Ver. 1. Siceleg, which had been given to David for a retreat. Hither many brave men came to join him. — Fled. Heb. "was shut up through fear." C. — Sept. "was under anxiety." H.
* Footnote * 1_Kings 27 : 2
And David arose, and went away, both he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achis, the son of Maoch, king of Geth.*H Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin.
Ver. 2. Hand, like Aod. Judg. iii. 15. M. — Brethren, of the same tribe. The opinion which they entertained of David, must have been very great, to make them expose themselves to such dangers. In adversity, true friendship and virtue shine the most. C. — The hand of providence is here conspicuous. T.
*H And Samaias of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel and Johanan, and Jozabad of Gaderoth;
Ver. 4. Thirty. Heb. sheloshim, denotes "the officers" of the army. C. — Prot. style this hero "Ismaiah."
*H Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of Carehim:
Ver. 6. Jesbaam. Probably the second after Joab. C. xi. 11. H. — Of Carehim. Heb. "the Korhites." Ken. — So also the Sept. There[They?] were Levites, descendants of Core. M.
*H From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains.
Ver. 8. Gaddi, a city of the tribe of Gad, (2 K. 23.) from which many went to join David, when he was in the country of Moab, (M.) as others of the Gadites did, v. 14. — Mountains. A fierce countenance and swiftness were much commended in soldiers. "The eyes are always first conquered." Primi in omnibus præliis oculi vincuntur, says Tacitus, Mor. Germ. C. See Prov. xxx. 30. 2 K. ii. 18. M.
*H These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand.
Ver. 14. Thousand, after David had ascended the throne. C. — At Siceleg he had only 600. M. — Some suppose that each of these officers was worth 100 men, &c. Vatab.
*H These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and toward the west.
Ver. 15. Month, Nisan. T. — Banks. This circumstance enhances their courage. Maundrel (Alep. p. 136) went to see the Jordan, 13th March, 1697, but the river was nine feet from the banks. Its rapidity has perhaps made its bed so much deeper, that it does not overflow so frequently at present. C.
*H And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda to the hold, in which David abode.
Ver. 16. Hold, in Moab, (1 K. xxii. 4. D. M.) or to Siceleg. The people of Benjamin come with those of Juda, to avoid suspicion. C.
*H And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge.
Ver. 17. Hands. At that time he had done no injury to any man. H.
*H But the spirit came upon Amasai the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Ver. 18. Spirit of God (C. or good will. D.) prompted Amasai, the chief of "the officers." C. — Band, or "of a company." H.
*H And there were some of Manasses that went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master Saul.
Ver. 19. Fight. They joined him after he had left the Philistines. C. — But he. Heb. "they helped them not." Neither David nor his partizans were involved in this danger, which might have caused their fidelity to be suspected. 1 K. xxix. H.
* Footnote * 1_Kings 29 : 4
But the prices of the Philistines were angry with him, and they said to him: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads?*H So when he went back to Siceleg, there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses.
Ver. 20. Thousands: heads of the principal cities. Mic. v. 2. D.
*H These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army.
Ver. 21. Rovers of Amalec, 1 K. xxx. 1.
*H Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.
Ver. 22. Of God; very great, (C.) particularly when Isboseth was slain 2 K. v. 1. H. — The angels are to us innumerable. Job xxv. An army in concord is compared to them. W.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 5 : 1
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.*H And Joiada prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.
Ver. 27. Joiada had the post of Eleazar over the Levites, (Num. iii. 32.) and was at the head of the warriors of his tribe, while Abiathar was high priest. C.
*H Sadoc also a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two principal men.
Ver. 28. Of excellent. Heb. "of great valour." Saul had appointed him in the place of Achimelec, and David permitted him to retain his dignity.
*H And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.
Ver. 29. Followed. Heb. "kept guard at the palace." These guards submitted to David, like the rest, after the death of Isboseth. C.
*H And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names, came to make David king.
Ver. 31. Manasses, west of the Jordan. See v. 37. H.
*H Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel.
Ver. 32. Should, in agricultural pursuits, in which those of Issachar excelled. Gen. xlix. 14. Countrymen have often more skill about the weather, than the greatest astronomers, Virg. Georg. i. M. T. — Others think that these men could calculate when the festivals would occur, (S. Jer. Trad.) or they were well versed in politics, &c. See Est. i. 13.
*H Moreover they that were near them even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephtali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel.
Ver. 40. Nephthali. All, both far and near, contributed to regale the deputies. C.