1 Chronicles 12:22

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) For at that time day by day . . .—Literally, For at the time of each day (i.e., every day) men used to come to David to help him; amounting to a mighty camp, like a camp of God. The verse explains why David required so many captains as have been enumerated, and why the term “army” was used of his troop in the last verse.

A great host, like the host of God.—Literally, camp. The phrase has an antique colouring Comp. Genesis 32:1-2 : “And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s camp (mahanēh ‘Elôhîm): and the name of that place was called Mahanaim (i.e., two camps). Mahanaim was a place iıı Manasseh (Joshua 13:30). Ancient Hebrew denotes excellence by reference to the Divine standard, which is the true ideal of all excellence. Comp. Psalm 36:6 : “Thy righteousness is like the hills of God”; and so elsewhere we find the expression, “cedars of God” (Psalm 80:11). The verse appears to include the considerable accessions to David’s forces which followed upon the defeat and death of Saul.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-22 Here is an account of those who appeared and acted as David's friends, while he was persecuted. No difficulties or dangers should keep the sinner from coming to the Savior, nor drive the believer from the path of duty. Those who break through, and overcome in these attempts, will find abundant recompence. From the words of Amasai we may learn how to testify our affection and allegiance to the Lord Jesus; his we must be throughly; on his side we must be forward to appear and act. If we are under the influence of the Spirit, we shall desire to have our lot among them, and to declare ourselves on their side; if in faith and love we embrace the cause of Christ, he will receive, employ, and advance us.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The band of the rovers - See the marginal reference.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

22. the host of God—that is, a great and powerful army.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

At that time, i.e. while he was at Ziklag, and in his march to Hebron, and principally at Hebron, as the next verse explains it.

Like the host of God, i.e. innumerable, like the stars or angels, both which are called God’s hosts. Otherwise, the host of God, i.e. a very great host, great things being so called, as cedars, mountains, &c. of God. But the particle of likeness here added excludes this sense, for it had been very improper to say, a great host like a great host, i.e. like itself.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For at that time, day by day, there came to David to help him,.... Particularly after the defeat of Saul by the Philistines, unto the time that David came to Hebron:

until it was a great host, like the host of God; the heavenly host, the angels; so the Targum.

Geneva Study Bible

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of {h} God.

(h) Meaning, mighty or strong, for the Hebrews say a thing is of God when it is excellent.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. For at that time day by day] R.V. For from day to day.

the host of God] The phrase comes from Genesis 32:2; cp. Psalm 68:15 (R.V.) “a mountain of God.” The epithet “of God” is used to distinguish a thing as “very great.”

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 22. - The host of God. A forcible comment on the metaphorical use of this phrase is found in 1 Samuel 14:15; Authorized Version, "a very great trembling" is the translation of Hebrew "trembling of God." The for with which this verse commences probably explains the call there was for many and able "captains" for a host becoming daily larger. 1 Chronicles 12:22

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"For every day" (בּיום יום לעת, at the time of each day) "came (people) to David to help him, until to a great host, like a host of God," i.e., until his band grew to a camp like to a host of God. אלהים מחנה, a host which God has formed, and in which the power of God shows itself; cf. hills and cedars of God, Psalm 36:7; Psalm 80:11. In these concluding remarks to the enumeration by name of the valiant men who during Saul's lifetime went over to David, there is no exaggeration which would betray an idealizing historian (Movers, S. 270). The greatness of a host of God is to be estimated according to the power and the spirit, not according to the number, of the warriors, so that we need not take the words to mean a host of thousands and tens of thousands. David had at first 400, afterwards 600, valiant warriors, against whom Saul with his thousands could accomplish nothing. The increase in their number from 400 to 600 shows that the host increased from day to day, especially when we keep in mind the fact that after Saul's defeat considerable bands of fugitives must certainly have gone over to David before he was anointed in Hebron to be king over Judah. The expression is only rhetorical, not idealizing or exaggerating.