The Gadites, Benjamites, and men of Judah who joined themselves to David during his sojourn in the mountain fastness. - 1 Chronicles 12:8. David's sojourn in the mountain hold falls in the first years of his flight from Saul, 1 Samuel 22:1. מצד, pointed with Pathach instead of with Kamets (מצד, cf. 1 Chronicles 12:16), on account of its intimate connection with מדבּרה, is synonymous with מצוּדה (1 Samuel 24:22, etc.). The addition מדבּרה, "towards the wilderness," shows that מצד denotes a mountain-top or mountain-fortress in the wilderness of Judah. If we compare the account in 1 Samuel 22-24, we learn that David at that time did not hide himself in one single definite mountain-fortress, but sought and found resting-places, now here, now there, in the wilderness, on the summits of the hills (cf. בּמּצדות בּמּדבּר, 1 Samuel 23:14; 1 Samuel 24:1); so that מצד here is to be understood, as המּצוּדה, 1 Samuel 24:3, also is, generally of the fastnesses in the mountains of Judah. At that time there gathered round David a great company of discontented and oppressed men, to the number of about 400, - men dissatisfied with Saul's rule, whose leader he became, and who soon amounted to 600 men (1 Samuel 22:2 and 1 Samuel 23:13). To these belong the Gadites, and the men out of Benjamin and Judah, whose adhesion to David is noticed in our verses. נבדּלוּ, they separated themselves from the other Gadites who were on Saul's side, "strong heroes," as in Joshua 8:3; cf. חיל גּבּורי, 1 Chronicles 5:24; 1 Chronicles 7:2, 1 Chronicles 7:9, etc. למּלחמה צבא אנשׁי, men for service in the host for the war, i.e., combatants practised in war. ורמח צנּה ערכי, preparing shield and spear, i.e., wielding shield and spear, practised in their use: the preparing of these weapons includes the handling of them. Instead of ורמח, Veneta and many of the older copies have וּמגן; but it is not supported by MS authority, and moreover is not congruous with the passage. Lions' faces their faces, i.e., lion-like in appearance, thoroughly warlike figures; cf. 2 Samuel 1:23. "As roes running swiftly on the mountains;" cf. 2 Samuel 2:18. This description of the strength and swiftness of these warriors recalls, as Bertheau remarks, the similar expressions used in the historical books concerning heroes of David's time. It has manifestly been drawn from the original documents, not added by the chronicler. In 1 Chronicles 12:9-13 the names are enumerated individually. עשׂר עשׁתּי, at the end of a series of ordinal numbers, denotes the eleventh; cf. 1 Chronicles 24:12.

1 Chronicles 12:18 Parallel Commentaries

the spirit

Judges 6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Isaiah 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation on his head...

came upon Amasai [heb] clothed Amasai

1 Chronicles 2:17 And Abigail bore Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.

2 Samuel 17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite...

2 Samuel 19:13 And say you to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also...

2 Samuel 20:4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be you here present.

Amasa
Thine are we

2 Kings 10:5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu...

and on they side

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge...

2 Samuel 15:21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be...

2 Kings 9:32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.

peace

Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.

Ephesians 6:23,24 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ...

thy God

1 Samuel 25:28,29 I pray you, forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house...

2 Samuel 5:2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he that led out and brought in Israel: and the LORD said to you...

Zechariah 8:23 Thus said the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations...

John 6:67,68 Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away...

captains of the band

1 Samuel 8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground...

1 Samuel 22:7 Then Saul said to his servants that stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites...

1 Kings 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no slaves: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains...