Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

(39) Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Be- B.C. cir. 1058.
rothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son
of Zeruiah, (40) Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the
Ithrite, (41) Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the

a 1 Sam. 27. 1.

son of Ahlai, (42) Adina the son of Shiza 1 Or, Shimrite.
the Reubenite, a captain of the Reu-
benites, and thirty with him, (43) Hanan
the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the
Mithnite, (4) Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan
the Aroerite, (45) Jediael the son of
Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 2 Heb., being yet
(46) Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and
Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ith-
mah the Moabite, (47) Eliel, and Obed,
and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

shut up.

3 Or, Hasmaah.

(39) Zelek the Ammonite.-Many of David's warriors were aliens. (Comp. “Uriah the Hittite; "Ittai the Gittite;" and "Ithmah the Moabite," verse 46. Berothite.—Of Beeroth in Benjamin (Josh. xviii. 25). (40) The Ithrite.-Of Jether, one of the clans of Kirjath-jearim (chap. ii. 53).

(4) Uriah the Hittite.-His history, omitted by Chronicles, is told in 2 Sam. xi. The list of heroes in Samuel closes with this name, adding by way of summation, "all, thirty and seven.”

66

The sixteen names which follow may indicate a later revision of the catalogue. They are not given elsewhere. (42) A captain of the Reubenites (or, chief; Heb., head) and thirty with him (besides him).Literally, upon him. So LXX. Syriac reads and he was commanding thirty men," which gives the apparent meaning of the verse. If, as seems likely, the "thirty" were the officers of David's guard of six hundred warriors (1 Sam. xxiii. 13, xxx. 10; 2 Sam. xv. 18), called "the mighty men," or heroes (2 Sam. x. 7, xx. 7; 1 Kings i. 8), each captain would lead about twenty men. Adina's corps is mentioned perhaps as being larger than usual.

66

(43) Joshaphat the Mithnite.-The LXX. has "the Mathanite," or the Bethanite." Syriac, "Azi of Anathoth"!

(44) Ashterathite.-Of Ashtaroth, a town in Bashan (chap. vi. 71).

Jehiel.-Heb., Jeuel. Margin, “Jeiel."

Hothan.-A misprint of the Authorised Version for Hotham. There was an Aroer in Reuben, and another in Gad (Josh. xiii. 16, 25).

(45) Jediael.-Perhaps the Manassite who joined David at Ziklag (chap. xii. 20).

(46) Eliel.-Perhaps the Gadite of chap. xii. 11. The Mahavite.-Probably a corruption of "the Mahanaimite." Mahanaim was in Gad.

(47) Eliel.-LXX., " Daliel."

The Mesobaite.-The word is corrupt. Perhaps it should be "of Zobah." Syriac has and Ashkir.

XII.

Chap. xii. is a sort of supplement to chap. xi., and is throughout peculiar to the Chronicle. It contains two registers: (1) of the warriors who successively went over to David during his outlaw career (1 Sam. xxii. ff.), verses 1—22; and (2) of the tribal representatives who crowned David at Hebron (forming an appendix to chap. xi. 1—3), verses 23—40.

The Men that came to Ziklag.

CHAPTER XII.-(1) Now "these are they that came to David to Ziklag, 2 while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. (2) They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin. (3) The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of 3 Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite, (4) and Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the

The first of these registers sub-divides into three smaller lists, viz., verses 1-7, 8-18, 19-22.

(1-7) Men of Benjamin and Judah who joined David at Ziklag. (Comp. 1 Sam. xxvii.)

(1) To Ziklag.-A place within the territory of Judah allotted to Simeon (Josh. xix. 5; chap. iv. 30). The Philistines seized it, and Achish of Gath gave it to David, whose headquarters it remained sixteen months, until the death of Saul.

While he yet kept himself close.-The Hebrew is concise and obscure, but the Authorised Version fairly renders it. David was still shut up in his stronghold, or restrained within bounds, because of, i.e., from dread of King Saul. Or perhaps the meaning is "banished from the presence of Saul."

Helpers of the war.-The helpers in war, allies, or companions in arms of David. They made forays against Geshur, Gezer, and Amalek (1 Sam. xxvii. 8; comp. also verses 17 and 21 below).

(2) Armed with bows.-Literally, drawers of the bow (2 Chron. xvii. 17).

And could use. They were ambidextrous "with stones, and with arrows on the bow." The left-handed slingers of Benjamin were famous from of old. (Comp. Judges xx. 16, and also chap. iii. 15.)

Of Saul's brethren-i.e., his fellow-tribesmen. Of Benjamin is added to make it clear that Saul's immediate kinsmen are not intended. (Comp. verse 29.) (3) The chief was Ahiezer.-Captain of the band. Heb., head.

Shemaah.-Heb., Hashsh'maah.

The Gibeathite.-Of "Gibeah of Saul," between Ramah and Anathoth (Isa. x. 29); also called "Gibeah of Benjamin" (chap. xi. 31; Judges xx. 4).

Jeziel.-So Hebrew margin; Hebrew text, Jezûel. (Comp. Peniel and Penuel.)

Azmaveth.-Perhaps the warrior of Bahurim (chap.

xi. 33).

Jehu the Antothite-of Anathoth, now Anâta (chap. xi. 28).

(4) Ismaiah the Gibeonite.-Gibeon belonged to Benjamin (chap. ix. 35), and verse 2 proves that Ismaiah was a Benjamite, not a Gibeonite in the strict sense of the term.

[merged small][ocr errors]

A mighty man among the thirty.-The thirty must be the famous corps (chap. xi. 25). Ismaiah's name does not occur in the catalogue, perhaps because he died before it was drawn up.

The Companies that

I. CHRONICLES, XII.

came to Ziglag.

thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and 1 Heb., of the host. (9) Ezer the first, Obadiah the second,
Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
(5) Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah,
and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Heh, as the roes
Haruphite, (6) Elkanah, and Jesiah, and
Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam,
the Korhites, (7) and Joelah, and Zeba-
diah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

(8) And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men 1of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were 2as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

upon the moun-
tains to make
haste.

Eliab the third, (10) Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, (11) Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, (12) Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, (13) Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. (14) These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least an hundred, and was over an hundred, and the greatest (15) These are they over a thousand.

3 Or, one that was
least could resist

the

greatest thousand.

4 Heb., filled over.

a Josh. 3. 15,

Over the thirty may mean that at one time he was captain of the band, or it may simply denote comparison-" a hero above the thirty."

Josabad the Gederathite; of Gederah in the lowland of Judah (Josh. xv. 36). Josabad is perhaps the same as Zabad ben Ahlai (chap. xi. 41), one of the thirty.

(5) Jerimoth.-A Benjamite name (chap. vii. 7, 8). Bealiah.-Baal is Jah. (Comp. Note on chap. viii. was once a title 33.) Such names indicate that "Baal' of the God of Israel.

"

sons

The Haruphite.-Neh. vii. 24 mentions the " of Hariph" just before the "sons of Gibeon." The Hebrew margin here is " Hariphite."

name

(6) Five members of the Levitical clan Korah. The "Elkanah' occurs thrice in the lineage of Heman, the Korhite musician (chap. vi. 33 ff.), and in that of Samuel (vi. 22 ff.).

Jesiah.-Heb., Yishshiyahû; "Jahu is my possession." (Comp. Ps. xvi. 5.)

Azareel is a priestly name. (See Neh. xi. 13.) There must have been Levites about the Tabernacle at Gibeon. But these Korhites may have been members of the Judean clan Korah, mentioned in chap. ii. 43, but otherwise unknown.

Jashobeam occurred as chief of the Three Heroes (chap. xi. 11).

was a town

(7) Sons of Jeroham of Gedor.-Jeroham is the name of a Benjamite clan (chap. viii. 27); and two Benjamite chiefs are called "Zebadiah" (chap. viii. 15, 17). On the other hand, "Gedor" of Judah, south-west of Bethlehem (chap. iv. 4). Some account for the appearance of Judæan names in a list purporting to relate to Benjaminites, by the assumption that the chronicler has welded two lists into one; but towns did not always continue in the hands of the tribes to whom they were originally intended, and some Judæan towns may have contained a partially Benjaminite population.

(8-18) A list of Gadites, and an account of a band of Judæans and Benjaminites who joined David in the stronghold (chap. xi. 14) towards the desert of Judah.

(8) Separated themselves from the royalists of Gad, who clung to Saul.

Into the hold to (towards) the wilderness. -Perhaps the cave of Adullam (1 Sam. xxii. 1, 4), or one of David's other haunts, the wooded Mount of Hachilah (1 Sam. xxxiii. 19), or the crag of

271

a

that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had 'overflown all his "banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

Maon, or the rocks of En-gedi (1 Sam. xxiii. 25, 29). "Caves and holds " are mentioned together as refuges (Judg. vi. 2). In the earlier period of his outlawry, David found refuge in the natural fastnesses of Judæa.

Men of might.-" Mighty men of valour" (chap. v. 24), and "valiant men of might" (chap. vii. 2). "the valiant warriors," whose names follow. Heb., Men of war fit for the battle.-Literally, men of service or training, i.e., veterans, for the war.

That could handle shield and buckler.Heb., wielding (or presenting) shield and spear. (Comp. Jer. xlvi. 3.)

Buckler (magén) is the reading of some old editions, but against the MSS., which have romah (lance). Whose faces were like the faces of lions. -Literally,

"And face of the lion, their face;

And like gazelles on the mountains they speed." The poetic style of this betrays its ancient source. The chronicler is clearly borrowing from some contemporary record. (Comp. David's own description of Saul and Jonathan, 2 Sam. i. 23; and the term Ariel, lion of God, i.e., hero or champion, chap. xi. and Isa. xxix. 1.)

22;

Swift as the roes.- Comp. what is said of
Asahel (2 Sam. ii. 18).

(9) The first.-The chief, verse 3 (har'osh).
(9-13) Eleven heroes of Gad.

(14) These were.-Subscription.
Captains of the host.-Literally, heads of the
host, i.e., chief warriors.

One of the least was over an hundred.— The margin is correct. David's band at this time The rendering of the text was about 600 strong.

66

is that of the Syr. and Vulg. The LXX. closely
For
intimates the Heb. εἷς τοῖς ἑκατὸν μικρός κτλ.
the true meaning, comp. Deut. xxxii. 30; and Lev.
xxvi. 8. The Heb. says: One to a hundred, the
little one; and the great one to a thousand." This,
too, is poetic, or, at least, rhetorical in character, and
quite unlike the chronicler's usual style.

(15) When it had overflown.-A proof of their
valour. They did not wait till summer had made the
Jordan shallow, but crossed it in spring, when peril.
ously swollen with the rains and the melted snows of
Lebanon. (Comp. Josh. iii. 15.)
in Heb.,

In the first month.-March-April ;
Abib or Nisan.

The Companies that

I. CHRONICLES, XII.

came to Ziglag.

(16) And there came of the children of 1 Heb., before them. we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. (17) And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, 2 Heb., be one. If ye be come peaceably unto me to help

me, mine heart shall be knit unto you:sor, violence.
but if ye be come to betray me to mine
enemies, seeing there is no wrong in

Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

(19) And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philis

mine hands, the God of our fathers look 4 Heb., the spirit tines against Saul to battle: but they thereon, and rebuke it.

(18) Then the

spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are

...

clothed Amasai,

a 1 Sam. 29. 4.

Had overflown.-Was filling or brimming over. And they put to flight all the valleys. -Literally, and they made all the valleys flee: that is, their inhabitants, who were hostile to their enterprise, both to the sunrise and the sunset, or on both sides of the river.

(16-18) Some Benjamite and Judæan accessions. The names are not given, why we cannot tell.

(16) To the hold.-See Note on verse 8.

(17) And David went out to meet them.From his fastness or hiding-place in the hill or wood. Literally, before them, i.e., confronted them. (Comp. same phrase, chap. xiv. 8.)

And answered and said unto them.-The familiar New Testament phrase, καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς. David's speech and the answer of Amasai have all the marks of a genuine survival of antiquity. "If for peace ye have come unto me to help me.' For peace, i.e., with friendly intent. (Comp. Ps. cxx. 7.) To help me.-Comp. verse 1, where David's comrades are called "helpers of the war," uuuax.

[ocr errors]

Mine heart shall be knit unto you.-Literally, I shall have (fiet mihi) towards you a heart for union, or at unity: that is, a heart at one with and true to you. (Comp. one heart," verse 38, and Ps. cxxxiii. 1, and terms like unanimis, duóppwv.) If ye be come to betray me.-Literally, and if to beguile me for my foes, that is, to betray me to them, as Authorised Version. The false part of Sextus Tarquinius at Gabii, or of Zopyrus at Babylon. (Comp. Ps. cxx. 2.)

Seeing there is no wrong in mine hands.Although (there be) no violence in my palms. (Comp. Job xvi. 17; Ps. vii. 4; Isa. liii. 9.)

[ocr errors]

The God of our fathers behold and punish. The verbs are jussive or optative. (Comp. 2 Chron. xxiv. 22.) The psalms of David breathe a confidence that Jehovah is a righteous judge, who never fails to vindicate innocence, and punish highhanded violence and treacherous cunning. (Comp. Pss. ix. 12, x. 14, xviii. 20.)

(18) Then the spirit came upon Amasai.— Literally, and spirit clothed Amasai. The term for "God" (Elohim) has probably fallen out of the Heb. text. (Comp. 2 Chron. xxiv. 20, and Judg. vi. 34.) We, in these days, may word it differently, and say, Under a sudden impulse of enthusiasm, Amasai exclaimed, &c. But if we look deeper, and seek a definite interpretation of our terms, we shall allow that the impulses of spirit are spiritual, and that enthusiasm for truth and right is indeed a sort of divine possession. The Syriac renders: " The spirit of valour clothed Amasai." (Comp. Isa. xi. 2.) The

helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, "He will fall to his master

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

(Comp. chap.

xi. 10; and our Saviour's "He that is not with me is against me.")

Peace, peace be unto thee.-David had said, "If ye be come for peace"-that is, with friendly intent. Amasai answers, We will be fast friends with thee, and with all who befriend thee, because God is on thy side. (Comp. the usual Oriental greeting, Salam 'alaikum-Peace to you!) David's past history gave ample evidence of Divine support.

Then David received them.-A late Heb. word (gibbel). The chronicler resumes his narrative. Made them captains of the band.-Literally, and bestowed them among the heads of the bandmade them officers of his little army, which was continually growing by such adhesions. (Comp. 1 Sam. xxii. 2, and xxiii. 13.)

(19-22) The seven Manassite chieftains who went over to David on the eve of Saul's last battle.

(19) There fell.-The regular term for desertion of one cause for another (2 Kings xxv. 11).

When he came with the Philistines.-(Comp. 1 Sam. xxix. 2-11.) This verse is a summary of the narrative of 1 Sam. xxix. 2-xxx. 1.

They helped them not.-David and his men helped not the Philistines. Perhaps the right reading is he helped them (‘azarām), not they helped them ('azarûm).

Upon advisement.-After deliberation (Prov. xx. 18).

To the jeopardy of our heads.-At the price of our heads (chap. xi. 19). By betraying us he will make his peace with his old master.

[blocks in formation]

(21) And they helped David against the 3 or, captains, or spear were six thousand and eight

band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. (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.

men.

4 Heb., heads.

5 Or, prepared.

(20) As he went to Ziklag.-On his dismissal by the Philistine princes, David returned with his men to Ziklag (1 Sam. xxx. 1). On the way he was joined by the Manassite chieftains, probably before the battle which decided the fate of Saul and his sons (1 Sam. xxix. 11).

Jozabad.-The repetition may be a scribe's error. (Comp. verses 10 and 13, where we find the name Jeremiah given twice over.)

Captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.-(Comp. Numb. xxxi. 14; and chap. xiii. 1, xv. 25, xxvi. 26.) The term " thousand" interchanges with father-house" (clan); and perhaps each clan originally furnished 1,000 warriors to the tribal host.

66

66

(21) And they helped David against the band of the rovers.-So the Vulg. and Syr. The Heb. text has been called "brief and unintelligible," and its explanation has been sought in 1 Sam. xxx. 8 and 15, where "the band" (haggedûd, as here) of Amalek, which had captured and burnt Ziklag in David's absence, is spoken of. But why may we not render, And these helped David over the band,” i.e., in the joint command of his forces. (Comp. verse 18, "made them captains of the band.") It is pretty clear that the names enumerated (verses 1—20) are those of captains and chiefs, not of ordinary warriors. (Comp. verses 14 and 18.) Consequently verses 21, 22 form a subscription or concluding remark to the entire list.

(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. Gen. xxxii. 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 (mahaneh 'Elôhim): and the name of that place was calied Mahanaim (i.e., two camps). Mahanaim was a place in Manasseh (Josh. xiii. 30). Ancient Hebrew denotes excellence by refer ence to the Divine standard, which is the true ideal of all excellence. Comp. Ps. xxxvi. 6: “Thy righteousness is like the hills of God"; and so elsewhere we find the expression, "cedars of God” (Ps. lxxx. 11). verse appears to include the considerable accessions to David's forces which followed upon the defeat and death of Saul.

The

hundred, ready armed to the war. (25) Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. (26) Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. (27) And Jehoiada was the leader of the

II. THE NUMBER OF THE WARRIORS WHO MADE DAVID KING IN HEBRON AFTER SAUL'S DEATH (verses 23-40).

66

(23) And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war.-Literally, And these are the numbers of the heads of the equipped for warfare. 'Heads" may mean (1) polls, or individuals, as in Judg. v. 30, though “skull” (gulgōleth) is more usual in this sense; or (2) it may mean "totals," "bands," as in Judg. vii. 16. The latter seems preferable here. The Vulg. and LXX. render "chiefs of the army"; but no chiefs are named in the list, except those of the Aaronites (verses 27, 28); and we cannot suppose, on the strength of a single ambiguous term in the heading, that the character of the entire list has been altered by the chronicler. The Syriac version omits the whole verse.

And came to David.-" And" is wanting in the Heb. "They came to David at Hebron," &c., is a parenthesis, unless the relative has fallen out.

To turn the kingdom.-Literally, to bring it round out of the direct line of natural heredity (chap. x. 14).

According to the word.-Literally, mouth (chap. xi. 3, 10). What Jehovah had spoken by Samuel was virtually the word of his own mouth.

(24) The sons of Judah.-The following list proceeds from south to north, and then passes over to the trans-Jordanic tribes.

That bare shield and spear.-Comp. verse 8. Ready armed to the war.-Equipped for warfare. The tribe of Judah, which had acknowledged the sovereignty of David for the last seven years, had no need to appear in full force on the occasion of his recognition by the other tribes.

(25) Mighty men of valour for the war.Rather, for warfare, or military service.

(26) Of the children of Levi.-Literally, Of the sons of the Levite; the article shows that the name is gentilic or tribal here, not personal. These martial Levites remind us of the priestly warriors of the crusades. That Levites might be soldiers, and in fact must have been such for the defence of the sanctuaries, is noted at chap. ix. 13, 19, and 2 Chron. xxiii.

(27) And Jehoiada .-Literally, And Jehoiada the prince (hannagid, chap. ix. 11, 20) belonging to Aaron. Aaron is used as the name of the leading clan of Levi. Jehoiada is perhaps father of the Benaiah of chap. xi. 22. He was not high priest (Abiathar, 1 Sam. xxiii. 9), but head of the warriors

[blocks in formation]

of them.

names.

to David at Hebron. times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred;

mandment. (33) Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, 'expert in war, with all

Aaronites, and with him were three | Heb., brethrea. thousand and seven hundred; (28) and Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, 2 Heh...a multitude and all their brethren were at their comand of his father's house twenty and two captains. (29) And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three 3 Heb. Heb. men of instruments of war, fifty thousand, which thousand for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. (30) And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers. (31) And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed & Heb., without a went forth to battle, 'expert in war,

by name, to come and make David king. (32) And of the children of Issachar, which

4 Or, rangers of
in battle.

could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (34) And of Naphtali a battle or ranged thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. (35) And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. (36) And of Asher, such as

5 Or, set the battle
in array.

6

heart and a heart.

forty thousand. (37) And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and were men that had understanding of the 7 Or, keeping their the Gadites, and of the half tribe of

rank.

[blocks in formation]

were.-Omit.

(28) And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour.—And Zadok, a youth, a valiant warrior. Perhaps the successor of Abiathar (1 Kings ii. 26, 27, iv. 4), and his father-house (family), princes twenty and two. The sub-clan or family of Eleazar must have been strong at this time to be able to furnish all these captains, and their implied companies of warriors. But the sum total of the Levites is not given. (29) Kindred.-Fellow-tribesmen. Hitherto.-Up to that time. (Comp. same phrase, chap. ix. 18.)

Had kept.-Were still keeping guard over the house of Saul. For the phrase comp. Num. iii. 38. The Benjamites, as a whole, were still jealously guarding the interests of their own royal house. This remark, as well as the preceding expression, "Saul's fellow-tribesmen," is intended to explain the comparative smallness of the contingent from Benjamin. The tribe's reluctance to recognise David survived the murder of Ish-bosheth.

(30) Famous throughout the house of their fathers. Rather, men of name (renown, as in Gen. vi. 4), arranged according to their clans. The phrase 66 men of renown is a natural addition to "valiant heroes," and need occasion no surprise. Doubtless their renown was collective. The comparative smallness of Ephraim's contingent is noticeable. If this tribe was not already declining within the Mosaic period (comp. Num. i. 33, xxvi. 37), it may have been greatly reduced by the last wars of Saul with the Philistines (comp. 2 Sam. ii. 9).

(31) Which were expressed by name.-See the same phrase, chap. xvi. 41; Num. i. 17. Literally it is pricked down, or entered in a list, by names. The men had been levied by the tribal chiefs, and enrolled in lists for this particular service.

[ocr errors]

(32) And of the children of Issachar Rather, And of the sons of Issachar (came) men sage in discernment for the times (tempora, critical junctures), so as to know what Israel ought to do; viz., their chiefs two hundred (in number), and all their fellowclansmen under their orders. The old Jewish expositors concluded, from the former part of this verse,

that the tribe of Issachar had skill in astrology, so that they could read in the heavens what seasons were auspicious for action, as the ancient Babylonians professed to do. But all that the text really asserts is that those men of Issachar who went over to David thereby showed political sagacity. No similar phrase occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament.

At their commandment.-Upon their mouth. (Comp. Num. iv. 27.) The clansmen marched with their chieftains. The total number of Issachar's contingent is not assigned.

(33) Expert in war .-Marshalling (or ordering) battle with all kinds of weapons of war, and falling into rank (la'adōr, forming in line) without a double heart. The expression "falling into rank" occurs only here and in verse 38. Nine MSS. read instead "helping" (la'azōr), and the LXX. and Vulg. so translate. The Syriac has "to make war with those who disputed the sovranty of David." The phrase "falling into rank without a heart and a heart,' "" asserts the unwavering fidelity and resolute courage of these warriors of Zebulun (comp. Ps. xii. 3, "a speech of smooth things with heart and heart they speak"; they think one thing and say another; are double-minded). The number of warriors assigned to Zebulun and Naphtali has been thought surprising, because these tribes "never played an important part in the history of Israel" (comp., however, Judges v. 18). The numbers here given are, at all events, not discordant with those of Num. i. 31, 43; xxvi. 27, 50.

(34) Spear (hănîth).-A different word from that in verse 24 (rômah). Perhaps the former was thrown, the latter thrust.

(35) The Danites.- Literally, the Danite, as in verse 26, the Levite. Comp. Note on chap. vii. 12. Dan is not omitted in the present list.

(36) Expert in war.-Literally, to order or marshal battle (ad aciem struendam). The same phrase occurred in verses 33, 35. The margin (verse 33), "rangers of battle," is good.

(37) On the other side.-Better, from the other side; that is, from Peræa.

With all manner of instruments of war for the battle.-With all kinds of weapons of warlike service. The large total of 120,000 for the two and a half Eastern tribes is certainly remarkable. But, admitting the possibility of corruption in the ciphers

« PreviousContinue »