1 Chronicles 12:17-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:1-22

We have here an account of those that appeared and acted as David's friends, upon the death of Saul, to bring about the revolution. All the forces he had, while he was persecuted, was but 600 men, who served for his guards; but, when the time had come that he must begin to act offensively, Providence brought in more to his assistance. Even while he kept himself close, because of Saul (1 Chron. 12:1), while he did not appear, to invite or encourage his friends and well-wishers to come in to him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

And David went out to meet them ,.... Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them, some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion, fearing they were not his friends, being, it may be, chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them: and said unto them, if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me ; if they were come with a good will to him, and intention to help him against his enemy,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:18

Then the spirit came upon Amasai ,.... Or "clothed" F6 לבשה "induit", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; him; a spirit of fortitude, as the Targum, of strength, courage, and presence of mind, with which he was endowed, covered, and clothed as with a garment; this was a sister's son of David's, see 2 Samuel 17:25 . who was chief of the captains ; of them that came at this time with him to David; he was afterwards Absalom's general, and designed to be David's, but was murdered by Joab:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:19

And there fell some of Manasseh to David ,.... Of the tribe of Manasseh; they took his part, and on his side, and joined him: when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle ; which was a strong proof of their cordial attachment to him: but they helped them not : the Philistines; neither David nor his men, nor the Manassites that joined them: for the lords of the Philistines, upon advisement ; counsel taken among themselves: sent him away; that is, David and his men: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 12:18

The spirit came upon Amasai - "The spirit of fortitude clothed Amasai, the chief of the mighty men; and he answered, For thy sake, O David, are we come, that we may be with thee, thou son of Jesse. Prosperity be to thee by night and by day; and prosperity be to thy helpers; for the Word of the Lord is thy assistant." - T. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

The solemn tone of David's language recorded here, and the beautiful pathos and religious appeal of the last two sentences of the verse, bespeak sufferings and disappointments experienced by David heretofore through deception. It is, however, noticeable that there is no direct testimony of anything of this kind, least of all of any flagrant instance of it, on the part of such detachments of friends as had come to him; and that , though they had occasionally been contributed from sources... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:17

There is very great distinction to be drawn between suspicion and suspiciousness. The latter describes the character, expresses a characteristic , and reveals a tendency or bias that can find no admirer, unless it be a man of taste the most vitiated and unlovely. The former may be easily enough the necessity of accident or circumstance, It may possibly mark out the person who on occasion manifests it as deserving and plaintively claiming sympathy and help. The fact of its being betrayed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:18

The response of the band, by the mouth of Amasai was worthy of the character of the appeal that David made, both in its heartiness and its high tone. Amasai. Possibly the same with Amasa ( 1 Chronicles 2:17 ), the son of Abigail (David's sister), wife of Jether ( 2 Samuel 17:25 ; 2 Samuel 18:6 ; 2 Samuel 19:13 ; 2 Samuel 20:10 ). Ewald discusses this point ('Genesis Int.,' 2:544). He was made captain of the host by Absalom, afterwards by David, and Joab put an end to his life. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 12:19

And there fell… of Manasseh to David . Of this use of נָפַל עלא there are many other examples ( 2 Chronicles 15:9 ; Jeremiah 37:14 ; Jeremiah 39:9 ). The phrase does not correspond with our own idiom of "falling to" one's lot, but with that of" falling away" from the service or love of one to another, i.e. deserting. The occasion hero spoken of is described in full in 1 Samuel 29:2-11 . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 12:18

Amasai - The marginal reference identifies him with Amasa, David’s nephew, but it seems unlikely that David would have misdoubted a band led by his own nephew.The passionate earnestness of Amasai’s speech is strongly marked in the original, and will be better seen by omitting the words which our Version adds in italics. Here, as in 1 Chronicles 12:8-15, we have manifestly the actual words of a very ancient record. read more

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