1 Chronicles 12:21

And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(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 1Samuel 30:8; 1Samuel 30:15, 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. 1Chronicles 12:18, “made them captains of the band.”) It is pretty clear that the names enumerated (1Chronicles 12:1-20) are those of captains and chiefs, not of ordinary warriors. (Comp, 1Chronicles 12:14; 1Chronicles 12:18.) Consequently 1Chronicles 12:21-22 form a subscription or concluding remark to the entire list.

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 12:21-22. They helped David against the band, &c. — Against the Amalekites, who had taken and burned Ziklag, and whom David and his six hundred men were now pursuing. Or, as in the margin, with a band, or troop of soldiers, which they brought along with them to David’s assistance. They were all mighty men of valour — Therefore they readily came to David’s help. At that time, day by day — While David was at Ziklag, and in his march to Hebron, and principally at Hebron. There came to David — like the host of God — An innumerable multitude, like the stars or angels of God, both which are called God’s host.

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

21, 22. they helped David against the band—that is, the Amalekites who had pillaged Ziklag in David's absence. This military expedition was made by all his men (1Sa 30:9), who, as David's early helpers, are specially distinguished from those who are mentioned in the latter portion of the chapter.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Against the band of the rovers, i.e. against the Amalekites who had taken and burned Ziklag, whom David and his six hundred men were now pursuing, whom these accompanied in that expedition. Or, with a band or troop of soldiers, which they brought along with them to David’s assistance.

They were all mighty men of valour; therefore they readily came to David’s help.

Were captains in the host; therefore they brought others along with them.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they helped David against the band of the rovers,.... The Amalekites, who, while he was gone with the Philistines, had seized on Ziklag, and burnt it, and carried the women captive, with what spoil they could make; these coming to David thus opportunely, assisted him in his pursuit and defeat of them:

for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host; or army of David.

Geneva Study Bible

And they helped David against the {g} band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

(g) That is, of the Amalekites who had burned the city of Ziklag, 1Sa 30:1,9.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. against the band of the rovers] The reference is to the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1 ff). The Heb. word gĕdûd, here translated “band,” is translated “troop” (ib. 1 Samuel 30:8; 1 Samuel 30:15, R.V.).

and were captains] Render, and they became captains.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - The band. The band referred to is evidently that of Amalek in 1 Samuel 30:8, 9. Were captains; better, became captains. 1 Chronicles 12:21

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

These

(Note: We take והמּה to refer to the Manassites named in 1 Chronicles 12:20, like the והמּה of 1 Chronicles 12:1 and the הם אלּה הם eht of 1 Chronicles 12:15. Bertheau, on the contrary, thinks on various grounds that המּה refers to all the heroes who have been spoken of in vv. 1-20. In the first place, it was not the Manassites alone who took part in the conflict with Amalek, for David won the victory with his whole force of 600 men (1 Samuel 30:9), among whom, without doubt, those named in vv. 1-18 were included. Then, secondly, a clear distinction is made between those who gave in their adhesion to and helped David at an earlier period (1 Chronicles 12:1, 1 Chronicles 12:7, 1 Chronicles 12:22), and those who came to him in Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:23). And finally, the general remark in 1 Chronicles 12:22 is connected with 1 Chronicles 12:21 by the grounding כּי, so that we must regard 1 Chronicles 12:21 and 1 Chronicles 12:22 as a subscription closing the preceding catalogues. but none of these arguments are very effective. The grounding כי in 1 Chronicles 12:22 does not refer to the whole of 1 Chronicles 12:21, but only to the last clause, or, to be more accurate, only to בּצּבא, showing that David had an army. The second proves nothing, and in the first only so much is correct, that not merely the seven Manassites named in 1 Chronicles 12:20 took, part in the battle with Amalek, but also the warriors who had formerly gone over to David; but from that there is not the slightest reason to conclude that this is expressed by והמּה. It is manifest from the context and the plan of the register, that וגו עזרוּ והמּה can only refer to those of whom it is said in 1 Chronicles 12:20 that they went over to David as he was returning to Ziklag. If 1 Chronicles 12:21 and 1 Chronicles 12:22 were a subscription to all the preceding registers, instead of והמּה another expression which would separate the verse somewhat more from that immediately preceding would have been employed, perhaps כּל־אלה.)

helped David הגּדוּד על, against the detachment of Amalekites, who during David's absence had surprised and burnt Ziklag, and led captive the women and children (1 Samuel 30:1-10). This interpretation, which Rashi also has (contra turmam Amalekitarum), and which the Vulgate hints at in its adversus latrunculos, rests upon the fact that in 1 Samuel 30:8, 1 Samuel 30:15, the word הגּדוּד, which in general only denotes single detachments or predatory bands, is used of the Amalekite band; whence the word can only refer to the march of David against the Amalekites, of which we have an account in 1 Samuel 30:9., and not to the combats which he had with Saul. "For they were all valiant heroes, and were שׂרים, captains in the army," sc. which gathered round David.