Commentaria in I Paralipomenon
Chapter 12
1. These also came to David to Siceleg, when he yet fled from Saul the son of Cis, who were most valiant and excellent fighters, 2. bending the bow, and with both hands casting stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul out of Benjamin. 3. The chief Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samaa the Gabaathite, and Jaziel, and Phallet the sons of Azmoth, and Baracha, and Jehu the Anathothite. 4. Samaias also the Gabaonite, most valiant among the thirty and above the thirty. Jeremias, and Jeheziel, phatia the Haruphite. 6. Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of Carehim: 7. Joela also, and Zabadia, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8. And of Gaddi there fled to David, when he lay hid in the desert, most strong men, and best fighters, holding shield and spear: their faces like the face of a lion, and swift as the roes upon the mountains: 9. Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third, 10. Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth, 11. Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12. Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth, 13. Jeremias the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. 14. These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: the least commanded a hundred soldiers, and the greatest a thousand. 15. These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is wont to overflow its banks; and they put to flight all that dwelt in the valleys toward the east and the west. 16. And there came also of the children of Benjamin and of Juda to the hold where David dwelt, 17. and David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you lie in wait for me for my enemies, whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see and judge. 18. And the spirit came upon Amasai, chief among the thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and with thee, O son of Isai, peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers: for thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band. 19. And some of Manasses went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight; and he did not fight with them, because the princes of the Philistines, upon consideration, sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master Saul. 20. When therefore he went back to Siceleg, there fell to him of Manasses, Ednas, and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses. 21. These gave help to David against the robbers: for they were all valiant men, and were made captains in the army. 22. Moreover day by day there came to David to help him, until they became a great number, like the army of God. 23. This also is the number of the chief of the army, who came to David when he was in Hebron, to transfer the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord. 24. The children of Juda carrying shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred armed for battle. 25. Of the children of Simeon, most valiant men for fighting, seven thousand one hundred. 26. Of the children of Levi, four thousand six hundred. 27. And Joiada, prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 28. Sadoc also, a youth of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two captains. 29. And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for a great part of them yet followed the house of Saul. 30. And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, most valiant men, men of renown in their kindreds. 31. And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names came to make David king. 32. Of the children also of Issachar men of understanding, who knew all the times, to give counsel what Israel ought to do, two hundred princes: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel. 33. And of Zabulon, such as went forth to battle, and stood in battle array, armed with warlike weapons, fifty thousand came to help, not with a double heart. 34. And of Nephthali, a thousand captains: and with them armed with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand. 35. Of Dan also, prepared for battle, twenty-eight thousand six hundred. 36. And of Aser, going forth to battle, and challenging in the line, forty thousand. 37. And beyond the Jordan, of the children of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasses, armed with warlike weapons, a hundred and twenty thousand. 38. All these men of war, expert in battle, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest of Israel were of one heart, that David should be made king. 39. And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had prepared for them. 40. And they also that were near them, as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephthali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, cakes of figs, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and rams, in great abundance; for there was joy in Israel.
Septuagint: of the Corites, or of the descendants of Core.
8. Of Gaddi,—that is, of the tribe of Gad, or of the Gadites.
15. These are they who crossed the Jordan in the month
2. Of the brethren of Saul out of Benjamin,—namely, of the kinsmen of Saul and the Benjamites; for Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin. This was a marvel, and as it were a miracle, by which God honoured David, an exile and fugitive, that many of the tribe of Benjamin and kinsmen of Saul preferred to follow him rather than King Saul who was persecuting him: doubtless God was fighting for David against Saul, and the innocence, modesty and holiness of David drew to him all those whom Saul by his pride, insolence and wickedness drove away from himself. Hence also three thousand of the Benjamites preferred to follow David rather than Isboseth the son of Saul, as is said in verse 29.
First (Nisan or the Paschal month, which corresponds partly to our March, partly to April), when it is wont to overflow its banks; and they put all to flight,—as if to say: These are the Gadites, who with heroic spirit and courage were the first to dare to enter the Jordan divided by Josue, and attacked the Chanaanites standing on the opposite bank and trying to forbid the Hebrews the passage, and drove them to flight.
the Cynosure, he says, guides the Phoenicians as they plough the sea.