Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Parallel Translations
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Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
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Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of 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.
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(12-19) Then the spirit clothed Amasai, who was chief of the captains: Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Cross-references (23)
Passages linked to 1 Chronicles 12:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Judges 6:34 But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
- Judges 3:10 Yahweh’s Spirit came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. His hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.
- 2 Samuel 17:25 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
- John 6:67-68 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- Ruth 1:16 Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
- 2 Samuel 20:4-8 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.” So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together; but he stayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.” Joab’s men went out after him, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
- 1 Kings 9:22 But of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
- 2 Kings 9:32 He lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
- 2 Kings 10:5 He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”
- 1 Chronicles 2:17 Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
- Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
- Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
- Galatians 6:16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
- Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.
- Judges 13:25 Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
- 1 Samuel 8:12 He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
- 1 Samuel 22:7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
- 1 Samuel 25:5-6 David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. Tell him, ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you! Peace be to your house! Peace be to all that you have!
- 1 Samuel 25:28-29 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days. Though men may rise up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies, as from the hollow of a sling.
- 2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 15:21 Ittai answered the king, and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”
- 2 Samuel 19:13 Say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t captain of the army before me continually instead of Joab.’ ”
- Zechariah 8:23 Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The spirit of boldness and courage moved him to…
The spirit of boldness and courage moved him to speak thus.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Ch 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who…
1Ch 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who was] chief of the captains, [and he said], Thine [are we], David, and on thy side, thou son of 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.
Ver. 18. Then the spirit came upon Amasai.] Heb., Clothed Amasai or Abishai, as some read it, together with whose words there went forth power, such as wrought in David’s heart a firm belief of their fidelity: he was not thenceforth jealous of them at all. Pray for such a spirit upon our rulers and teachers.
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Peace, peace be unto thee,] i.e., Pax omnimoda, Perfect peace, as Isa 26:3. This he spake by the motion of the spirit, met by a motion of the same spirit wrought in David’s heart, causing him to rest in what Amasai said as undoubtedly true. After the same manner is saving faith wrought in God’s elect. {Eph 1:13} Let us be faithful in weakness, though but weak in faith.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The Spirit came upon Amasai; not only saving graces,…
The Spirit came upon Amasai; not only saving graces, but other heroical and generous motions, are ascribed to God’s Spirit, which here stirred up in him a more than ordinary greatness and presentness of mind and resolution.
Thy God helpeth thee; we have observed God’s singular and gracious care of thee, and kindness to thee, and if we should oppose thee, we should be fighters against God and his word and providence.
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Captains of the band, i. e. of those forces which they brought with them. Or, he put them among the heads or officers of his band, i.e. he gave them commands, either now in his small army, each according to his quality; or afterwards, when he was advanced to the kingdom; for it is not here expressed when he did this.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they helped David against the band of the…
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.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain The Spirit - Not only saving graces, but other…
The Spirit - Not only saving graces, but other heroical and generous motions are ascribed to God's spirit, which here stirred up in him a more that ordinary greatness of mind and resolution.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 18. The spirit came upon Amasai] "The spirit…
Verse 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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Ch 12:18. The Spirit came upon Amasai — Not…
1Ch 12:18. The Spirit came upon Amasai — Not only saving graces, but other heroical and generous motions are ascribed to God’s Spirit, which here stirred up in him a more than ordinary greatness of mind and resolution. Thy God helpeth thee — We have seen evidences of God’s singular and gracious care of thee, and kindness to thee; and if we should oppose thee we should fight against God, and his word and providence. Then David made them captains of the band — Of those forces which they brought with them: or, he put them among the heads, or officers of his band; that is, he gave them commands, either now in his small army, each according to his quality; or afterward, when he was advanced to the kingdom: for it is not here said when he did this.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Amasai - The marginal reference identifies him with Amasa,…
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 1Ch 12:8-15, we have manifestly the actual words of a very ancient record.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Spirit of God (Calmet; or good will, Du Hamel)…
Spirit of God (Calmet; or good will, Du Hamel) prompted Amasai, the chief of "the officers." (Calmet) --- Band, or "of a company." (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 18. The spirit came upon Amasai — Hebrews clothed…
18. The spirit came upon Amasai — Hebrews clothed Amasai, that is, enwrapped him as with armour. See note on Jdg_6:34.
Thine are we, David — This speech of Amasai is full of emotion, and rises to poetic parallelism.
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To thee, O David!
And with thee, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace unto thee,
And peace unto thy helpers;
For helpeth thee thy God.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. the spirit came upon A.] Lit. a spirit…
18. the spirit came upon A.] Lit. a spirit (i.e. from God) clothed itself with (i.e. entered into) Amasai. Cp. 2Ch_24:20; Jdg_6:34.
Amasai] Probably to be identified with “Amasa” (2Sa_17:25; 2Sa_19:13).
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chiefs of the captains] So A.V. rightly, following the K’rî. The “captains” are Amasai’s companions. R.V., following the C’thîb, reads “chief of the thirty”; cp. 1Ch_11:15; 1Ch_11:25.
Thine are we, David, and on thy side] Lit. “For thee, David, and with thee.”
for thy God helpeth thee] The belief that David’s frequent escapes from Saul were due to Divine protection influenced Amasai and his companions in joining David.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (18) Then the spirit came upon Amasai.—Literally, and spirit…
(18) Then the spirit came upon Amasai.—Literally, and spirit clothed Amasai. The term for “God” (Elohim) has probably fallen out of the Heb. ext. (Comp. 2Ch_24:20, and Jdg_6:34.) 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_11:2.) The spirit of Jehovah is the source of true courage, as of all other spiritual gifts.
Amasai.—Perhaps the same as Amasa (1Ch_2:17), son of Abigail, David’s sister, whom Joab murdered out of jealousy (2Sa_17:25; 2Sa_20:4-10).
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Chief of the captains.—The Heb. text reads, “head of the Thirty,” with which the LXX., Svr., and Vulg. agree. The Heb. margin (Qri) has “knights,” or “chariot-soldiers” (Authorised Version, “captains”), which is less probable. Amasai’s name is not given in the catalogue of the Thirty (1 Chronicles 11), and he is here called “chief of the Thirty” by anticipation.
Thine are we, David.—The structure of Amasas inspired utterance is poetical—
“To thee, David!
And with thee, son of Ishai!
Peace, peace to thee.
And peace to thine helper;
For thy God hath holpen thee!
On thy side.—Heb., with thee. (Comp. 1Ch_11:10; 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, Salãm ‘alaikum—Peace to you!) David’s past history gave ample evidence of Divine support.
Then David received them.—A late Heb. word (qibbçl). The chronicler resumes his narrative.
Made them captains of the band.—Literally, and bestowed them among the heads of the band—made them officers of his little army, which was continually growing by such adhesions, (Comp. 1Sa_22:2, and 1Sa_23:13.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The response of the band, by the mouth of…
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, (1Ch_2:17) the son of Abigail (David"s sister), wife of Jether. (2Sa_17:25 2Sa_18:6 2Sa_19:13 2Sa_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. The Spirit (see Num_11:26; Neh_9:30) The more literal translation of the verb came upon is clothed. Most interesting and instructive is the subject of the gradually developing manifestation of the agency of the eternal Spirit from the beginning of the world. Through the ascending illustrations of his natural work in creation, (Gen_1:2) his relation to human bodily life (Gen_2:7; Job_27:3) his intellectual work of various kinds (Gen_41:38; Exo_28:3; Num_24:2; Jud_1:9:29) we are led on to his highest spiritual functions.
The Spirit that taught to speak and taught to hear aright.
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The words of Amasai, the uttering of which is especially ascribed to the impulse of the Spirit, must be worthy of some particular notice. They may be depended upon for containing and being ready to convey some instructive lessons or illustrations of important principle. The caution or suspicion of David at a moment of such uncertainty for him has been accounted for and justified. Amasai"s answer that moment to the doubting language and bearing of David should properly decide all either one way or the other, if he is to be depended on to speak truth and without dissembling. But how did David know this? Could he unerringly read the signs and trust his own power to discern? There are moments when honesty and truth may be said to be unable to do anything else than recognize honesty and truth; they know their own face as a man knows his own face in a mirror. Tone also tells the truth, that mere words may not be depended upon to tell, and certainly tone and look and manner all added are very reliable witnesses one way or the other, witnesses of sincerity or insincerity. Any way, it is scarcely open to us in any fairness to suppose that David would, by carelessness or by self-confidence, lose the second moment the very advantages which his caution and venial suspicion show that he was in quest of the former moment. So we may suppose at all events that the same Spirit who taught Amasai to speak aright taught David to hear aright. At the same time, that Spirit himself seldom moves without signs accompanying and following. Some evidences of this may be observable as we proceed. Notice
I SOME EVIDENCES OF SINCERITY STAMPED ON THE ANSWER OF AMASAI
1. Its promptness. There was no hesitation, no casting about for words, no lingering to contrive safe words A falsehood is often boldly spoken, and the tongue of insincerity is practised in glibness and smoothness. But this will generally be in paths already well known, and not as now, when perhaps the last thing to have been expected from the lip of David was the boldness that was required for the outspeaking of suspicion.
2. Its unqualified frankness. No limping sentence, no lame engagement, no offer nor attempt at contract or bargain, but uncompromising self-surrender: "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse." Such is the style of these men and of zealous fidelity of service.
3. The absence of the slightest appearance of feeling offended. There might have seemed room in such a case, some plausible room, for betraying a sense of affrontedness. Honest men come up to offer their allegiance, love, and very life, and they are met with question sceptical of their honesty. This was a growingly good sign of their sincerity, for the affronted man often enough knows, as often as any bystander, that there is no affront; that that which may sound like affront or look like it is the necessity of wisdom and of the position, and he betrays himself in seeing the affront betrays that he wishes to take it.
1. The discrimination shown in the selection of one word used in this reply. "Peace" is the key-word of their reply. David had said had happened to say no, had designed to say, "If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me." Everything lay really in that word peaceably. " And the men questioned, perceived, and felt it, and Amasai, led by the Spirit,
2. answers both to the spirit and to the letter of the somewhat plaintive melancholy "if" of David. "Peace" is the burden of his response.
3. The heart and earnestness thrown into the reply, Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers." David"s was a question of peace for himself, and of help for himself. But such is the confidence in their cause and in themselves as honest men, that those who come to him engage and assure "Peace, peace" for him and for those who should help him. This looks like men thoroughly conversant with their subject and thoroughly confident in it. They seem to want to say that there is no stint of peace; their persuasion of it is such that they are sure it is "enough" for him and "enough for all.
1. The piety and right sound practical theology thrown into it. The answer does not "heal slightly." It does not promise "peace" from a barren source. It does not rest its own confidence on man. For thy God helpeth thee" is the assigned ground of Amasai"s confidence, that peace dawning splendidly and surely now for David and for his cause. These men themselves had done right to wait till they were sure that the call was of God, and that God was with David, and that the cause of David was the cause of God. And as soon as they were convinced of this they came to David. And they came to help, nerve, and brace up his own faith, while they would say to him, "If God be with thee, who can be against thee?" "If God be with thee, what but peace can attend thy steps and those of all thy helpers?
II SOME EVIDENCE OF A GOOD TRUSTFUL HEART IN DAVID.
1. He also makes no delay. He receives them who had answered so well and so much to the point. He receives them graciously. " And became then and there a feeble, humble, but real type of him who "receives graciously" all who humbly and with the spirit of self-surrender and faithful service come to him.
2. He heartily trusts. As they had with heart replied to him, and with enthusiasm proffered to join him and his cause, he throws at once to the winds the last symptom of a suspicion, and reposes a hearty trust in the new-comers. "He made them captains of the band." There were trust and promotion at the same time. It is not one of the least interesting parts of the study of the manner of Jesus" miracles to observe how against those occasions on which for some good reason he saw fit to keep even an earnest supplicant waiting, there were others in which alike with signal promptness he blessed them, and with signal trust and condescension called them to his service. It now needed no condescension on the part of David, but it did need trust, and he finally acquits himself herein of any suspicion of possessing a heart that loves suspicion.
Loyalty.
It was the suspicion and the adjuration of David that called forth this passionate language of devotion and loyalty on the part of Amasai, the spokesman of the men of Benjamin and Judah. When these men came forward, offering their swords to the valiant son of Jesse, he appears to have suspected them of treacherous designs. If language could prove their sincerity, the language recorded in the text must have had this effect: "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, peace be unto thee, and to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee." It is remarkable that this utterance is declared to have been prompted by "the Spirit," i.e. of God himself, who is the Author of truth, sincerity, and fidelity. If we take this language as appropriate, when addressed by Christians to their Divine Lord, it brings before our minds the nature and obligation of Christian loyalty.
I CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZE IN THEIR SAVIOUR THE "HELP Or THE LORD." This is the literal meaning of the name "Jesus," i.e. the Help or Salvation of Jehovah." David"s Son and David"s Lord is" mighty to save;" in him the Lord has indeed "laid help upon One who is mighty.
II CHRISTIANS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROYAL AUTHORITY OF CHRIST. He was King, even when Here upon earth m his humiliation, even when crowned with thorns, when his sceptre was a reed, when he wore the purple robe laid over his shoulders in mockery. How much more manifestly is he King, now that he is in glory! Every loyal subject of the Lord Christ delights to acknowledge his sovereignty, to do him homage, to offer him tribute, to obey his will.
III CHRISTIANS OFFER TO CHRIST THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR SERVICE. "Thine are we." Such is the exclamation of the true soldiers of the cross. We are his by every bend. He has a right to our love, our life, our all. Let him be enthroned in our spirits; let him rule in our life; let his love inspire our devotion; let his law direct our active service.
IV CHRISTIANS DESIRE AND PRAY FOR THE PROSPERITY OF CHRIST"S CAUSE. "Peace," said the Benjamite to David, "Peace be unto thee, and to thine helpers!" If our hearts are given to Christ, nothing will be so dear to us as the progress of his kingdom, the prosperity of his cause, the honour of his gracious Name. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." "Prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised. T.
David"s mighty men: motive for service.
Let us now glance at the motive of these noble men who joined David"s standard. Despising the court of Saul and all its honours, they were drawn to David. His exile and reproach were dearer to them than it all. And why? Instructed by the Spirit of God, they recognized the Lord"s anointed. They looked not at the present, but forward to that hour when the king should reign. For this they counted all the honours of Saul as worthless. They esteemed David"s reproach because they had respect to his future glory, Need I say what this teaches? The people of God now are gathered round Jesus, the rejected One, the Exile from this world. They esteem the reproach of Christ, for they have respect to the recompense of the reward. "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." They "know whom they have believed." "The heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing." The world has set itself against Christ. Yet they know, notwithstanding all this, that "the Lord hath set his King on his holy hill of Zion." Jesus is that King. And his love has drawn them out from this world"s ruler and god, and with joy they move onward under the "Captain of their salvation. W.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain 1Ch_12:16; 1Ch_12:18
1Ch_12:16; 1Ch_12:18
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
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Recruits for King Jesus
I want to run a parallel between the case of David and that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. Here is a very commendable example. Many of these men of Judah and Benjamin went to join themselves to David.
1. Because they bad heard that he was the Lords anointed If Jesus be Gods anointed, let Him be your beloved.
2 Because of his personal excellences.
3. Because he was so misrepresented and abused by his enemies.
4. Because they believed that he had a great future before him.
II. A. cautious inquiry. See what David said to them.
1. He set before them the right way; He said, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you. Here are three questions--
(1) Do you come to Christ and accept Him?
(2) Do you come with a desire to maintain peace among your Christian brethren?
(3) Do you come with the intent of helping the Lord Jesus Christ to spread abroad His truth?
2. He set before them the wrong way: But if ye be come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Some betray the Lord Christ to His enemies--
1. By giving up the doctrines of the gospel.
2. By their inconsistent lives.
3. By apostasy.
III. A cordial enlistment. Thine are we, David, and on thy side, etc. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
David and his helpers
Man is not an independent being. He is dependent for his life, his thought, his feeling--dependent upon God his Creator and his Preserver. He is dependent for the comforts and conveniences of life--dependent upon his fellow-men. And he that seems perhaps to be the most independent amongst us, is after all the most dependent upon his fellows. Man was never made to be independent here. He was never made to be alone. Some such circumstances as these gave rise to the peculiar position of the son of Jesse, as we read of him in the text. David was then combating against a twofold enemy--Saul, the king, his predecessor in office, and the Philistines, the hereditary foes of Israel. Let us mark the concurrent circumstances of these times. Davids cause was not the winning side when these secessions broke off from the strength of Saul and attached themselves to the cause of the son of Jesse. He was as yet in point of numbers and of strength in a very small minority. He was not in power; and, so far as human appearances went, he was very far from power. Every appearance was against him. He himself, though the captain of a band, was a fugitive. And Saul was in power, for Saul was king. David is possessed of but scanty resources, but Saul can command the ways and the means and the supplies of a kingdom. And yet these men come, and they volunteer their services to the son of Jesse. They came not to the throne of one that rules, but they came to the cave of one that hides himself. No marvel that David should have suspected their proper aim, and should have inquired, inquisitively, as to the motive of their coming, as to the object of their visit in this the day of his distress and of his darkness. And this accounts for his inquiry in the verse preceding my text. We would learn from this text the value and the estimate to be set upon Christian co-operation. The downcast and the down-trodden may be rallied by a sympathising word, and may be aroused; and thus arise to his work and to his labour from the very consciousness that he is not altogether alone. Christian co-operation was given to Elijah. The assurance that God one day gave the Tishbite, that there were still seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal, mightily reassured the prophet. And when we come to inquire into the circumstances of this case a little further, respecting David, we are enabled to find out what was the kind of help, the quality of the help that he obtained. This may be judged of by considering the time in which the help was vouchsafed. As I have said, it was not in the time of his prosperity, but it was some time anterior to that, and in the time of his greatest adversity. Now, it is a law, or axiom, a practical law, that those men are most to be trusted in prosperity that have stood the firmest in the day of adversity. And verily, in practice, these men receive the reward of their fidelity. These men came and chose not the winning side; but there was a mark about even that declining interest--Thy God helpeth thee. That decided the question. If God be for David, what can Saul do against him? If God be for us, who can be against us? God is not forgetful of your work and labour of love which you have showed toward His name. Mark, for instance, His twelve--His chosen ones. They had attached themselves to the person of the lowly Jesus, when there was no mark of distinction, of royalty, of kingly power: at His call they obeyed. Never were there purer days in the Christian faith than when the Christian faith was persecuted. Thus was it with Davids auxiliaries: they looked not to the present adversity, but to the future glory. Thy God helpeth thee, was sufficient as an indication of what would be. These were powerful men. Their faces were like the faces of lions; bold as a lion; and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains. They were able to ford the depths of Jordan at its full, and in its overflowing, and to rout their enemies to the east and to the west. Truly, with such auxiliaries, David might well thank God, and take courage. But this was not all. His hopes begin to brighten, his prospects begin to look up. Day after day added its gradual increase to his army, until by and by it became a mighty host like unto the host of God. That is what the Scripture says. Each tribe sent its proportion. Thousands, tens of thousands, flocked to the standard of David, and enlisted in defence of the cause of the son of Jesse, until well-nigh half a million of men may be counted, from the enumeration of our context, as having resorted to his cause. This, from beginnings small, but good; this, from incipient stages scanty, yet hopeful. And all these men are well spoken of. They were mighty men of valour; they were ready armed; they were famous throughout the house of their fathers; they were no anonymous helpers, but it is said they were expressed by name to come and make David king. And the value of that help was great because it was a right hearty help--such a help as we need, such a help as is indispensable if we are to be helped at all. We want no halfhearted men, but we want men of God--they are the best, they are the surest, they are the safest, they are the most and the longest to be depended upon. Our experience of human helpers has been a chequered experience. Some that began with us have not continued; some from whom we expected much, perhaps, have broken down midway, departed from us, and went not with us to the work; some that promised nothing, and from whom we expected nothing, have been the most ready, and have been the foremost to come and say, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers. (R. Maguire, M. A.)
Fitness for the service of the great King
I. Intelligence is required.
II. Courage is required.
III. Unity is required.
IV. Enthusiasm is required. (J. Wolfendale.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 the Spirit came on Amasai
the Spirit came on Amasai
The Spirit empowering Amasai is spoken of as if the Spirit came on him. AT: "the Spirit empowered Amasai" (See: Metaphor)
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Amasai
This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)
the thirty
"the 30 soldiers" (See: Numbers)
We are yours, David. We are on your side, son of Jesse
These phrases share similar meanings. The idioms "we are yours" and "we are on your side" both mean that the men support David. AT: "We are devoted to you, David. We support you, son of Jesse" (See: Parallelism and Idiom)
Peace, may peace be to whoever helps you
Here the word "peace" refers to prosperity and well-being. The word is repeated to emphasize great prosperity. AT: "May whoever helps you greatly prosper" (See: Doublet)
translationWords
Holy Spirit
chief
Jesse
commander
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.