Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 12:19
And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.
19 22. Manassite Adherents
19. And there fell some of Manasseh ] R.V. Of Manasseh aslo there fell away some.
when he came with the Philistines ] See 1Sa 28:1-2; 1Sa 29:1-11.
but they helped them not ] David’s men did not help the Philistines.
upon advisement ] “After consideration”; lit. “by counsel.” Cp. 1Ch 21:12, “advise thyself.”
fall ] R.V. fall away.
to the jeopardy of our heads ] Rather, at the price of our heads. David once became son-in-law to Saul at the price of the lives of two hundred of the Philistines (1Sa 18:27); their lords here (in Chron.) express their dread lest David reconcile himself to Saul by some act of treachery and slaughter done against his present Philistine patrons; cp. 1Sa 29:4 (“with” = “at the price of”).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They helped them not, i.e. the Manassites here named, and the rest of Davids forces, to whom they had now joined themselves, did not help the Philistines in battle, as David had pretended to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19-22. there fell some ofManassehThe period of their accession is fixed as the timewhen David came with the Philistines against Saul to battle.
but they helped them not(Seeon 1Sa 29:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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:
saying, he will fall to his master Saul, to the jeopardy of our heads; meaning, that he would go off with his troops to Saul, and betray them into his hands, and with their heads make his peace with him, see
1Sa 29:4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Manassites who went over to David before the last battle of the Philistines against Saul. – , to fall to one, is used specially of deserters in war who desert their lord and go over to the enemy: cf. 2Ki 25:11; 1Sa 29:3. , in the last clause of the verse, is a synonymous expression. The Manassites went over “when David went with the Philistines against Israel to the war, and (yet) helped them not; for upon advisement ( , cf. Pro 20:18), the lords of the Philistines had sent him away, saying, ‘For our heads, he will fall away to his master Saul.’ “ 1Sa 29:2-11 contains the historical commentary on this event. When the lords of the Philistines collected their forces to march against Saul, David, who had found refuge with King Achish, was compelled to join the host of that prince with his band. But when the other Philistine princes saw the Hebrews, they demanded that they should be sent out of the army, as they feared that David might turn upon them during the battle, and so win favour by his treachery with Saul his lord. See the commentary on 1Sa 29:1-11. , for our heads, i.e., for the price of them, giving them as a price to obtain a friendly reception from Saul (cf. 1Sa 29:4). In consequence of this remonstrance, Achish requested David to return with his warriors to Ziklag. On this return march (“as he went to Ziklag,” cf. with the of 1Sa 29:11), and consequently before the battle in which Saul lost his life (Berth.), and not after Saul’s great misfortune, as Ewald thinks, the Manassites whose names follow went over to David. The seven named in 1Ch 12:20 were “heads of the thousands of Manasseh,” i.e., of the great families into which the tribe of Manasseh was divided, and as such were leaders of the Manassite forces in war: cf. Num 31:14 with Exo 18:25, and the commentary on the latter passage.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Joined by Deserters, 1Ch 12:19-22
Somehow when David had taken his men to join the Philistines in their campaign against Saul and Israel the men of Israel were aware of his presence. Those of the tribe of Manasseh are specifically mentioned, with seven captains of thousands being named. When David was sent back, at the insistence of the Philistine lords, these men deserted from Israel, perhaps with numbers of their men, and accompanied David back to Ziklag.
The sack of Ziklag is related in chapter thirty below. The Manassites were there with David upon the discovery and accompanied him and his men on their rescue mission “against the band of the rovers.” They are called mighty men of valor and were assigned positions as captains in David’s host.
The attraction of David to the men of Israel is indicated by verse 22. It is probably also a commentary on the critical times following the ignominious defeat of Saul by the Philistines, and his death in the battle. The defeated men flocked daily to David until he had acquired a great host compared to the host of God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(19) There fell.The regular term for desertion of one cause for another (2Ki. 25:11).
When he came with the Philistines.(Comp. 1Sa. 29:2-11.) This verse is a summary of the narrative of 1Sa. 29:2 to 1Sa. 30:1.
They helped them not.David and his men helped not the Philistines. Perhaps the right reading is he helped them (azarm), not they helped them (azarm).
Upon advisement.After deliberation (Pro. 20:18).
To the jeopardy of our heads.At the price of our heads (1Ch. 11:19). By betraying us he will make his peace with his old master.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(19-22) The seven Manassite chieftains who went over to David on the eve of Sauls last battle.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. There fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul On David’s connexion with this war, see 1Sa 28:1-2; 1Sa 29:1-11. As the march with the Philistines led David through the territory of Manasseh, it was easy for members of this tribe to join him as he returned to Ziklag.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ch 12:19 And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.
Ver. 19. When he came with the Philistines, &c. ] See on 1Sa 29:1-11 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
there fell some of Manasseh, beside the Gadites. See note on 1Ki 12:17 for the strengthening of Judah and making it representative of the whole nation.
they: David and his men. See 1Sa 28:1, 1Sa 28:2; 1Sa 28:29.
them: the Philistines.
lords, or princes.
upon advisement = advisedly, or by counsel. Compare 1Ch 21:12.
to the jeopardy of our heads. Hebrew with our heads; or, at the cost of our heads.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 12:19-22
1Ch 12:19-22
SOME OF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH COME TO DAVID
“Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not; for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozebad, and Elihu, and Zilethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh. And they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host. For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great host, like the host of God.”
“When he (David) came with the Philistines against Saul” (1Ch 12:19). A full account of what is here mentioned is given in 1 Samuel 29. (See that reference for our notes regarding it.) It was upon that occasion that some of the tribe of Manasseh united with David. It was a timely addition to David’s forces, because he fought a battle against the Amalekites immediately afterward.
“Captains of thousands” (1Ch 12:20). This evidently refers to positions these defectors to David had with the tribe of Manasseh; but there is no statement here that they brought their `thousands’ with them to David’s cause. Nevertheless, the death of Saul that followed very quickly very likely afforded an opportunity for adding many thousands to David’s army.
“They helped David against the band of rovers” (1Ch 12:21). This band of rovers was that of the Amalekites who had plundered Ziklag during David’s trip with the Philistines to mount Gilboa. (See my commentary on 1 Samuel 30 for a full discussion of that Amalekite raid on Ziklag and David’s victory over them afterward.)
“Until there was a great host, like the host of God” (1Ch 12:22). This is a reference to the ultimate rally of all Israel to the kingship of David and should not be understood as applicable to the period of David’s long contest against Saul.
The remaining verses of this chapter leap forward seven years and a half to the crowning of David as king over all Israel, completely ignoring his seven and a half years as king in Hebron.
E.M. Zerr:
1Ch 12:19 – When David was preparing to light in the Philistine army against Israel (1Sa 28:1-2; 1Sa 29:1-10) these men offered to fight by his side. However, since David was rejected from the Philistine army, we have no further information as to the activities of these Manassehites.
1Ch 12:20. Ziklag was the city that had been given to David by the Philistine king of Gath. (1 Samuel 1-7.) Fell to him means they became friendly to him. These men of the tribe of Manasseh were not ordinary persons, but were captains. This shows the standing that David had in those troublous times.
1Ch 12:21-22. Rovers is not in the original, but band is, and is defined in the lexicon, “a crowd (especially of soldiers).” Moffatt’s translation gives us “the raiders.” These men who came to David from the tribe of Manasseh were themselves men of experience as soldiers, and were able to help him against the hostile bands. Encouraged no doubt by the favorable appearances, the number of men coming over to David’s side increased daily, until it became a great host, which means it became an army.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
when he came: 1Sa 29:2-4
to the jeopardy of our heads: Heb. on our heads
Reciprocal: 1Sa 29:4 – Make this fellow 2Ki 7:4 – let us fall 2Ch 15:9 – they fell Psa 60:7 – Gilead
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 12:19-20. They helped them not That is, the Manassites here named, and the rest of Davids forces, to whom they had now joined themselves, did not help the Philistines in battle, as David had pretended to do. As he went to Ziklag As he returned thither from the camp of the Philistines.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:19 And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they {f} helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.
(f) They came only to help David, and not to help the Philistines, who were enemies of their country.