Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 12:21
And they helped David against the band [of the rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.
21. against the band of the rovers] The reference is to the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag (1Sa 30:1 ff). The Heb. word gdd, here translated “band,” is translated “troop” ( ib. 1Sa 30:8; 1Sa 30:15, R.V.).
and were captains ] Render, and they became captains.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The band of the rovers – See the marginal reference.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 Davids assistance.
They were all mighty men of valour; therefore they readily came to Davids help.
Were captains in the host; therefore they brought others along with them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21, 22. they helped David againstthe bandthat is, the Amalekites who had pillaged Ziklag inDavid’s absence. This military expedition was made by all his men(1Sa 30:9), who, as David’searly helpers, are specially distinguished from those who arementioned in the latter portion of the chapter.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
These
(Note: We take to refer to the Manassites named in 1Ch 12:20, like the of 1Ch 12:1 and the eht of 1Ch 12:15. Bertheau, on the contrary, thinks on various grounds that 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 (1Sa 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 (1Ch 12:1, 1Ch 12:7, 1Ch 12:22), and those who came to him in Hebron (1Ch 12:23). And finally, the general remark in 1Ch 12:22 is connected with 1Ch 12:21 by the grounding , so that we must regard 1Ch 12:21 and 1Ch 12:22 as a subscription closing the preceding catalogues. but none of these arguments are very effective. The grounding in 1Ch 12:22 does not refer to the whole of 1Ch 12:21, but only to the last clause, or, to be more accurate, only to , 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 1Ch 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 . It is manifest from the context and the plan of the register, that can only refer to those of whom it is said in 1Ch 12:20 that they went over to David as he was returning to Ziklag. If 1Ch 12:21 and 1Ch 12:22 were a subscription to all the preceding registers, instead of another expression which would separate the verse somewhat more from that immediately preceding would have been employed, perhaps .)
helped David , against the detachment of Amalekites, who during David’s absence had surprised and burnt Ziklag, and led captive the women and children (1Sa 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 1Sa 30:8, 1Sa 30:15, the word , 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 1Sa 30:9., and not to the combats which he had with Saul. “For they were all valiant heroes, and were , captains in the army,” sc. which gathered round David.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(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 1Sa. 30:8; 1Sa. 30:15, where the band (haggedd, as here) of Amalek, which had captured and burnt Ziklag in Davids 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. 1Ch. 12:18, made them captains of the band.) It is pretty clear that the names enumerated (1Ch. 12:1-20) are those of captains and chiefs, not of ordinary warriors. (Comp, 1Ch. 12:14; 1Ch. 12:18.) Consequently 1Ch. 12:21-22 form a subscription or concluding remark to the entire list.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. They helped David against the band The predatory horde of Amalekites, which, during David’s absence, had fallen upon Ziklag, and taken the women and children captive. See 1 Samuel 30.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
helped David = helped with David.
the band: i.e. the Amalekites, who had burned Ziklag during his absence. See 1Sa 30:1-20. It is assumed that we know of this.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
against the band: or, with a band, 1Sa 30:1-17
mighty men: 1Ch 12:20, 1Ch 5:24, 1Ch 11:10, 1Ch 11:21, 1Ch 11:22
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 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 Davids assistance. They were all mighty men of valour Therefore they readily came to Davids 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 Gods host.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:21 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; 1Sa 30:9.