Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 12:22

For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of God.

22. For at that time day by day ] R.V. For from day to day.

the host of God ] The phrase comes from Gen 32:2; cp. Psa 68:15 (R.V.) “a mountain of God.” The epithet “of God” is used to distinguish a thing as “very great.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 22. Like the host of God.] “That is, a very numerous army; like the army of the angel of God.” – T.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

At that time, i.e. while he was at Ziklag, and in his march to Hebron, and principally at Hebron, as the next verse explains it.

Like the host of God, i.e. innumerable, like the stars or angels, both which are called Gods hosts. Otherwise, the host of God, i.e. a very great host, great things being so called, as cedars, mountains, &c. of God. But the particle of likeness here added excludes this sense, for it had been very improper to say, a great host like a great host, i.e. like itself.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

22. the host of Godthat is, agreat and powerful army.

1Ch12:23-40. THE ARMIESTHAT CAMETO HIM AT HEBRON.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

For at that time, day by day, there came to David to help him,…. Particularly after the defeat of Saul by the Philistines, unto the time that David came to Hebron:

until it was a great host, like the host of God; the heavenly host, the angels; so the Targum.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

“For every day” ( , at the time of each day) “came (people) to David to help him, until to a great host, like a host of God,” i.e., until his band grew to a camp like to a host of God. , a host which God has formed, and in which the power of God shows itself; cf. hills and cedars of God, Psa 36:7; Psa 80:11. In these concluding remarks to the enumeration by name of the valiant men who during Saul’s lifetime went over to David, there is no exaggeration which would betray an idealizing historian (Movers, S. 270). The greatness of a host of God is to be estimated according to the power and the spirit, not according to the number, of the warriors, so that we need not take the words to mean a host of thousands and tens of thousands. David had at first 400, afterwards 600, valiant warriors, against whom Saul with his thousands could accomplish nothing. The increase in their number from 400 to 600 shows that the host increased from day to day, especially when we keep in mind the fact that after Saul’s defeat considerable bands of fugitives must certainly have gone over to David before he was anointed in Hebron to be king over Judah. The expression is only rhetorical, not idealizing or exaggerating.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(22) For at that time day by day . . .Literally, For at the time of each day (i.e., every day) men used to come to David to help him; amounting to a mighty camp, like a camp of God. The verse explains why David required so many captains as have been enumerated, and why the term army was used of his troop in the last verse.

A great host, like the host of God.Literally, camp. The phrase has an antique colouring Comp. Gen. 32:1-2 : And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is Gods camp (mahanh Elhm): and the name of that place was called Mahanaim (i.e., two camps). Mahanaim was a place i Manasseh (Jos. 13:30). Ancient Hebrew denotes excellence by reference to the Divine standard, which is the true ideal of all excellence. Comp. Psa. 36:6 : Thy righteousness is like the hills of God; and so elsewhere we find the expression, cedars of God (Psa. 80:11). The verse appears to include the considerable accessions to Davids forces which followed upon the defeat and death of Saul.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

22. A great host, like the host of God That is, strong, mighty, glorious. Compare “hill of God,” Psa 68:15, “cedars of God,” Psa 80:10, margin; “city of God,” Jon 3:3, margin.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1Ch 12:22 For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of God.

Ver. 22. Like the host of God, ] i.e., A numerous and a notable host, such as God’s is, of angels and all creatures. Dei nimirum Maximi, maxima sunt omnia.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)