Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel [were] of one heart to make David king.
38. men of war, that could keep rank ] R.V. being men of war, that could order the battle array.
with a perfect heart ] i.e. with whole, undivided heart.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Ch 12:38-40
All these men of war.
The joyous entertainment
.
I.
1. United under one king.
2. A king chosen of God.
3. Universal loyalty to the chosen king.
II. The manifestation of joy.
1. In unity of purpose.
2. In sincerity of feeling.
3. In social fellowship.
III. The extent of the joy. (J. Wolfendale.)
For there was Joy in Israel.–
The manifestation of Christ a cause of great joy
The man who was the darling of the people, and from whose administration they had raised expectations, being now, by Divine appointment, made king over all the tribes, there was joy in Israel. There is abundant reason for much greater joy in the spiritual Israel, on account of Davids illustrious son, the King Messiah, the Saviour of His people (Zec 9:9; Isa 25:9).
I. The cause of joy of Israel, with relation to the King Messiah, the son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. This coming in the flesh is a matter of joy, as He then appeared King of Israel, and the Saviour thereof. Salvation is the source, the foundation of spiritual joy in Israel.
(1) This salvation is–
(a) From sin;
(b) From wrath to come;
(c) From eternal death;
(d) From every spiritual enemy.
(2) It is to be had freely.
(3) It is a great salvation.
(4) It is a salvation in which the glory of God is greatly concerned.
2. The spiritual coming of Christ in the hearts of His people at conversion is another event that causes joy in Israel.
3. In the latter day, when Christ will be more manifest, and, like David, will be King over all the house of Israel, and over the whole world, then there will be joy and gladness.
II. Where and among whom is this joy? Not only in Israel but in the whole world. Christ is not the God of the Jews only.
III. The nature of this joy.
1. It is spiritual.
2. It is the joy of our Lord.
3. It is the joy of faith.
4. It is a joy that the world knows nothing of.
6. It is unspeakable.
6. It is a joy to be continually exercised.
7. This joy will be at last full and complete. (J. Gill, D. D.)
What is essential to constitute a happy people
Professor Fairbairn says you cannot have a happy world without having happy men; you may have good health, good business, good children, good balance at the bank, life insured. So far so good, and yet ii the soul be unadjusted there is no peace. You may place an organ that is out of tune in a magnificent cathedral, but you have no harmony, and the discord is the more striking because of its lofty nave, its painted windows, and chiselled arches. But you take that organ well tuned and richly toned into a plain Methodist chapel, with its brick walls and flat ceiling, and you shall have the sweetest harmony. There can be no peace till the soul is brought in harmony by the grace of God. Peace is the inner condition of the soul arising from reconciliation to God. (G. Turner.)
The highest joy
I had lived, says the Countess Schimmelmann, all the spoiled child of the Court; so much so that the Crown Priam (afterwards the Emitter) Frederick introduced me to a stranger as the most highly favoured young lady of Germany, and of several other kingdoms besides. These worldly honours had never satisfied me, and the longing for something higher and better became increasingly stronger. My prayers at that time always culminated in the cry, O God, give me but a drop of the love of Christ and a spark of the fire of the Holy Ghost. A short time after, in response to my prayer that I might love Jesus and Jesus only, I heard the Saviour say to me, My child, thy salvation does not depend upon thy love to Me, but upon My love to thee, just as thou art. Then broke upon my heart a sun of joy, in the beams of which I still rejoice, and whose light will shine upon me eternally.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
To wit, after the death of Abner and Ish-bosheth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. all the rest also of Israel wereof one heart to make David kingthat is, entertained aunanimous desire for his elevation.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
All these men of war that could keep rank,…. Well disciplined men:
came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over Israel; they were all of one mind, and quite hearty and sincere in fixing David on the throne of all Israel:
and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart also to make David king; those who came not were of the same mind; it was the unanimous voice of the people that he should be their king.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(38) Conclusion of the list of 1Ch. 12:23-37.
All these men of war.Rather, All the above, being men of war, forming line of battle with whole heart, came to Hebron to make David king. The phrase forming line of battle, repeats the verb of 1Ch. 12:3, and supplies its proper object (dr madrkhah, aciem struentes). The Hebrew indicates a stop at line of battle; it is better to put it after with whole heart (comp. 1Ch. 12:33). They formed in line with fearless intrepidity; literally, corde integro.
And all the rest also of Israel, who did not appear personally at Hebron. The rest (shrth) is a term used here only. The Hebrew says, the remainder of Israel (was) one heart, i.e., was unanimous. (Comp. 2Ch. 30:12.)
Allowing the average for Issachar, the total of the warriors assembled at Hebron was upwards of 300,000. This will not surprise us if we bear in mind that in those days every able-bodied man was, as a matter of course, trained in the use of arms, and liable to be called out for the king,s wars. Thus man and warrior were almost convertible terms. The present gathering was not a parade of the entire strength of the nation; conp. the 600,000 warriors of the Exodus, and the 1,300,000 of Davids census. The main difficultythat of the relative proportions of the various tribal contingentshas been considered in the preceding Notes. The suggestions there made are, of course, uncertain, the fact being that we really do not know enough of the condition of the tribes at that epoch to justify us in pronouncing upon the relative probability of the numbers here assigned to them. That being so, it is a hasty and uncritical exaggeration to say that it is absolutely inconceivable that the tribes near the place of meeting, notably that of Judah, should have furnised so small a contingent, while the figures are raised in direct proportion to the distance to be traversed (Reuss).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
38. The rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king That is, they made no opposition, and raised no remonstrance. How much so-ever some lacked sympathy for David, and mourned over the lost cause of Saul, all were convinced in their hearts that David was the divinely chosen king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ch 12:38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel [were] of one heart to make David king.
Ver. 38. Were of one heart to make David king. ] So were those primitive Christians, and are now the reformed churches, to set up the Lord Christ.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a perfect heart. In contrast with a double heart. Compare 1Ch 12:33. Heart being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for its desires.
one heart. See note on Psa 133:1, and its references to 2Sa 19:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
with a perfect heart: The meaning of this expression may be inferred from that of a double heart in 1Ch 12:33. If a double heart be expressive of insincerity or duplicity, a perfect heart, which seems to be put in opposition to it, must signify a sincere, faithful, and entire attachment. 1Ki 8:61, 1Ki 11:4, 2Ki 20:3, Psa 101:2
all the rest: 1Ch 12:17, 1Ch 12:18, Gen 49:8-10, 2Ch 30:12, Psa 110:3, Eze 11:19
Reciprocal: Deu 33:20 – Blessed 1Sa 11:14 – renew 2Sa 3:12 – my hand 2Sa 15:10 – Hebron 1Ki 1:40 – rejoiced 1Ki 4:1 – over all Israel 1Ch 11:10 – to make 1Ch 18:14 – David 2Ch 10:1 – all Psa 141:6 – they shall hear Pro 18:24 – that hath
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:38 {m} All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel [were] of one heart to make David king.
(m) So that his whole host were 322,222.