Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 12:29
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
29. hitherto ] i.e. up to the time referred to in 2Sa 5:1.
kept the ward of the house of Saul ] R.V. kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For hitherto … – Rather, For still the greatest part of them maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul. This is given as the reason for so few coming to Hebron. It shows us that, even after the death of Ishbosheth, the Benjamites had hopes of furnishing a third king to the nation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ch 12:29
Until it was a great host.
The accumulation of power
It seems quite possible in the presence of this incident to find an easy statement of the law of the accumulation of power. The law may be stated thus: Persistent action in one direction brings, after a time, surprisingly added power for further action in that direction. Consider this–
1. In the accumulation of property.
2. As to the formation of habits.
3. As to increase in intellectual force.
4. As to advancing power in the spiritual life.
Lessons:
1. Be careful of the day. Day by day, because he day by day had been the man he was, they gathered to David. Especially towards the accumulation of any sort of power do not lose time in youth.
2. Have courage. Front towards such right accumulation of power, and this great law of its accumulation is steadily working for you.
3. This great law works as steadily the other way; e.g., King Saul, fronting and choosing wrong, was losing righteous power day by day, until at last he came to the sad wreck he made. (Wayland Hoyt, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
i.e. Endeavoured to keep the crown in their own tribe, and in Sauls family.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. Benjamin . . . threethousandThis small number shows the unpopularity of themovement in this tribe; and, indeed, it is expressly stated that themass of the population had, even after Ish-bosheth’s death, anxiouslyendeavored to secure the crown in the family of Saul.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[See comments on 1Ch 12:23].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(29) Kindred.Fellow-tribesmen.
Hitherto.Up to that time. (Comp., same phrase, 1Ch. 9:18.)
Had kept.Were still keeping guard over the house of Saul. For the phrase comp. Num. 3:38. The Benjamites, as a whole, were still jealously guarding the interests of their own royal house. This remark, as well as the preceding expression, Sauls fellow-tribesmen, is intended to explain the comparative smallness of the contingent from Benjamin. The tribes reluctance to recognise David survived the murder of Ish-bosheth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Benjamin three thousand A very great number could hardly be expected on this occasion from the tribe of Saul. Hence the writer adds, that hitherto, that is, up to that time, the greatest part of them had kept the ward (rather, were keeping charge) of the house of Saul. They still were adhering in sympathy and attachment to the house of their fallen king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ch 12:29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
Ver. 29. Had kept the ward of the house of Saul. ] Had done their utmost for Saul’s family, and to keep the royal dignity in their tribe, obeying before the commands of king Ishbosheth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
kindred. Hebrew brethren. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), “brethren” put for other relatives.
kept the ward = kept the charge. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6, charge put for keeping what was commanded.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
kindred: Heb. brethren, 1Ch 12:2, Gen 31:23
the greatest part of them: Heb. a multitude of them, 2Sa 2:8, 2Sa 2:9
Reciprocal: Jos 17:11 – Manasseh 2Sa 3:19 – Benjamin Psa 68:27 – little
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had {k} kept the ward of the house of Saul.
(k) That is, the greatest number took Saul’s side.