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. 20As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh. 21And they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. 22For from day to day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
23And these are the numbers of the heads of them that were armed for war, which came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of
but they helped them not] David's men did not help the Philistines.
upon advisement] "After consideration"; lit. "by counsel." Cp. xxi. 12, "advise thyself."
to the jeopardy of our heads] Rather, at the price of our heads. David became son-in-law to Saul at the price of the lives of two hundred of the Philistines (1 Sam. xviii. 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. 1 Sam. xxix. 4 ("with" = "at the price of").
20. As he went] i.e. As he returned (1 Sam. xxx. 1).
Jozabad] This name occurs twice; possibly in the original list different patronymics were attached to the two mentions of the name.
captains of thousands] Cp. xv. 25; Mic. v. 2. Tribes were divided into "thousands" which were subdivided into "hundreds." These divisions were of civil as well as of military significance.
21. the band of rovers] The reference is to the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag (1 Sam. xxx. 1 ff). The Heb. word gědūd, here translated "band," is translated "troop" in 1 Sam. xxx. 8, 15.
and were captains] Render, and they became captains.
22. the host of God] The phrase comes from Gen. xxxii. 2; cp. Ps. lxviii. 15 (R.V.) "a mountain of God." The epithet "of God" is used to distinguish a thing as "very great."
23—40 (cp. 2 Sam. v. 1). The Forces which came to Hebron
to make David King.
23. And these are, etc.] It may confidently be said that the list as it stands is the composition of the Chronicler himself, for the syntax and vocabulary of the passage are his, and there is no evidence to
