1 CHRONICLES LESSON 15


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 12:1 "Now these [are]
they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close
because of Saul the son of Kish: and they [were] among the mighty men,
helpers of the war."

     Ziklag was where David stayed, just before the death of Saul.
David was in Ziklag for a year and a half. Saul wanted to kill David,
and David just stayed away from Saul. David had loyal men with him all
the time he was running from Saul. David could have killed Saul
several times, but would not, because he was God's anointed. Achish
had given Ziklag to David as a place to live.

     I Chronicles 12:2 "[They were] armed with bows, and could use
both the right hand and the left in [hurling] stones and [shooting]
arrows out of a bow, [even] of Saul's brethren of Benjamin."

     These particular men had been with Saul, until they determined he
was not fair in his dealings. They were some of the choice fighters
who could use both hands in battle. They determined that David was
right in the problem with Saul, and they came to serve David. Saul was
a Benjamite, but they could not follow him, because of his cruelty
toward David.

     I Chronicles 12:3 "The chief [was] Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons
of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of
Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,"

     The list of men, who helped David at this time, would not be the
same as the later list. Some will die in battle and be replaced. This
is the beginning of the earliest list.

     I Chronicles 12:4 "And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among
the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and
Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,"

     David had about 600 men with him who had been with him from the
time he had to flee from Saul. The men, listed in the verses above and
the next few verses, are the men who were over that 600.

     I Chronicles 12:5 "Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and
Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite," I Chronicles 12:6 "Elkanah,
and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,"
I Chronicles 12:7 "And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of
Gedor." I Chronicles 12:8 "And of the Gadites there separated
themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might,
[and] men of war [fit] for the battle, that could handle shield and
buckler, whose faces [were like] the faces of lions, and [were] as
swift as the roes upon the mountains;"

     These men, that followed David, were not just from Judah. They
were valiant men from several of the tribes. They followed David,
because they believed in him and his God. They knew what Saul was
doing was wrong. These were all brave men who were willing to fight
for the right, even if they were greatly outnumbered. They were strong
as lions. They were even better than what their physical power would
let them be, because God strengthened them for battle. God was with
David and his men.

     I Chronicles 12:9 "Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the
third," I Chronicles 12:10 "Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the
fifth," I Chronicles 12:11 "Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,"
I Chronicles 12:12 "Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,"
I Chronicles 12:13 "Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh."
I Chronicles 12:14 "These [were] of the sons of Gad, captains of the
host: one of the least [was] over an hundred, and the greatest over a
thousand."

     This is a list of the men of Gad that came to serve with David.
Verse 14, says that the least of these men were over 100 and the
greatest was over 1,000. This could have been the number they were
over, when they served with the tribe of Gad. It could, also, be
saying that the least of these men were like 100 and the greatest like
1000.  The third thing it could mean, is that David's army of 600 had
grown mightily, and they were over the larger army.

     I Chronicles 12:15 "These [are] they that went over Jordan in the
first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to
flight all [them] of the valleys, [both] toward the east, and toward
the west."

     There is a mention of the Jordan overflowing in Joshua chapter 3
verse 15. That is not the same instance as this, however. That just
shows that sometimes around March, or April, the Jordan does overflow.
There is no reference that I find to this particular time, however.

     I Chronicles 12:16 "And there came of the children of Benjamin
and Judah to the hold unto David."  I Chronicles 12:17 "And David went
out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come
peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but
if [ye be come] to betray me to mine enemies, seeing [there is] no
wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look [thereon], and rebuke
[it]."

     These of Benjamin  and of Judah are in addition to those already
mentioned. David had been deceived and betrayed so many times, that he
was very cautious here. He would welcome them, if they were on his
side; but if they were there to destroy, he warned them that God would
destroy them. David knew the LORD was with him, even though he was in
hiding from Saul.

     I Chronicles 12:18 "Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who was]
chief of the captains, [and he said], Thine [are we], David, and on
thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace [be] unto thee, and peace
[be] to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received
them, and made them captains of the band."
     Amasai is, probably, the same as Amasa. He would have been
David's nephew by his sister, Abigail. This Amasai was led by the
Spirit. He spoke as the Spirit gave him utterence. David believed the
words that he said, and welcomed him. He even made him a captain of
some of the men.

     I Chronicles 12:19 "And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David,
when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they
helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent
him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of]
our heads."

     David had gone to the battlefront with the Philistines, but some
of the Philistines did not trust David. They thought David would turn
against them, and help Saul. David did not fight against Saul, but
went back home. It appears, that some of Manasseh went back home with
him.

     I Chronicles 12:20 "As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of
Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad,
and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that [were] of
Manasseh."

     These men of Manasseh that fell to David had been captain over
thousands. They were, now, part of David's army.

     I Chronicles 12:21 "And they helped David against the band [of
the rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valour, and were
captains in the host."

     When David got back to Ziklag, there had been a raid, and they
had taken the women and the children captive. David, now, pursued
them, and got the people back. These men of Manasseh helped with the
raid on the rovers to get the families of David and his men back. He
not only recovered all they had taken, but took all they had of their
own, as well. David divided the spoil with his 600 men.

     I 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."

     At the time of the raid in verse 21 above, there were just 600
fighting men with David. In verse 22, it seems, that many came to join
David, and they were growing in number every day. The army would
eventually be a huge force.

     I Chronicles 12:23  "And these [are] the numbers of the bands
[that were] ready armed to the war, [and] came to David to Hebron, to
turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD."

     Now, we will see how the LORD sent men to the extent for David's
army, that they became a huge army. The following are a list of those
who came to Hebron to help David become sole king of all of Israel.
Notice, all of it was according to the Word of God.

     I Chronicles 12:24 "The children of Judah that bare shield and
spear [were] six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war."
I Chronicles 12:25 "Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour
for the war, seven thousand and one hundred."

     We have already read that some of the tribe of Judah and of
Simeon were following David. Now, it seems the entire army had come to
serve David. The men of Judah bearing arms were 6,800, and the men of
Simeon 7,100.

     I Chronicles 12:26 "Of the children of Levi four thousand and six
hundred." I Chronicles 12:27 "And Jehoiada [was] the leader of the
Aaronites, and with him [were] three thousand and seven hundred;"

     All of the Levites were in the service of the Lord. It is unusual
to see the priestly line of Aaron separated here. There were 4,600 who
were not from the family of Aaron and 3,700 that were from the family
of Aaron. Jehoiada was leader of the priests. We must remember, that
they are all coming to show their allegiance to David at Hebron.

     I Chronicles 12:28 "And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and
of his father's house twenty and two captains."

     This is, possibly, the high priest, Zadok, mentioned here. His
sons would have been priests. Twenty-two captains could, also, mean
leaders.

     I 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."

     Saul was a Benjamite. It would have been natural for most of the
Benjamites to have followed Saul. Now at his death, they put their lot
in with David. There were just 3,000 fighting men of Benjamin. The
small number of men of Benjamin could be because of their being nearly
annihilated at one time.

     I Chronicles 12:30 "And of the children of Ephraim twenty
thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout
the house of their fathers."

     Ephraim had a large standing army of 20,800. Even they gave their
loyalty to David.

     I Chronicles 12:31 "And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen
thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king."

     We see from this, that it was not just the elders and the priests
that came to make David king, but vast numbers of people. These 18,000
were from the western side of the Jordan river.

     I Chronicles 12:32 "And of the children of Issachar, [which were
men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to
do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren
[were] at their commandment."

     It appears that, in the case of Issachar, they sent 200 men who
were their leaders to represent them before David. There seemed to be
a large army that this 200 represented.

     I Chronicles 12:33 "Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle,
expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which
could keep rank: [they were] not of double heart."

     It is the opposite with Zebulon who brought their entire army to
crown David king. They numbered 50,000. These men seemed to be of one
mind and one accord. They were not divided in their allegiance.

     I Chronicles 12:34 "And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with
them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand." I Chronicles
12:35 "And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and
six hundred." I Chronicles 12:36 "And of Asher, such as went forth to
battle, expert in war, forty thousand."

     A thousand captains was an unusually large number for the 37,000
men of Naphtali that came. Dan had 28,600. Asher brought 40,000 men.
Just these three tribes would have made up a vast army by themselves.

     I Chronicles 12:37 "And on the other side of Jordan, of the
Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with
all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty
thousand."

     These were the three tribes that lived on the eastern side of the
Jordan River. They had 120,000 men of war. These were not just a large
number, but well equipped for war, as well.

     I 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."

     We can see from the verses which go before this verse, that David
was unanimously accepted by all 12 tribes. He would be the second king
to rule over all Israel. They were a mighty force to reckon with when
they were united. David would pull them together again. He was blessed
of God, and they would be blessed of God, as well.

     I Chronicles 12:39 "And there they were with David three days,
eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them." I
Chronicles 12:40 "Moreover they that were nigh them, [even] unto
Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on
camels, and on mules, and on oxen, [and] meat, meal, cakes of figs,
and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep
abundantly: for [there was] joy in Israel."

     The huge celebration lasted three days and nights. It appears
from this that, all of Israel was in a time of celebration of the
crowning of their king, David. The neighboring area brought food and
drink to the celebration. There had to be a tremendous amount of food
to feed these hundreds of thousands of people.

     One lesson we can learn from David, is to wait upon the LORD.
When He is ready to bless, He will. David had not tried to overthrow
Saul. He did not even demand to be king of all Israel. God made him
king.














































                      1 Chronicles 15 Questions


1.  Where had David stayed for over a year, before the death of Saul?
2.  Why did David not kill Saul, when he had the opportunity?
3.  What was unusual about the men of Benjamin, that came to David
    {spoken of in verse 2}?
4.  Why had they come to David?
5.  About how many men did David have with him at Ziklag?
6.  Where were the valiant men from?
7.  Why were these men with David so strong?
8.  The least of the men of Gad were over __________.
9.  What are three different things that verse 14 could be speaking
    of?
10. What time of the year did the Jordan generally overflow?
11. When these extra men of Judah and Benjamin came to David, what did
    David ask them?
12. What happened to Amasai, that made him answer David?
13. Why did David not fight with the Philistines against Saul?
14. What did David find, when he got back to Ziklag?
15. Who did David divide the spoil with?
16. When David was at Ziklag, how many men were with him?
17. Just after this, so many came to join David, they were just like a
    ________ ________.
18. Where did all of these men come to join in with David?
19. How many came of the tribe of Judah?
20. Why is there a difference in the Levites and the Aaronites?
21. Who was Zadok?
22. Why were there so few men of Benjamin?
23. How do we know the ones who came to anoint David king, were not
    just elders and priests?
24. What is different about the group from Issachar?
25. Who were the tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan.
26. How many men did they bring?
27. David would be the _________ king to reign over all Israel.
28. How long did the huge celebration last?
29. Who brought food to help?
30. What is one lesson we can learn from David here?
31. Who really made David king?