Wesley Corpus

Chapter XII The companies that came to David at Ziklag, ver. 1 - 22. The armies that came to him at Hebron, ver. 23 - 40. Even - Of Saul's own tribe: who were moved hereto by God's spirit, by the conscience of their duty to David; and by their observation of God's departure from Saul, and of his special presence with David. Thirty - Who came attended with thirty valiant Benjamites, and was their commander. The God of our fathers - He calls God, the God of our fathers, both his fathers and theirs; thus he minds them, not to deal ill with him; for they were both descendents from the same patriarchs, and servants of the same God. And thus he encourages himself to believe, that God would right him, if he was abused. For he was the God of his fathers; therefore a blessing was entailed upon him: and a God to all Israel in particular, as well as a Judge to all the earth. The Spirit - Not only saving graces, but other heroical and generous motions are ascribed to God's spirit, which here stirred up in him a more that ordinary greatness of mind and resolution. As - As he returned from the camp of the Philistines to Ziklag. Against - Against the Amalekites who had taken and burnt Ziklag, whom David and his six hundred men were now pursuing. That time - While he was at Ziklag, and in his march to Hebron, and principally at Hebron. Like - Innumerable, like the stars or angels, both which are called God's hosts. Six thousand, &c. - Who came hither in the name of their brethren; for that whole tribe stuck to David. Jehoida - Not the high - priest, for that was Abiathar, 1Sam 23:6, but one of eminent place under him. Kept the ward - Endeavoured to keep the crown in Saul's family. Manasseh - Which was within Jordan: for of the other half beyond Jordan he speaks, ver.37. By name - Who were not ashamed publickly to own David by putting their names to some paper presented to them for that purpose. The times - They understood public affairs, the temper of the nation, and the tendencies of the present events.