And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.
David is in hiding: Saul still sits on the throne, and God's chosen king holds only a stronghold. Men from Benjamin and Judah come out there to offer themselves to him.
David was anointed king, but Saul still held the throne. One writer traces what that left David with, and what it teaches now:
A king without a throne has no authority. A king without an army has no power. Samuel, the prophet of God, anointed David — the man after God's own heart — as king over Israel. He could not take the throne of Israel, because Saul, the rejected king, sat on it… David was the attractive young man, the conqueror of Goliath, the victor over the Philistines. He was the gathering centre of his army. They separated themselves to him (v. 8), they came to him (vv. 16, 22, 23), they were with him (v. 39), and they professed, "We are yours, O David" (v. 18). All this teaches a solemn yet encouraging lesson for our day. Jesus, God's anointed King, is not sitting on His royal throne and ruling the world. Rebellious and disobedient men refuse and seize His rights. Yet He is the gathering centre for many who love Him and are ready to uphold His rights in their lives, whatever stands against Him and them.
Joining a hunted man is not the same as joining a crowned one. The record lingers on those who came early:
The Spirit of God leads us back to the time before David came to the throne. He dwells with delight on those who had identified themselves with David in his rejection, "while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish." It needed deeper convictions, and a greater energy of faith, to acknowledge David as the Lord's anointed when Saul hunted him like a partridge in the mountains, than when all the tribes of Israel accepted him as king… Faith alone could lead to the acceptance of the rejected king, whereas fear or self-interest might produce submission to him once his kingdom is established in power.
The men who arrive from these two tribes are not described by their weapons here, but by a conviction they share with David himself:
In those who came from Benjamin and Judah we see that there was this link of faith (1 Chron. 12:16). They knew that David's God helped him. David committed himself to God with respect to those who joined him, for he was in a very difficult position towards the end of his career of trial and affliction.
David does not wait inside the stronghold. He goes out to meet them, and three things follow:
First, observe that "David went out to meet them." It was the response of his heart to their own desire. It is a faint foreshadowing of the welcome our blessed Lord always gives to those who, through grace, offer themselves as vessels for His will and service. The first step towards Him always draws Him towards us. So He turned and saw the two disciples of John following Him, and said, "What are you seeking?" Then David said, "If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, my heart will be joined to you." David's love would be their wages. It is the devoted servant, the one who has no will but that of his Lord, who enjoys most of his Lord's affections. Last of all, David left his cause in God's hands. Suppose treachery did lurk in the hearts of these offered helpers. He knew his own integrity, and he could leave his vindication with the God of his fathers.
Benjamin's men appear more than once in this chapter. This time they come with Judah, and more than courage is at work in them:
In verses 16 to 18, Benjamin appears for the second time. Now they come with Judah to David in "the stronghold." Here they act not only in simple faith, but in the power of the Spirit of God. "And the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the captains, and he said, We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you." Love and admiration for the person of David animate these men. His personal merit and the assurance that God is with him are enough for them. Because of this devotion they receive a privileged place from the king: "And David received them, and made them chiefs of bands."
Joining David meant leaving someone else behind:
The children of Benjamin and Judah committed themselves to David… To be separated to David meant separation to him and his interests. It also meant separation from Saul and his interests. A very serious and deliberate decision to make. To be committed to David meant acknowledging his complete control over them. These two features are indispensable for an army. An army will be formidable in battle when its soldiers have no interests but those of their commander in chief, and are loyal to his commands.
- Side — This verse is about choosing a side before the outcome is clear. Saul holds the throne; David holds only a stronghold.
- Cost — It took more faith to own David as king while Saul hunted him than after Israel crowned him. Fear or self-interest can bow to a king who already has power.
- Welcome — David goes out to meet them first. Their step toward him draws out his heart, and his love is the servant's wages.
- Trust — David knows his own integrity. If treachery hides in any of them, he leaves his vindication to the God of his fathers.
- Place — Devotion to David, in the power of the Spirit, wins more than acceptance. He made them chiefs of bands.
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, If ye come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers see [it] and rebuke [it].
David is God's chosen king with no throne, hiding in a stronghold while Saul still rules. Armed men come to join him, and he goes out to meet them with one question: friendship, or betrayal?
First, look at the man asking the question. He is God's chosen king, and nothing outward shows it.
What we find in this chapter (vv. 1-22) is the faith of many, a precious fruit of grace. This faith submits to the Lord's anointed, the king according to God's counsels. It recognises him at a time when human eyes could not see him in his lowly condition. It is the same today for believers. Our David has not yet received a visible kingdom. But those who acknowledge Him while He is still the rejected king have a special place in the divine records. They are "more honourable than their brothers." In the same way, men of Gad, Judah, and Benjamin joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness. Later all the tribes hurried to him at Hebron.
The verse begins with a movement, not with the question. David does not wait in the cave for them to present themselves; he goes out.
First, notice that "David went out to meet them." It was the response of his heart to their own desire. It is a faint foreshadowing of something greater. Our blessed Lord always welcomes those who, through grace, offer themselves as vessels for His will and service. The first step towards Him always draws Him towards us. It was so when He turned and saw the two disciples of John following Him, and said, "What are you seeking?"
David names the good possibility and the bad one, and he does not treat them the same way. To the loyal he offers his affection. The disloyal he hands over to God, since he has done nothing to deserve their betrayal.
Then, next, David said, "If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you." David's love was to be their wages. And it is the devoted servant, the one who has no will but his Lord's, who enjoys most of his Lord's affections. Last of all, David left his cause in God's hands. Perhaps treachery was hiding in the hearts of these offered helpers. If so, David knew his own integrity, and could leave his vindication with the God of his fathers.
The offer David is weighing is not a favour done at a distance. These men had come out of Saul's kingdom, and the writers read that as the pattern of what it costs to belong to Christ.
To be separated to David meant separation to him and his interests, and separation from Saul and his interests. A very serious and deliberate decision to make. To be committed to David meant recognising his complete control over them. These two things are essential for an army. Soldiers with no interests except those of their commander in chief, loyal to his commands, make an army that is formidable in battle. Take these principles across to believers who follow the Lord Jesus, and they bring both encouragement and a challenge.
Joining a king already on his throne costs nothing. These men came while Saul still held the throne. That is what gave their choice its worth.
Like them, let us hurry to gather around Christ while it is still the day of His rejection. Let us hurry to acknowledge Him now. When He appears in His kingdom, everyone will have to submit to Him. His heart finds a special satisfaction in our willing submission in the day when the world disowns Him. He loves to declare that those who hold to Him will be His special treasure in the day of His reign!
- Rejected first. David is the anointed king, but nothing visible marks him out. Faith recognises him in that lowly condition.
- Welcomed first. He goes out to meet the men coming to him — the first step towards Him always draws Him towards us.
- Tested first. The question separates friendship from betrayal. David will not take help without knowing what it is.
- Knit, not paid. To the loyal, David promises his own heart. His love is their wages. The servant with no will but his Lord's enjoys most of his Lord's affections.
- Cleared by God. For the betrayer, David makes no threat. He knows his own integrity, and leaves his vindication with the God of his fathers.
And the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the captains, [and he said,] Thine [are we], David, And with thee, thou son of Jesse Peace, peace be to thee! And peace be to thy helpers! For thy God helps thee. And David received them, and made them chiefs of bands.
David is hiding from Saul when men from Saul's own tribe come down to him at the stronghold. He asks them outright whether they come as friends or traitors, and the Spirit answers through Amasai.
Amasai was not the only one. One writer lists others the Spirit took hold of for a time, so that God could speak through them:
There were others, like Gideon (Judges 6:34), Amasai (1 Chron. 12:18), Zechariah (2 Chron. 24:20), with whom the Spirit clothed Himself for the time being, so that He might witness through them.
The first words hand over ownership. One writer warns that many believers never take this step:
"We are yours, O David," he said. Here is where all true service begins — in the acknowledgment that we belong to Christ. Many Christians have never clearly taken this stand. They have found relief for their consciences through the power of the precious blood of Christ. But they have never truly received Him as their Lord.
The second clause takes a side in a live conflict. It means refusing the king who sits on the throne now:
Amasai and his companions had turned their backs on the man in power. By joining themselves to the man God had chosen, they had now taken their place outside of his world and its attractions. Have we done the same? Have we turned our backs on the man in power in the world, and taken our true place on the side of God's accepted Man, the Lord Jesus Christ?
Such a declaration costs something, and it also hands over control:
Separating to David meant being for him and his interests, and away from Saul and his interests. That was a very serious and deliberate decision. Committing to David meant accepting his complete control over them. An army needs both of these things. Soldiers who have no interests but those of their commander, and who obey his commands, make an army that is formidable in battle.
Nothing visible supported that claim at the time. Amasai's greeting rests on something other than the situation:
This was the language of faith. Amasai based his answering greeting on one assurance: God was David's helper. On the surface, everything at that time was against David. Saul was on the throne, and he was using the whole power of his kingdom to destroy the man he knew God had chosen to reign over His people. But faith has God's thoughts, and so looks ahead to the sure and certain fulfilment of the word He has spoken.
Amasai wishes peace twice — to David, and then to the men already with him:
Amasai and his companions had come out; they had separated themselves to David. David had asked whether they came in peace to help him. To wish peace to David also meant peace to his helpers. So when we take our place with the Lord in His rejection, we must be willing to work with others who already follow and serve Him.
Before Amasai spoke, David had already moved toward them, and what he offered was himself:
First, notice that "David went out to meet them." It was the response of his heart to their own desire. It is a picture, faint as it is, of the welcome our blessed Lord always gives to those who, through grace, offer themselves as vessels for His will and service… Then David said that if they had come in peace to help him, his heart would be joined to them. David's love was to be their wages.
One writer names what drew these men — and what their devotion won them:
Love and admiration for the person of David move these men. His personal worth, and the assurance that God is with him, are enough for them. Because of this devotion they receive a privileged place from the king: "Then David received them and made them officers of his troops."
- Spirit — the words are not Amasai's own resolve. The Spirit clothed Himself with him for the moment, so God could speak through him.
- Yours — service starts with ownership. Many find relief for their conscience through the blood of Christ, yet never receive Him as Lord.
- With you — belonging shows itself in taking sides: for David's interests, and away from Saul's, whatever it costs.
- Peace — the greeting reaches past the king to his helpers. Loyalty to Christ means working with those already serving Him.
- Helps — faith reads the outcome, not the odds. The throne looked impossible, yet David welcomed these men and made them officers of his troops.