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 deliberation sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul at the peril of our heads.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
As he went away 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.
Seven captains from Manasseh come over to David just as the Philistines send him away and he heads back to Ziklag. Backing him then looked like backing the loser — so why does Scripture record their names, their tribe and their timing?
Commentators compare Manasseh with the earlier groups in the chapter.
Manasseh (vv. 19-22) shows neither the faith of Benjamin nor the energy of Gad nor the power of the Spirit that Judah and Benjamin had. These men reach Ziklag at the last hour, before the battle. They are all strong and brave, and they share with David the real honour of being rejected by the Philistines.
That shared rejection is their credential. They arrived at David's lowest point, and only just in time.
David had been left to himself again, and what was in his heart had come out. But as the man of God's purpose, his followers were growing in number while Saul's end drew near. As he went to battle with the lords of the Philistines, some of the tribe of Manasseh joined his ranks, and on his way back to Ziklag more of them joined him. This was the last chance for anyone in Israel to own the king while the nation still rejected him. God delivered him from his false position, though on the surface it came about through the worldly wisdom of the Philistines.
Ziklag was no capital. Commentators note who gave David the place, and what his time there pictures.
Ziklag was a city in the south of Judah, given to David by Achish, one of the Philistine kings… The record lists the warriors who came to David at Ziklag while Saul was still alive, and therefore while the nation was rejecting David… They seem to be a picture of those who follow the Lord Jesus now, while He is still rejected by the world at large.
So the timing of these men is an appeal, not a detail of old history. What they chose freely, everyone will one day have to do.
Like them, let us hurry to gather around Christ while it is still the day of His rejection. Let us hurry to acknowledge Him before everyone must submit to Him when He appears in His kingdom. His heart finds a special satisfaction in our voluntary submission in the day when the world disowns Him. He loves to declare that those who cling to Him will be His special treasure in the day of His reign!
The verse gives these seven a rank: chiefs of thousands. Where did such strength come from? One writer traces it to the man they joined, and shows why joining him grew easier over time.
The man God is with attracts those God is working with. Their energy grows in step with how clearly His presence and favour appear. Many of these had been with Saul, but while they were with him they were not mighty men. Many others had never been with him… At the start such things called for immediate communion with God, so as to shut out the influence of everything around the man who enjoyed this communion. Later the influence around him was favourable, and in this sense faith spreads itself.
The verse says they deserted to David. One writer draws out what changing sides meant.
Separation to David meant two things: joining him and his interests, and breaking with Saul and his interests. It was a very serious and deliberate decision to make. Commitment to David meant admitting his complete control over them. These two features are essential for an army. Such soldiers have no interests but those of their commander in chief, and they are loyal to his commands. That army will be formidable in battle.
These seven were not the only ones to change sides.
While Saul continued in power, many were separated in faith to David. Day by day more were added, until there was a great army, like an army of God. They gave up present power and rest with Saul because they believed in David's anointing. They took the side of a man hunted like a partridge on the mountains, and they still knew him to be the chosen of God.
- Rejected — Manasseh's captains join David just as the Philistines turn him away. They share his rejection, not his success.
- Named — the record keeps all seven names and their rank. Writers call it the last chance to own the king while the nation still refused him.
- Ziklag — a Philistine town given to David, not a palace, becomes the gathering place. Writers see in it a picture of following Jesus while the world still refuses Him.
- Strengthened — men who were not mighty under Saul become mighty with David. The man they joined drew out their strength.
- Counted — they traded Saul's interests for David's, and more followed until David had a great army. Coming early costs something, and the day of His reign repays it.
And they helped David in his expeditions; for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
David was not yet king: he was living as an outlaw at Ziklag, among the Philistines, when men from Manasseh crossed over to join him. This verse tells what they did next, and it raises two questions — who were the raiders they fought, and what does it mean to help a king the nation has not yet crowned?
In this chapter group after group comes to join David. Manasseh arrives last, and looks least impressive of all.
Manasseh (vv. 19-22) shows neither the faith of Benjamin, nor the energy of Gad, nor the power of the Spirit seen in Judah and Benjamin. These men reach Ziklag at the last hour, just before the battle. They are all strong and brave. They share with David the honour — no small one — of being rejected by the Philistines.
Their moment was closing fast:
David had been left to himself again, and what was in his heart had come out. But he was the man of God's purpose, and his followers kept growing while Saul's end drew near. As he went out to battle with the lords of the Philistines, some of the tribe of Manasseh joined his ranks, and more of them joined him on his way back to Ziklag. It was the last chance for anyone in Israel to own the king while the nation still rejected him (1 Chron. 12:19-21).
These new recruits did not fight a campaign for the crown. They fought to win back what was stolen while David was away.
While fleeing from Saul, David had gone to the Philistines for refuge. Achish, king of Gath, gave him Ziklag, and from there David raided the Amalekites (1 Sam. 27:5–9). Soon after, while David was away from Ziklag, the Amalekites raided the town and burned it. They took David's wives captive, and the wives and children of his men. David asked the LORD what to do. Then he and his men chased the Amalekites and slaughtered them, and brought back everything taken from Ziklag, along with the spoil of those he had killed.
Commentators read this list of men as a picture of something happening now.
We are given a list of the warriors who came to David at Ziklag while Saul was still alive — and so while the nation rejected David. Amasai, chief of the captains, 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." Cheering words to one in such a place! They seem to be a picture of those who follow the Lord Jesus now, while the world at large still rejects Him.
That reading turns the chapter into an appeal:
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, before the day when everyone must submit to Him and He appears in His kingdom. 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 fast to Him will be His special treasure in the day of His reign!
The verse ends by naming these men as valiant and as officers. Commentators see God's hand in that promotion.
The LORD of hosts is drawing up the strength and power of Israel. And the Holy Spirit gives a list of tried and mighty men. They stand before us in the glory of their own courage. The leading men among them joined David while he was a fugitive and an outcast (1 Chron. 12:1-22). Scripture tells us where they came from (1 Sam. 22:2) — one instance among many of God taking up the men others despise and lifting them high.
Joining David meant a decision with two sides.
To be separated to David meant being for him and his interests, and being done with Saul and his interests. That was a very serious and deliberate decision to make. To be committed to David meant accepting his complete control over them. An army cannot do without these two marks. Such soldiers have no interests except their commander's. They are loyal to his commands. Together they make an army that will be hard to beat in battle.
- Help. These men came to help a king the nation had not yet crowned. The help he needed was a raid to win back his own ruined city.
- Helpers late. Manasseh brought no great faith or spiritual power — only strong arms, and only at the last hour. They still helped David.
- Helpers now. Commentators see them as a picture of people who follow Jesus while the world still refuses Him.
- Helpers separated. Joining David meant dropping Saul's interests and accepting one commander's full control. Those are the two marks of a real army.
- Helpers exalted. Fugitives and outcasts became mighty men and commanders. God takes up the despised and lifts them high.