1 Chronicles 12:38

1Ch 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.

Ver. 38. Were of one heart to make David king.] So were those primitive Christians, and are now the reformed churches, to set up the Lord Christ.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch_12:38-40

All these men of war.

The joyous entertainment

.

I. The cause of joy.

1. United under one king.

2. A king chosen of God.

3. Universal loyalty to the chosen king.

II. The manifestation of joy.

1. In unity of purpose.

2. In sincerity of feeling.

3. In social fellowship.

III. The extent of the joy. (J. Wolfendale.)

For there was Joy in Israel.--

The manifestation of Christ a cause of great joy

The man who was the darling of the people, and from whose administration they had raised expectations, being now, by Divine appointment, made king over all the tribes, there was joy in Israel. There is abundant reason for much greater joy in the spiritual Israel, on account of Davids illustrious son, the King Messiah, the Saviour of His people (Zec_9:9; Isa_25:9).

I. The cause of joy of Israel, with relation to the King Messiah, the son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. This coming in the flesh is a matter of joy, as He then appeared King of Israel, and the Saviour thereof. Salvation is the source, the foundation of spiritual joy in Israel.

(1) This salvation is--

(a) From sin;

(b) From wrath to come;

(c) From eternal death;

(d) From every spiritual enemy.

(2) It is to be had freely.

(3) It is a great salvation.

(4) It is a salvation in which the glory of God is greatly concerned.

2. The spiritual coming of Christ in the hearts of His people at conversion is another event that causes joy in Israel.

3. In the latter day, when Christ will be more manifest, and, like David, will be King over all the house of Israel, and over the whole world, then there will be joy and gladness.

II. Where and among whom is this joy? Not only in Israel but in the whole world. Christ is not the God of the Jews only.

III. The nature of this joy.

1. It is spiritual.

2. It is the joy of our Lord.

3. It is the joy of faith.

4. It is a joy that the world knows nothing of.

6. It is unspeakable.

6. It is a joy to be continually exercised.

7. This joy will be at last full and complete. (J. Gill, D. D.)

What is essential to constitute a happy people

Professor Fairbairn says you cannot have a happy world without having happy men; you may have good health, good business, good children, good balance at the bank, life insured. So far so good, and yet ii the soul be unadjusted there is no peace. You may place an organ that is out of tune in a magnificent cathedral, but you have no harmony, and the discord is the more striking because of its lofty nave, its painted windows, and chiselled arches. But you take that organ well tuned and richly toned into a plain Methodist chapel, with its brick walls and flat ceiling, and you shall have the sweetest harmony. There can be no peace till the soul is brought in harmony by the grace of God. Peace is the inner condition of the soul arising from reconciliation to God. (G. Turner.)

The highest joy

I had lived, says the Countess Schimmelmann, all the spoiled child of the Court; so much so that the Crown Priam (afterwards the Emitter) Frederick introduced me to a stranger as the most highly favoured young lady of Germany, and of several other kingdoms besides. These worldly honours had never satisfied me, and the longing for something higher and better became increasingly stronger. My prayers at that time always culminated in the cry, O God, give me but a drop of the love of Christ and a spark of the fire of the Holy Ghost. A short time after, in response to my prayer that I might love Jesus and Jesus only, I heard the Saviour say to me, My child, thy salvation does not depend upon thy love to Me, but upon My love to thee, just as thou art. Then broke upon my heart a sun of joy, in the beams of which I still rejoice, and whose light will shine upon me eternally.

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So that his whole host were three hundred twenty and two thousand, two hundred twenty and two.

Or, fight in their array.

Or, with a good courage.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king--that is, entertained a unanimous desire for his elevation.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(38) Conclusion of the list of 1Ch_12:23-37.

All these men of war.—Rather, All the above, being men of war, forming line of battle with whole heart, came to Hebron to make David king. The phrase “forming line of battle,” repeats the verb of 1Ch_12:3, and supplies its proper object (‘ôdĕrê ma’drãkhah, aciem struentes). The Hebrew indicates a stop at “line of battle;” it is better to put it after “with whole heart” (comp. 1Ch_12:33). “They formed in line with fearless intrepidity;” literally, corde integro.

And all the rest also of Israel, who did not appear personally at Hebron.—” The rest (shçrîth) is a term used here only. The Hebrew says, “the remainder of Israel (was) one heart,” i.e., was unanimous. (Comp. 2Ch_30:12.)

Allowing the average for Issachar, the total of the warriors assembled at Hebron was upwards of 300,000. This will not surprise us if we bear in mind that in those days every able-bodied man was, as a matter of course, trained in the use of arms, and liable to be called out for the king,s wars. Thus “man” and “warrior” were almost convertible terms. The present gathering was not a parade of the entire strength of the nation; coύnp. the 600,000 warriors of the Exodus, and the 1,300,000 of David’s census. The main difficulty—that of the relative proportions of the various tribal contingents—has been considered in the preceding Notes. The suggestions there made are, of course, uncertain, the fact being that we really do not know enough of the condition of the tribes at that epoch to justify us in pronouncing upon the relative probability of the numbers here assigned to them. That being so, it is a hasty and uncritical exaggeration to say that “it is absolutely inconceivable that the tribes near the place of meeting, notably that of Judah, should have furnised so small a contingent, while the figures are raised in direct proportion to the distance to be traversed” (Reuss).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

38. men of war, that could keep rank] R.V. being men of war, that could order the battle array.

with a perfect heart] i.e. with whole, undivided heart.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To wit, after the death of Abner and Ish-bosheth.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

38. The rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king — That is, they made no opposition, and raised no remonstrance. How much so-ever some lacked sympathy for David, and mourned over the lost cause of Saul, all were convinced in their hearts that David was the divinely chosen king.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Union.

Too often the counsels of Israel were divided, and their true interest frustrated by party spirit, by envy, by faction. The occasion before us was one of national harmony and co-operation. To make David king the people were of one heart. A lesson this as to the spirit and the attitude becoming in the Church of Christ.

I THE FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN UNITY. The unity to be desired is not nominal or formal, but real. This unity consists of:

1. Submission to one Lord. As Israel did homage and rendered obedience to one king, David, so we, as Christians, are bound to be subject to the authority of our rightful Prince, even Christ, David"s Son and David"s Lord.

2. Acknowledgment of one faith. The unity of the faith is real. All who are Christ"s receive the truth of Christ, and hold it fast for his sake. A common principle, a common sympathy, a common aim, impart unity to those who cherish them.

3. Reception of one baptism. The same Spirit descends, in copious showers, upon all the followers of Jesus Christ, making them partakers of the same purity and the same spiritual life.

II THE PROOFS AND SIGNS OF UNITY. Unity consists in one attitude towards Heaven, but it declares itself by certain palpable manifestations amongst Christians. Especially mutual love, confidence, and helpfulness, and common sacrifices of prayer and praise, and common labours for the world"s enlightenment and salvation.

III THE BLESSED RESULTS OF UNITY. These are:

1. Happiness. Discord is fruitful of misery; harmony of felicity and joy. A united Church is a happy Church.

2. Strength. Lunion fait la force. Israel under David was powerful, because all were of one mind and heart. So in the Church of the living God. A united Church is a strong Church. Its enemies cannot reproach or despise it.

3. Efficiency. Christ, the great Head and High Priest of the Church, saw this. Hence the language of his prayer: "That they all may be one that the world may know that thou hast sent me." Oh that the whole world were "of one heart" in acknowledging Jesus as King of kings, in crowning him Lord of all! T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

with firm intentions to make David king

"determined to make David king"

They were there with David

"These soldiers were there with David"

three days

"3 days" (See: Numbers)

Israel was celebrating

The word "Israel" represents the people who make up the nation. AT: "the people of Israel were celebrating" (See: Synecdoche)

translationWords

Hebron

David

king

Israel

Issachar

Zebulun

Naphtali

bread

donkey

camel

cow

fig

wine

oil

ewe

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

and also the entire remnant of Israel was of one heart to crown David even though they did not come to Hebron. For this reason, שֵׁרִית is missing an “aleph,” to imply that there was not even a remnant. Only a few remained, for they all came to Hebron joyfully.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.