1 Chronicles 12:1–40 is a flashback. The Chronicler has told the story of Saul’s death at the battle of Mount Gilboa. He has described how all Israel gathered to David at Hebron to make him king over all Israel (1 Chronicles 11:1–3). At the beginning of 1 Chronicles 12:1–40, we move back to a time when David is exiled in Philistia, living in the city of Ziklag, which Achish the king of Gath had given to him (1 Chronicles 12:1; see also 1 Samuel 27:6). The city had originally been given to the tribe of Simeon and was located in the southern towns of Judah (Joshua 15:21, Joshua 15:31; Joshua 19:5). The city, however, had been occupied by the Philistines, and this is where David finds refuge.
While in Ziklag, David could not move about freely
(or was restrained
) because of Saul (1 Chronicles 12:1). The verb is significant. David is king-designate, and even during Saul’s reign he acts as king. As the tribes say when they met David at Hebron, In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel'
(1 Chronicles 11:2). For the time being, however, even though he is king in all but title, his going in and out are restricted.1
1 Chronicles 12:1–2 serves as an introduction to the list in which some of the skills of these men are highlighted.
First, they were skilled warriors who were armed with bows and arrows and sling stones, an interesting comment on some of the arms carried by Israel’s warriors in the tenth century BC. Astonishingly, they were able to shoot right-handed or left-handed (1 Chronicles 12:2).2 Second, these supporters of David were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen
(1 Chronicles 12:2), and their leaders were from Gibeah, Saul’s hometown (the chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah,
1 Chronicles 12:3). 2 Samuel 2:1–4:12 describes how some Benjamites resisted David’s claim to royalty. Here, however, the Chronicler listed close relatives of Saul who came to David precisely at the time when David was banished from the presence of Saul (1 Chronicles 12:1).3 The Chronicler here emphasizes the striking fact that David had support right from the start from Saul’s own tribe, his own brothers or kinsmen, even when he was restricted on account of Saul.
Whether these men had keen political foresight, sensing that Saul’s reign was coming to an end, or spiritually discerning, recognizing David’s godliness above Saul’s, or both, their defection to David shows that loyalty to the rightful, God-appointed leader transcends petty tribal jealousies. David truly was king for all Israel.
4
1 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.