1 Chronicles 12:23 functions as a heading for the list of men who joined David at Hebron. In 1 Chronicles 10:14 the Lord turned over
the kingdom to David, but now large numbers of troops gather at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to David
(1 Chronicles 12:23). This dual turning over
binds the contents of 1 Chronicles 10:1–12:40 together as a unit. This is the Chronicler’s way of emphasizing that all this happened according to God’s sovereign purpose or according to the word of the Lord
(1 Chronicles 10:14; 1 Chronicles 11:3, 1 Chronicles 11:10).
This register names eleven tribes and two half-tribes, a total of thirteen tribes when including the Levites. There were never thirteen tribes at any one time in Israel, of course. Early on, Levi ceased to function as a tribe, but was scattered among the others. Sometimes it is omitted from the tribal lists, and the number twelve is retained by dividing Joseph into Ephraim and Manasseh (Numbers 26:1–65). When Levi is included, however, Joseph is represented as one (Genesis 35:23–26; 1 Chronicles 2:1–2).1 Avoiding all unnecessary detail, the Chronicler here represents Israel in its fullness. No part of Israel failed to give its support to David.
23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD.