1CH 12

1 Chronicles 12:40

WEB

Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

BSB

And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

KJV

Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.

Matthew Henry

Verses 23–40

1 Chronicles 12:23–40

We have here an account of those who were active in perfecting the settlement of David upon the throne, after the death of Ishbosheth. We read (Ch1 11:1, and before Sa2 5:1) that all the tribes of Israel came, either themselves or by their representatives, to Hebron, to make David king; now here we have an account of the quota which every tribe brought in ready armed to the war, in case there should be any opposition, Ch1 12:23. We may observe here,

I. That those tribes that lived nearest brought the fewest - Judah but 6800 (Ch1 12:24), Simeon but 7100 (Ch1 12:25); whereas Zebulun, that lay remote, brought 50,000, Asher 40,000, and the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan 120,000. Not as if the next adjacent tribes were cold in the cause; but they showed as much of their prudence in bringing few, since all the rest lay so near within call, as the others did of their zeal in bringing so many. The men of Judah had enough to do to entertain those that came from afar.

II. The Levites themselves, and the priests (called here the Aaronites), appeared very hearty in this cause, and were ready, if there were occasion, to fight for David, as well as pray for him, because they knew he was called of God to the government, Ch1 12:26-28.

III. Even some of the kindred of Saul came over to David (Ch1 12:29), not so many as of the other tribes, because a foolish affection for their own tribe, and a jealousy for the honour of it, kept many of them long in the sinking interest of Saul's family. Kindred should never over-rule conscience. Call no man Father to this extent, but God only.

IV. It is said of most of these that they were mighty men of valour (Ch1 12:25, Ch1 12:28, Ch1 12:30), of others that they were expert in war (Ch1 12:35, Ch1 12:36), and of them all that they could keep rank, Ch1 12:38. They had a great deal of martial fire, and yet were governable and subject to the rules of order - warm hearts but cool heads.

V. Some were so considerate as to bring with them arms, and all instruments for war (Ch1 12:24, Ch1 12:33, Ch1 12:37), for how could they think that David should be able to furnish them?

VI. The men of Issachar were the fewest af all, only 200, and yet as serviceable to David's interest as those that brought in the greatest numbers, these few being in effect the whole tribe. For, 1. They were men of great skill above any of their neighbours, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. They understood the natural times, could discern the face of the sky, were weather-wise, could advise their neighbours in the proper times for ploughing, sowing reaping, etc. Or the ceremonial times, the times appointed for the solemn feasts; therefore they are said to call the people to the mountain (Deu 33:19), for almanacs were not then so common as now. Or, rather, the political times; they understood public affairs, the temper of the nation, and the tendencies of the present events. It is the periphrasis of statesmen that they know the times, Esth. 1. 13. Those of that tribe were greatly intent on public affairs, had good intelligence from abroad and made a good use of it. They knew what Israel ought to do: from their observation and experience they learned both their own and others' duty and interest. In this critical juncture they knew Israel ought to make David king. It was not only expedient, but necessary; the present posture of affairs called for it. The men of Issachar dealt mostly in country business, and did not much intermeddle in public affairs, which gave them an opportunity of observing others and conversing with themselves. A stander-by sees sometimes more than a gamester. 2. They were men of great interests; for all their brethren were at their commandment. The commonality of that tribe having bowed their shoulder to bear (Gen 49:15), the great men had them at their beck. Hence we read of the princes of Issachar, Jdg 5:15. They knew how to rule, and the rest knew how to obey. It is happy indeed when those that should lead are intelligent and judicious, and those who are to follow are modest and obsequious.

VII. It is said of them all that they engaged in this enterprise with a perfect heart (Ch1 12:38), and particularly of the men of Zebulun that they were not of double heart, Ch1 12:33. They were, in this matter, Israelites indeed, in whom was no guile. And this was their perfection, that they were of one heart, Ch1 12:38. None had any separate interests, but all for the public good.

VIII. The men of Judah, and others of the adjacent tribes, prepared for the victualling of their respective camps when they came to Hebron, Ch1 12:39, Ch1 12:40. Those that were at the least pains in travelling to this convention, or congress of states, thought themselves obliged to be at so much the more charge in entertaining the rest, that there might be something of an equality. A noble feast was made (was made for laughter, Ecc 10:19) upon this occasion, for there was joy in Israel, Ch1 12:40. And good reason; for when the righteous bear rule the city rejoices. Thus, when the throne of Christ is set up in a soul, there is, or ought to be, great joy in that soul: and provision is made for the feasting of it, not as here for two or three days, but for the whole life, nay, for eternity.

Cross-references: 1Chr 11:1 · 2Sam 5:1 · 1Chr 12:23 · 1Chr 12:24 · 1Chr 12:25 · 1Chr 12:26 · 1Chr 12:29 · 1Chr 12:28 · 1Chr 12:30 · 1Chr 12:35 · 1Chr 12:36 · 1Chr 12:38 · 1Chr 12:33 · 1Chr 12:37 · Deut 33:19 · Gen 49:15 · Judg 5:15 · 1Chr 12:39 · 1Chr 12:40 · Eccl 10:19

Hebrew interlinear

H1571

גַּםgam/gam/

adv — assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

Derivation: by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.

גַּם

adv — also

גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

H7138

קָרוֹבqârôwb/kaw-robe'/

a — near

Derivation: or קָרֹב; from 7126;

near (in place, kindred or time)

KJV: allied, approach, at hand, any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly).

קָרֹב

adj. — near

קָרֹב, קָרוֹב 78 adj. near;—

1. of city, the nearest

2. of pers.:

a. the nearest to; his neighbour.

b. abs.

c. of near relationship

d. near to י׳

e. near to י׳ in ceremon. function

f. of God (י׳)

g. of word

3. of time

H413

אֵלʼêl/ale/

prep — near, with, among, to

Derivation: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.

near, with or among; often in general, to

KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).

אֶל

prep — motion to

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).

1. of motion to or unto a person or place

2. Where the limit is actually entered, into

3. Of direction towards anything

4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

6. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

7. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

8. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

H5704

עַדʻad/ad/

prep — as far, long, much, as, even unto, during, while, until, equally with

Derivation: properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition);

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ( as) yet.

עַד

prep — as far as

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

I. prep.

1. of space

2. Of time

3. Of degree

II. conj.

1. until

2. While

3. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

III. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

1. of space

2. Of time

3. Of degree

H3485

יִשָּׂשכָרYissâˢkâr/yis-saw-kawr'/

n-pr — Jissaskar

Derivation: (strictly yis-saws-kawr'); from 5375 and 7939; he will bring a reward;

Jissaskar, a son of Jacob

KJV: Issachar.

יִשָּׂשכָר

n.pr.m — Issachar

יִשָּׂשכָר 43 n.pr.m. Issachar

H2074

זְבוּלוּןZᵉbûwlûwn/zeb-oo-loon'/

n-pr-m n-pr-loc — Zebulon

Derivation: or זְבֻלוּן; or זְבוּלֻן; from 2082; habitation;

Zebulon, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe

KJV: Zebulun.

זְבוּלֻן

n.pr.m — Zebulun

זְבוּלֻן, זְלֻבוּן n.pr.m. Zebulun

1. sixth son of Jacob and Leah

2. the tribe of Zebulun

3. territory of the tribe

H5321

נַפְתָּלִיNaphtâlîy/naf-taw-lee'/

n-pr-m n-pr-loc — Naphtali

Derivation: from 6617; my wrestling;

Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory

KJV: Naphtali.

נַפְתָּלִי

n.pr.m — Naphtali

נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali

H935

בּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/

v — go, come

Derivation: a primitive root;

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

KJV: abide, apply, attain, × be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, × certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, × doubtless again, eat, employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, have, × indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, × (well) stricken (in age), × surely, take (in), way.

בּוֹא

vb — come in

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

1. come in

2. come (approach, arrive)

3. go, i.e. walk, associate with

4. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

1. cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

2. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

a. be brought in (of pers. and things)

b. be brought

c. be introduced, put

H3899

לֶחֶםlechem/lekh'-em/

n-m — food, bread, grain

Derivation: from 3898; See also 1036

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

KJV: (shew-) bread, × eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.

לֶ֫חֶם

n.m — bread

לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food

H2543

חֲמוֹרchămôwr/kham-ore'/

n-m — ass, red

Derivation: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from 2560;

a male ass (from its dun red)

KJV: (he) ass.

חֲמוֹר

n.m — (he)-ass

חֲמוֹר n.m. (he)-ass

H1581

גָּמָלgâmâl/gaw-mawl'/

n — camel

Derivation: apparently from 1580 (in the sense of labor or burden-bearing);

a camel

KJV: camel.

גָּמָל

n.m — camel

גָּמָל n.m. camel

1. as property

2. as beasts of burden

3. for riding

4. forbidden as food

H6505

פֶּרֶדpered/peh'-red/

n-m — mule, lonely

Derivation: from 6504;

a mule (perhaps from his lonely habits)

KJV: mule.

פֶּ֫רֶד

n.m — mule

פֶּ֫רֶד n.m. mule

H1241

בָּקָרbâqâr/baw-kawr'/

n-m — beeve, plowing, herd

Derivation: from 1239;

a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd

KJV: beeve, bull ( -ock), calf, cow, great (cattle), heifer, herd, kine, ox.

בָּקַר

n.m — cattle

בָּקַר 182 n.m. cattle, herd, ox

H3978

מַאֲכָלmaʼăkâl/mah-ak-awl'/

n-m — eatable

Derivation: from 398;

an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit)

KJV: food, fruit, (bake-)meat(-s), victual.

מַאֲכָל

n.m — food

מַאֲכָל 30 n.m. Ju 14:14 (f. Hb 1:16) food

H7058

קֶמַחqemach/keh'-makh/

n-m — flour

Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to grind;

flour

KJV: flour, meal.

קֶ֫מַח

n.[m.] — flour

קֶ֫מַח n.[m.] flour, meal

H1690

דְּבֵלָהdᵉbêlâh/deb-ay-law'/

n-f — cake

Derivation: from an unused root (akin to 2082) probably meaning to press together;

a cake of pressed figs

KJV: cake (lump) of figs.

דְּבֵלָה

n.f — lump

דְּבֵלָה n.f. lump of pressed figs, pressed (fig-) cake

H6778

צַמּוּקtsammûwq/tsam-mook'/

n-m — cake of dried grapes

Derivation: from 6784;

a cake of dried grapes

KJV: bunch (cluster) of raisins.

צַמּוּק

n.m — bunch of raisins

[צַמּוּק] n.m. bunch of raisins (dried grapes)

H3196

יַיִןyayin/yah'-yin/

n-m — wine, intoxication

Derivation: from an unused root meaning to effervesce;

wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication

KJV: banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).

יַ֫יִן

n.m — wine

יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine

H8081

שֶׁמֶןshemen/sheh'-men/

n-m — grease, richness

Derivation: from 8080;

grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness

KJV: anointing, × fat (things), × fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, pine.

שֶׁ֫מֶן

n.m — fat

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

H6629

צֹאןtsôʼn/tsone/

n-f — flock

Derivation: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate;

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

KJV: (small) cattle, flock ( -s), lamb ( -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).

צֹאן

n.coll.f — small cattle

צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

H7230

רֹבrôb/robe/

n-m — abundance

Derivation: from 7231;

abundance (in any respect)

KJV: abundance(-antly), all, × common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), × very (age).

רֹב

n.m — multitude

רֹב 151 n.m. multitude, abundance, greatness

H3588

כִּיkîy/kee/

conj — relative conjunction

Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

כִּי

conj — that

כִּי conj. that, for, when

1. that

2.

a. Of time, when, of the past

b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

3. Because, since

כִּי אם־

relative conjunction

כִּי אם־

1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

a. that if

b. for if

2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

a. limiting the prec. clause, except

b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

c. after an oath, surely

כִּי עַל כֵּן

forasmuch as

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

H8057

שִׂמְחָהsimchâh/sim-khaw'/

n-f — blithesomeness, glee

Derivation: from 8056;

blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)

KJV: × exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing).

שִׂמְחָה

n.f — joy

שִׂמְחָה 93 n.f. joy, gladness, mirth

H3478

יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/

n-pr-m — he will rule as God, Jisraël

Derivation: from 8280 and 410;

he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

KJV: Israel.

יִשְׂרָאֵל

n.pr.m — Israel

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

1. n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

2. n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

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