Read 1 Chronicles 12 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
12:1-4 {s} Thirty mighty men of Benjamin who defected to David at Ziklag
12:5-13 {s} Eleven mighty men of Gad who defected to David at the stronghold in the wil-derness
12:14-15 {p} They were of Gad + crossed the Jordan in the first month and put to flight those in the valleys
12:16-17 {s} David: If you have come to help me, my heart is with you, but if to betray me, may God judge
12:18 {p} The Spirit’s answer: Peace to you and your helpers, for your God helps you
12:19-22 {p} The mighty men of Manasseh who defected to David at Ziklag/ until there was a great army
12:23 {s} The numbers equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul to him
12:24 {s} Of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, 6800 armed for war
12:25 {s} Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, 7100
12:26 {s} Of the sons of Levi 4600
12:27 {s} Jehoiada, the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him 3700
12:28 {s} Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house 22 captains
12:29 {s} Of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, 3000, who had remained loyal to Saul until then
12:30 {s} Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men and famous
12:31 {s} Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, designated by name to make David king
12:32 {s} Of Issachar who had understanding to know what ought be done, 200 chiefs over their brethren
12:33 {s} Of Zebulun, war-wise, proficient in weapons, 50,000 who were not of double heart
12:34 {s} Of Naphtali 1000 captains + 37,000 with shield and spear
12:35 {s} Of Dan who could set the battle in array, 28,600
12:36 {s} Of Asher, able to go to war, who could set the battle in array, 40,000
12:37 {s} Of Reuben + Gad + half-tribe of Manasseh from across the Jordan, 120,000 armed for battle
12:38-40 {p} All these came to Hebron to make David king, and there was joy in Israel
The Strong themes:
12:1-15 {s+s+p} Mighty men of Benjamin and Gad who defected to David
12:16-18 {s+p} The Spirit: “Be at peace, O son of Jesse, for your God helps you”
12:23-40 {sx15+p} 339,822 men of war from all twelve tribes came to Hebron to make David king
The Chiastic structure:
A word which occurs over and over again in this chapter (Repetition is a teaching tool of Scripture) is “help.” It is even the main feature of the Spirit’s message to David in the central axis: “Your God helps you!” Therefore He sent mighty men of valor to aid David is securing the kingdom ordained for him by God.
To help is Strong’s H5826 עזר azar, “to help, aid, succor.” The ancient pictographs:
ayin ע = eye (watch, know, shade)
zayin ז = mattock (tool, food, cut, nourish)
resh ר = head of man (head, first, top, beginning, man)
The Hebrew Root Word is telling the parable of watching (ayin) for what is necessary (zayin, as a tool is used to accomplish a needed end) for the man (resh).
Alternatively, sight, i.e., insight he doesn’t have, to be used as a tool by the man.
Webster’s says that “to help” is to give assistance or support to; to provide what is necessary in achieving an end; to make more pleasant or bearable; to improve, relieve.
God had ordained a kingdom mission for David, and then helped him in whatever he needed to achieve that mission. And, likewise, for us!
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
God will help me – Christine Miller
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