Bible in one year 6/24/2022 1Chronicle Chapter 8-12 Saul’s family & David’s mighty warriors by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 6/24/2022 1Chronicle Chapter 8-12 Saul’s family; David’s mighty warriors

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 1 Chronicles Chapter 8 Benjamin

          This chapter supplements the information given in 7:6-12 about the important tribe of Benjamin, which gave Israel her first king (Saul) and which showed loyalty to the Davidic dynasty. Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.(v.1). Verses 29-40 the house of Saul (virtually the same as 9:35-44). Merib-Baal = Mephibosheth(2Sam.4:4). When the boy was named, Baal may have had no reference to the idol Baal, but rather to God (since the basic meaning is “master”). However, bosheth (Heb., meaning “shame”) was substituted as a euphemism for the word Baal.(v.34).

1 Chronicles Chapter 9 Jerusalem’s inhabitants (9:1-34)

          All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The pople of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. (vv.1-2). In the book of the kings of Israel. Not our 1 and 2 Kings, but court records and registers now lost. The first to resettle.(v.2), this list records those who first returned to Palestine after the Babylonian captivity (Neh.11:3).On the temple servants (refer to Ezra2:43). Gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.(v.18). Guards around the doors of the tabernacles and the Temple. Samuel (v.22), arranged a rotation system for the gatekeepers. As a child he had performed this duty himself (1Sam.3:15). Musicians (v.33), Listed in verses 14-15 (Neh.11:17), they figure prominently in chapters 15-16).

1 Chronicles Chapter 10 David’s anointing and the death of Saul (10:1-14)

          The Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and the killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him. Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. (vv.1-4). So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.(v.6). All his house. I.e., all the men who fought with him. Some of  his sons and troops did survive (2Sam.2:8;21:8).                                           

            When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them. The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon. (vv.7-10).                                            

             Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.(vv.13-14). Saul’s death was due to disobedience in not following Samuel’s commands (1Sam.13:8-9;15:3,9) and in seeking counsel of a spirit (1Sam.28).

1Chronicles Chapter 11 the accession of David (11:1-3); the capture of Jerusalem; the might men of David

          For seven and a half years David had been king of Judah (2Sam.2:4), while Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, was king over Israel and Transjordan(2Sam.2:8-9). Here David is listed as king over the reunited nation. He made a compact with them. I.e., an agreement as to his own prerogatives and the people’s right, somewhat like a constitutional monarchy. Samuel had anointed David twenty years before (1Sam.16:13). All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “ We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘ You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’(vv.1-2). All the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.(v.3).

David Captrued  Jerusalem (11:4-9)

          David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there said to David,” You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.). David said, “ whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command. (v.6). David them, took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him. (vv.7-8).

The heroes of David 11:10-12:40

          These were the chiefs of David’s mighty men-they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised –this is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers, he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Benaiah son of Jehoiasa was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. (vv.10-12; 20-23). The mighty men were:Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite…Uriah the Hittite…Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mexobaite.(vv.26,41,47).

1 Chronicles Chapter 12 The heroes of David

          These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sing stones right-handed or left handed; they were kinsmen of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin)(vv.1-2) Ahiezer, Jeziel, Pelet, Beracah, Jehu, Ishmaiah…(vv.3-7).

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their face were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains. Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabab, Jeremiah, Macbannai. These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred and the greatest for a thousand. It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west. (vv.8-15). Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, “ We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them. (vv.16,18). When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. (v.20).

 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said (v.23). The total number of warriors was about 350,000 (the number that came from Issachar is not specified.(v.32). Men of Judah, carrying shield and spear 6,800 armed for battle. (v.24). Men of Simeon, warriors ready for  battle 7,100 (v.25). Men of Levi 4,600 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family; (v.28). Men of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen 3000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;(v.29). Men of Ephraim, brave warriors famous in their own clans 20,800; Men of half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king 18,000; men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; men of Zebulun, 50,000; men of Zaphtali 1000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears; men of Dan,  28,600; men of Asher 40,000; and east of the Jordan, men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon 120,000.(vv.24-37).

 Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986