1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

The story of David’s mighty men sounds a bit like a Hollywood blockbuster. In Chapter 11, we read the incredible stories of these men. From striking down an 7.5-foot Egyptian giant to wielding a single spear against 300 men, this rag-tag bunch was ready for anything. Here in Chapter 12, we read of even more skilled men who joined David in his raids.

Ziklag had become a critical location for David when he was on the run from Saul. Along with him, men from the tribes of Benjamin, Gad, Judah, and Manasseh rounded out his mighty men. This alone illustrates just how bad the situation had become with Saul’s leadership as these men wanted nothing to do with fighting for him.

One other interesting note about the Benjamites is that they were described as being ambidextrous. The name Benjamin means “son of the right hand” so it was ironic that they were able to function equally with both hands. The Gadites who came and joined David were especially skilled with the shield and the spear and are noted to have faces like lions while possessing swift feet like gazelles.

The point is, God was building an extraordinary team around David. He was providing the firepower for victory. Yes, David could have assembled his own team. However, we all know that when the Lord is moving, He brings along the right people at the right moment in time for whatever task is at hand. This is such a powerful reminder that He already knows the battles of the future and has prepared warriors to join alongside us. The Lord fights for us. He knows the need and will structure a force so powerful that nothing can stand against it!