1Ch 12:25 | KingComments | STEP | In this section, people are no longer mentioned so much, but mainly the tribes and numbers. They come to David at Hebron when he is already king, to acknowledge that the kingship of Saul turned to him ( ), which is a confirmation of what is written in 1 Chronicles 10 ( ). They are, so to speak, a second batch. Others have already left Saul at an earlier stage to join David. They come after Saul is dead and they have had to conclude that they are facing a lost cause ( ). We also see that there are people who accept and follow the Lord Jesus at an early age, while others do not do so until later in life, when they discover that they live a lost life. Details are mentioned for each tribe. There are tribes who are said to be “mighty men of valor” or “mighty men of valor for war” ( ). Others have “all kinds of weapons of war” ( ). Others are mentioned “who understood the times” ( ). All these particularities can be applied to the different characteristics that are perceptible in children of God. Everyone has something specific, something that characterizes him or her. This also shows that they complement each other and need each other to be one. It is striking how few fighters come from the tribes of Judah and Simeon close to Jerusalem, compared to other tribes further away ( ). The tribe of Levi also provides warriors, as does the priestly family, the family of Aaron ( ). As an exception in the enumeration of the tribes, two names of persons are mentioned here. One name is that of “Jehoiada … the leader of [the house of] Aaron”. The other name is that of “Zadok”, of whom it is also said that he is “a young man mighty of valor”. A priest has the privilege of serving God in the sanctuary. However, that does not mean that he does not have to fight. A believer who worships God as a good priest in the sanctuary will certainly be a good warrior outside the sanctuary for the interests of the One he worships. Zadok was chosen by God to stand before the king. Under Solomon he will be the high priest ( ; ). God has told Eli that He will have a priest walking before His anointed king ( ). Here king and priest are connected. It is the union we see in the true Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Who will be Priest on His throne ( ). For the third time in this chapter, we hear of Benjamites ( ; ; ). Here it appears that the majority of this tribe remains loyal to Saul. This means that the Benjamites who go to David go against the majority. They defy the hatred of their family members who may have accused them of cowardice or betrayal. From the Issacharites we read that they “understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” ( ). We need people like them who know what time it is on God’s clock (cf. ). They have learned, through perception in the world around them and from experience in dealing with the people around them, what their own duties and interests are and what those of others are. They know that they have to make David king now , now is the time to do it. In spiritual terms, Paul belongs to this tribe. As a real Issacharite he says to the believers, that he knows the time when they must awaken from sleep, because “knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” To this end he then says: “Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” ( ). Do we know the time and the spirit of the time? Do we know what we have to do to not be overwhelmed and eliminated by the enemy, but to remain subservient to the Lord? Can we serve our fellow believers with our understanding of God’s thoughts about time and the spirit of the time? Who wants to be a real Issacharite, also has to be a real Zebulunite. From the men of this tribe we read that they are prepared to “draw up in battle formation … with an undivided heart” ( ). Their hearts are seized by nothing but David and the battle for him. Their hearts are “united” ( ). They are not double-hearted. There is no other motive in their hearts but to be only for David and to establish him in his kingship. This characteristic must be found with us in relation to the Lord Jesus. They “could draw up in battle formation”. This indicates that they are disciplined in their army unit. They each take their own place, but in the knowledge that they are part of a whole. There is individual dedication with all, each in his own place, so that the whole is a ‘team’ focused entirely on David. Paul can rejoice at the sight of the “order” of the believers in the church in Colossae ( ). If there is personal commitment and an orderly whole, the enemy does not get a chance to break in a local church. However, if there are divisions, or schisms, he can easily sow disunity ( ).

‏ 1 Chronicles 12:25

Who Come to David at Hebron

In this section, people are no longer mentioned so much, but mainly the tribes and numbers. They come to David at Hebron when he is already king, to acknowledge that the kingship of Saul turned to him (1Chr 12:23), which is a confirmation of what is written in 1 Chronicles 10 (1Chr 10:14).

They are, so to speak, a second batch. Others have already left Saul at an earlier stage to join David. They come after Saul is dead and they have had to conclude that they are facing a lost cause (1Chr 12:29). We also see that there are people who accept and follow the Lord Jesus at an early age, while others do not do so until later in life, when they discover that they live a lost life.

Details are mentioned for each tribe. There are tribes who are said to be “mighty men of valor” or “mighty men of valor for war” (1Chr 12:25 ; 28 ; 30). Others have “all kinds of weapons of war” (1Chr 12:33 ; 37). Others are mentioned “who understood the times” (1Chr 12:32). All these particularities can be applied to the different characteristics that are perceptible in children of God. Everyone has something specific, something that characterizes him or her. This also shows that they complement each other and need each other to be one.

It is striking how few fighters come from the tribes of Judah and Simeon close to Jerusalem, compared to other tribes further away (1Chr 12:24-25).

The tribe of Levi also provides warriors, as does the priestly family, the family of Aaron (1Chr 12:26-28). As an exception in the enumeration of the tribes, two names of persons are mentioned here. One name is that of “Jehoiada … the leader of [the house of] Aaron”. The other name is that of “Zadok”, of whom it is also said that he is “a young man mighty of valor”. A priest has the privilege of serving God in the sanctuary. However, that does not mean that he does not have to fight. A believer who worships God as a good priest in the sanctuary will certainly be a good warrior outside the sanctuary for the interests of the One he worships.

Zadok was chosen by God to stand before the king. Under Solomon he will be the high priest (1Chr 29:22; 1Kgs 2:35 ; 1Kgs 4:4). God has told Eli that He will have a priest walking before His anointed king (1Sam 2:35). Here king and priest are connected. It is the union we see in the true Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Who will be Priest on His throne (Zec 6:13).

For the third time in this chapter, we hear of Benjamites (1Chr 12:29; 1Chr 12:2-7; 1Chr 12:16). Here it appears that the majority of this tribe remains loyal to Saul. This means that the Benjamites who go to David go against the majority. They defy the hatred of their family members who may have accused them of cowardice or betrayal.

From the Issacharites we read that they “understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1Chr 12:32). We need people like them who know what time it is on God’s clock (cf. Est 1:13). They have learned, through perception in the world around them and from experience in dealing with the people around them, what their own duties and interests are and what those of others are. They know that they have to make David king now, now is the time to do it.

In spiritual terms, Paul belongs to this tribe. As a real Issacharite he says to the believers, that he knows the time when they must awaken from sleep, because “knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” To this end he then says: “Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:11-12).

Do we know the time and the spirit of the time? Do we know what we have to do to not be overwhelmed and eliminated by the enemy, but to remain subservient to the Lord? Can we serve our fellow believers with our understanding of God’s thoughts about time and the spirit of the time?

Who wants to be a real Issacharite, also has to be a real Zebulunite. From the men of this tribe we read that they are prepared to “draw up in battle formation … with an undivided heart” (1Chr 12:33). Their hearts are seized by nothing but David and the battle for him. Their hearts are “united” (Psa 86:11). They are not double-hearted. There is no other motive in their hearts but to be only for David and to establish him in his kingship. This characteristic must be found with us in relation to the Lord Jesus.

They “could draw up in battle formation”. This indicates that they are disciplined in their army unit. They each take their own place, but in the knowledge that they are part of a whole. There is individual dedication with all, each in his own place, so that the whole is a ‘team’ focused entirely on David.

Paul can rejoice at the sight of the “order” of the believers in the church in Colossae (Col 2:5). If there is personal commitment and an orderly whole, the enemy does not get a chance to break in a local church. However, if there are divisions, or schisms, he can easily sow disunity (1Cor 1:10).