King James Version

What Does 1 Chronicles 12:17 Mean?

“And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. to meet: Heb. before them be knit: Heb. be one wrong: or, violence”

Context

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks ; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. overflown: Heb. filled over

And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. to meet: Heb. before them be knit: Heb. be one wrong: or, violence

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains , and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. came: Heb. clothed

And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. to the: Heb. on our heads

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(17) **And David went out to meet them.**—From his fastness or hiding-place in the hill or wood. Literally, *before them, i.e.,* confronted them. (Comp, same phrase, 1Chronicles 14:8.) **And answered and said unto them.**—The familiar New Testament phrase, καὶ ὰποκριθϵὶς ϵἰπϵν αύτοῖς. David’s speech and the answer of Amasai have all the marks of a genuine survival of antiquity. “If for peace ye have come unto me to help me.” *For peace*, i.e., with friendly intent. (Comp. Psalm 120:7.) **To help me.**—Comp, 1Chronicles 12:1, where David’s comrades are called “helpers of the war,” ξύμμαχοι. **Mine heart shall be knit unto you.**—Lite- rally, I shall have (fiet mihi) towards you a heart for union, or at unity: that is, a heart at one with and true to you. (Comp, “one heart,” 1Chronicles 12:38, and Psalm 133:1, and terms like unanimis, δμόφρων.) **If ye be come to betray me.**—Literally, and if to beguile me for my foes, that is, to betray me to them, as Authorised Version. The false part of Sextus Tarquinius at Gabii, or of Zopyrus at Babylon. (Comp. Psalm 120:2.) **Seeing there is no wrong in mine hands.**—Although (there be) *no violence in my palms*. (Comp. Job 16:17; Psalm 7:4; Isaiah 53:9.) **The God of our fathers . . . behold and punish.**—The verbs are jussive or optative. (Comp. 2Chronicles 24:22.). The psalms of David breathe a confidence that Jehovah is a righteous judge, who never fails to vindicate innocence, and punish highhanded violence and treacherous cunning. (Comp. Psalm 9:12, Psa_10:14, Psa_18:20.)

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Chronicles 12:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.