8. And of the Gadites] The Gadites had the name of marauders (Genesis xlix. 19), and David’s mode of life would attract them. Chronologically verse 8 should precede verse 1; David was first “in the hold” and afterwards in Ziklag. On the reference to Gad and Manasseh (verse 19) see 2 Chronicles xv. 9.
separated themselves] i.e. left their brethren east of Jordan and came west.
to the hold in the wilderness] It is uncertain whether this hold be or be not the cave of Adullam. On the latter see xi. 15, note.
shield and spear] The reference is to the manner of fighting in David’s day. At the threat of an attack an army was drawn up in close array, shield touching shield and spears carried at the charge. Only in a high state of discipline could men quickly and effectively handle shield and spear thus (1 Samuel xvii. 2, 8, 21). (The Authorized Version, “shield and buckler,” follows a mistake of several early editions of the printed Hebrew text.)
as the roes] In David’s lament (2 Samuel i.) Jonathan is compared to a lion (verse 23) and to a gazelle (verse 19 margin, the same Hebrew word as for roe here).
¹⁰Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth; ¹¹Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh; ¹²Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth; ¹³Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
10. Jeremiah, the fifth] Compare verse 13, Jeremiah the tenth. A very slight difference of spelling distinguishes the two words in the Hebrew.
¹⁴These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host: he that was least was equal to[¹] an hundred, and the greatest to[¹] a thousand.
[¹] Or, over.
14. he that was least ... thousand] Compare Leviticus xxvi. 8; Isaiah xxx. 17.