the God of our fathers, etc.] Compare the equally fine assertion of integrity of conduct and of faith in God made by David in 1 Samuel xxiv. 11 ff. If it be felt that in the later idealisation, which must be recognised, we lose our knowledge of the real David, it should be remembered that this very idealisation is in itself proof of the greatness of David in mind and soul. The strong but simple faith and the magnanimous bearing of David, which such a passage as the present portrays, are no doubt true to fact, for they provide precisely that historical basis without which the reverent and loving idealisation of later generations had never come into existence.
¹⁸Then the spirit came[¹] upon Amasai, who was chief of the thirty[²], 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.
[¹] Hebrew clothed.
[²] Another reading is, captains.
18. the spirit came upon A.] Literally a spirit (i.e. from God) clothed itself with (i.e. entered into) Amasai. Compare 2 Chronicles xxiv. 20; Judges vi. 34.
Amasai] Probably to be identified with “Amasa” (2 Samuel xvii. 25, xix. 13).
chief of the thirty] Thus the Kethīb; the Authorized Version], following the Ḳerī, has “chief of the captains”; so also xi. 11, where see note.
Thine are we, David, and on thy side] Literally “For thee, David, and with thee.” This response “Thine are we ... helpeth thee” is a fine fragment of Hebrew poetry, having an early simplicity of style, which it is peculiarly interesting to find in so late a book as Chronicles. It is assuredly not the composition of the Chronicler, but must be derived from some independent source, and is perhaps a really old traditional saying about David. See the Introduction § 5, p. [xxxv.]
for thy God helpeth thee] David’s frequent escapes from Saul were felt to be due to Divine protection.
19–22.
Manassite Adherents.