_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 came¹ upon Amasai, who was chief of the thirty², _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. ¹⁹Of Manasseh also there fell away some 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 away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. =19.= _when he came with the Philistines_] See 1 Samuel xxviii. 1, 2, xxix. 1‒11. _but they helped them not_] David’s men did not help the Philistines. _upon advisement_] “After consideration”; literally “by counsel.” Compare xxi. 12, “advise thyself.”