_to the jeopardy of our heads_] Rather, =at the price of our heads=. David became son-in-law to Saul at the price of the lives of two hundred of the Philistines (1 Samuel xviii. 27); their lords here (in Chronicles) express their dread lest David reconcile himself to Saul by some act of treachery and slaughter done against his present Philistine patrons; compare 1 Samuel xxix. 4 (“with” = “at the price of”). ²⁰As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh. =20.= _As he went_] i.e. As he returned (1 Samuel xxx. 1). _Jozabad_] This name occurs twice; possibly in the original list different patronymics were attached to the two mentions of the name. _captains of thousands_] Compare xv. 25; Micah v. 2. Tribes were divided into “thousands” which were subdivided into “hundreds.” These divisions were of civil as well as of military significance. ²¹And they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. =21.= _the band of rovers_] The reference is to the Amalekites who burnt Ziklag (1 Samuel xxx. 1 ff.). The Hebrew word _gĕdūd_, here translated “band,” is translated “troop” in 1 Samuel xxx. 8, 15. _and were captains_] Render, =and they became captains=. ²²For from day to day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. =22.= _the host of God_] The phrase comes from Genesis xxxii. 2; compare Psalms lxviii. 15 (Revised Version) “a mountain of God.” The epithet “of God” is used to distinguish a thing as “very great.” =23‒40= (compare 2 Samuel v. 1). THE FORCES WHICH CAME TO HEBRON TO MAKE DAVID KING. ²³And these are the numbers of the heads of them that were armed for war, which came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. =23.= _And these are_, etc.] It may confidently be said that the list as it stands is the composition of the Chronicler himself, for the syntax and vocabulary of the passage are his, and there is no evidence to suggest that its statements are based on those of some ancient document. Its value in the idealistic account of David which the Chronicler furnishes is obvious, implying as it does not only that the northern as well as the southern tribes concurred whole-heartedly in the election of David, but also that the occasion was one of great military display. On the huge numbers alleged to have come from the North (Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, and Asher being credited with 155,600 warriors) compare the following note, and, in general, on midrashic exaggeration of numbers in Chronicles see the note on 2 Chronicles xvii. 14. ²⁴The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.