David's Army at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

    23 Now these were the numbers of the divisions that were equipped for war, and came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD: 24 of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred armed for war; 25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred; 26 of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred; 27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred; 28 Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father's house twenty-two captains; 29 of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until then the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul); 30 of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men throughout their father's house; 31 of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king; 32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; 33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks; 34 of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear; 35 of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-eight thousand six hundred; 36 of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, forty thousand; 37 of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand armed for battle with every kind of weapon of war.
    38 All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.

David’s army at Hebron is numbered in strength by division heads by family and their weaponry here.  They all amassed at Hebron to turn over the kingdom from Saul to God’s anointed as true king over His people, and almost three hundred thirty-six thousand are mentioned here (only the chiefs of the families are counted, so there were undoubtedly more than this amount).  It was a very large force who came in allegiance to make David the potentate over God’s people at this place and time.  Notice most of all that they came with a loyal heart, perfectly devoted to God’s choice of the man and having all the same mind to crown him.  There was unity of purpose and support, especially having known David’s faithfulness and dedication to them as Saul opposed and hunted David down.  They knew the hand of God’s choice was to be far better than their own choice of a king.  Therefore they feasted for three days with celebrate joy and unity as one people under God with His man now acknowledged and put in charge to lead them.  Such should be our joy in the church as we choose leaders, pastors and elders; however, our fullness of joy is in the King of kings who is the Lord of lords under whose eternal reign we always stand.  This can only bring us unmeasurable joy and contentment in His sovereign watchcare over each of us who are His!  David had his loyal army at Hebron, but the Lord Jesus Christ has his greater band of brothers and sisters under His command who fight the good fight for His glory with the truth of His word which is the gospel.  This was actually God’s army of loyal men supporting His chosen king, and now we likewise support God’s chosen King over all from the root of David as a man and as God from eternity.