Synopsis of the Chapter
Those who followed David when he was fleeing from Saul are listed; and those who were the first to come to him at Hebron to anoint him king.
Verse 2: From the Brethren of Saul ¶
2. FROM THE BRETHREN OF SAUL, FROM BENJAMIN — that is, from the kinsmen of Saul and the Benjaminites; for Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. This was remarkable, and almost miraculous, by which God honored David as an exile and fugitive, that many from the tribe of Benjamin and kinsmen of Saul preferred to follow him rather than Saul the king who was persecuting him: for God was fighting for David against Saul, and David's innocence, modesty, and holiness drew everyone to him, while Saul's pride, insolence, and wickedness drove them away from him. Rightly also three thousand Benjaminites preferred to follow David, because of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, as is said in verse 29.
Verse 6: From the Korahites ¶
6. FROM THE KORAHITES — that is, as the Hebrew and the Septuagint have, from the Korahites, or from the descendants of Korah.
Verse 8: From the Gadites ¶
8. FROM THE GADITES — that is, from the tribe of Gad, or from the Gadites.
Verse 15: Crossing the Jordan ¶
15. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO CROSSED THE JORDAN IN THE FIRST MONTH (Nisan, or the Paschal month, which corresponds partly to our March, partly to April), WHEN IT WAS OVERFLOWING ALL ITS BANKS: AND THEY PUT ALL TO FLIGHT — that is, these are the Gadites, who with heroic courage and valor were the first to dare to enter the Jordan (divided by Joshua), and attacked the Canaanites who were stationed on the opposite bank and trying to prevent the crossing of the Hebrews, and put them to flight.
Verse 22: Like the Army of God ¶
22. LIKE THE ARMY OF GOD — that is, like a very great army; for all things of the most great God are most great.
Verse 28: Zadok ¶
28. AND ZADOK ALSO, A YOUNG MAN OF EXCELLENT CHARACTER. — This appears to be Zadok the High Priest, whom Saul appointed as Pontiff after he killed Ahimelech, who was from the line of Eli and Ithamar. He is called 'a young man' because at that time he was younger; hence he afterward lived through the entire reign of David, and served in the pontificate together with Abiathar. Then when Solomon removed Abiathar, Zadok alone remained as High Priest, authorized by Solomon. For although Jehoiada in the preceding verse is called 'leader,' he was nevertheless not the Pontiff, but a 'leader,' that is, the commander of the military company which he led from the priests and Levites to David.
Verse 32: The Sons of Issachar ¶
32. AND OF THE SONS OF ISSACHAR, LEARNED MEN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE TIMES, TO KNOW WHAT ISRAEL OUGHT TO DO, TWO HUNDRED CHIEFS. — Vatablus says: leaders experienced in seizing opportunities, that is, knowing at what time and what should be done by seizing the right moments, for example, that at this time, when Saul had been slain by the Philistines along with all his army, David should be made king, since he was experienced in war and victorious, and therefore a terror to the Philistines, to restrain their pride and boldness from their recent victory, and that the time had now come for the promise of the kingdom made by God to David to be fulfilled. For there was no other who could come to the aid of Israel's affairs, now so fallen and afflicted, and restore them, except David: therefore these leaders persuaded the people not only of their own tribe, but also of others, to make David king. They were therefore learned in the knowledge or understanding of the times, that is, of opportunities, as the Hebrews have it, which is the practical knowledge most useful for human life, and in which true and perfect prudence consists, both ethical, economic, and political, as Solomon teaches, Ecclesiastes 3:2 ff.: 'All things have their season: A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time of war, and a time of peace,' etc.
Secondly, 'knowledge of the times' can here be understood as physical and astrological knowledge. For the men of Issachar were farmers, and therefore they observed the changes of the seasons, and the conditions of air and winds, so that they might know when it was time to sow, when to reap, when to plant, when to sail. For this knowledge is necessary for farmers, as Virgil attests in the Georgics. This knowledge of the times the Issacharites had learned partly through continual observation and experience, and partly they had drawn from the neighboring Phoenicians, namely the Tyrians and Sidonians (to whom they brought their crops, wine, and oil). For the Phoenicians, being dwellers by the sea, devoted themselves to navigation and commerce, and therefore observed the changes of the stars and seasons.
Thirdly, St. Jerome takes 'knowledge of the times' as the knowledge of the ecclesiastical calendar, for example, when Passover should be celebrated, Pentecost, and the other feasts, and what should be done and offered on each feast. For the Issacharites, in their quiet agricultural life, were devoted to the study of wisdom and religion. Hence Moses, Deuteronomy 33:18, bestows this blessing on them: 'And Issachar in his tents' — that is, he will quietly devote himself to agriculture and commerce. 'They shall call the peoples to the mountain' — namely to the temple on Mount Zion, that there they may devoutly worship God. 'For they themselves,' says St. Jerome, 'were teachers, calculators, and masters, whether for the festivals or for other matters.' Abulensis objects that farmers are not accustomed to devote themselves to studies, but wrongly: for we often see the contrary happen, and in ancient times it was so. Certainly many farmers have learned sons and teachers among them — I myself am also the son of a farmer.