Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 12:17
And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses newly arrived Benjamites and Judahites at his stronghold, issuing a conditional warning about their intentions.
The words — The Hebrew אִם־ לְ/שָׁל֞וֹם (im- le/shalom) literally renders "if to peace," establishing the conditional framework of David’s greeting.
The thread — This appeal to divine judgment for hidden motives parallels Genesis 31:42 and later reflects the non-retaliatory posture described in 1 Peter 2:23 and Jude 1:9.
Why it lands — The text demands a clear assessment of allegiance, requiring the reader to distinguish between genuine peace and hidden betrayal without assuming divine favor guarantees safety.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- Jude 1:9 But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
- Genesis 31:42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
- Genesis 31:53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
- 1 Samuel 16:4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
- 1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
- 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
- 1 Samuel 24:11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- 1 Samuel 26:23 May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
- 2 Samuel 3:20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.