Bible Strands

1 Chronicles 12:19

Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The chronicler records a historical report about tribal defections to David during his flight from Saul. The narrative occurs while David is temporarily stationed with the Philistine army, immediately following the pledge of loyalty by Amasai and his men.

The words — The Hebrew verb נָפְלוּ (na.fe.Lu) literally means "they fell" and functions here as a military idiom for "they defected" or "they joined." It describes men from Manasseh falling in with David as he marched with the Philistines.

The thread — This defection parallels the earlier account in 1 Samuel 29:2 where David's presence among the Philistines raises their commanders' suspicions. The same Manassite chiefs are named in 1 Chronicles 12:20 as joining David at Ziklag after the Philistine rulers dismiss him.

Why it lands — The text demonstrates that political and military alliances shift according to divine providence rather than human loyalty. It requires the reader to recognize that God's chosen leader gains support even from unexpected quarters while under foreign protection.

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

וּמִֽמְּנַשֶּׁ֞הu./mi./me.na.Shehand/ some of/ Manassehנָפְל֣וּna.fe.Luthey fellעַל־'al-onדָּוִ֗ידda.VidDavidבְּבֹא֨וֹbe./vo.'/Owhen/ went/ heעִם־'im-withפְּלִשְׁתִּ֧יםpe.lish.Tim[the] Philistinesעַל־'al-onשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlSaulלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla./mil.cha.Mahfor <the>/ battleוְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ notעֲזָרֻ֑ם'a.za.Ru/mthey helped/ themכִּ֣יkiforבְעֵצָ֗הve./'e.Tzahby/ planשִׁלְּחֻ֜הוּshi.le.Chu./huthey sent away/ himסַרְנֵ֤יsar.Nei[the] rulers ofפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.Tim[the] Philistinesלֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ sayingבְּרָאשֵׁ֕ינוּbe./ra.Shei./nuby/ heads/ ourיִפּ֖וֹלyi.Polhe will fallאֶל־'el-toאֲדֹנָ֥יו'a.do.Na/vlord<s>/ hisשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlSaul

King James Version

And there fell some of Manasseh 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 to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

Cross-references

People named

DavidSaul