1 Chronicles 12:15
in 1 Chronicles 12These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These are they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.
KJV
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
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This verse in 1 Chronicles 12
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
On the danger of the exploit, see the marginal reference note. This passage 1Ch 12:8-15 seems to be taken verbatim from an ancient source, the poetical expressions in 1Ch 12:8, 1Ch 12:14, being especially unlike the usual style of our author.
This site's exposition
when it had overflown all his banks
The crossing itself is a feat worth its own verse: Jordan at flood stage, in the first month when the winter thaw fills the valley, and this company crossed it anyway to put to flight the valley dwellers on both banks. Matthew Henry reads the exploit as the mark of men fit to be employed in God's cause, men who venture on a plain trust in his protection. No parallel account exists in Samuel; this river-crossing belongs to Chronicles alone.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month,....
Those are fit to be employed in the cause of God that can venture thus in a dependence upon the divine protection. They were men that would go through with the business they engaged in.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month--that is, in spring, when the swollen river generally fills up the banks of its channel (see on Jos 3:14;
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A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3297: “David and His Volunteers” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
DAVID, compelled to flee from his own country, and to hide himself from the malice of Saul, was eminently a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who, in the days when He dwelt here among men, was despised and rejected of men. And at this moment it is well known to the true Church of God and it becomes palpably evident to every earnest Believer in the Gospel that Jesus, the Son of David, is not received, acknowledged, or tolerated in this present evil world. He has gone forth outside the camp.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3297: “David and His Volunteers” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
DAVID, compelled to flee from his own country, and to hide himself from the malice of Saul, was eminently a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who, in the days when He dwelt here among men, was despised and rejected of men. And at this moment it is well known to the true Church of God and it becomes palpably evident to every earnest Believer in the Gospel that Jesus, the Son of David, is not received, acknowledged, or tolerated in this present evil world. He has gone forth outside the camp. All who would repair to Him must go forth likewise, bearing His reproach. These eleven Gadites—all of them remarkable men—espoused the cause of David when he was in his very worst condition—they left the ease and comfort, the honors and elements of their own homes to associate themselves with him when he was regarded as an outlaw under the ban of society. And to this day, every Christian who is faithful to his profession must separate himself from his fellow men to be a follower of the despised Jesus. In that way and with that faith which men still count heresy, must he join himself with that to which is everywhere spoken against, running the gauntlet of the age if he would espouse the cause of the Lord's Anointed! In tracing out the parallel, let me now draw your attention, first, to the leader who commanded the voluntary homage of good and valiant men. And then to the recruits who joined themselves to him, of whom we find a graphic description it our text. I. THE LEADER, whom we regard as a type of our Lord Jesus Christ, was David, the son of Jesse. And in tracing out some points of analogy, we begin by noticing that like David, our Lord was anointed of God to be the Leader of His people. Hence the words of prophecy concerning Him, "I will make an Everlasting Covenant with You, even the sure mercies of David.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
In the first month - Perhaps this was the month Nisan, which answers to a part of our March and April. This was probably before the snows on the mountains were melted, just as Jordan began to overflow its banks; or if we allow that it had already overflowed its banks, it made their attempt more hazardous, and afforded additional proof of their heroism.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
these were some of the sons of Gad as is written above (v. 8): “And some of the Gadites separated to David.”
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month in Nissan, when the snows had already melted.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֵ֣לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| הֵ֗ם | hem | [were] they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עָבְר֤וּ | ʾaveru | they passed over | H5674 → | 556 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ | haiyarden | the Jordan | H3383 → | 182 times |
| בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ | bachodesh | in the month | H2320 → | 284 times |
| הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן | harishon | <the> first | H7223 → | 182 times |
| וְה֥וּא | vehu' | and it | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| מְמַלֵּ֖א | memale' | [was] overflowing | H4390 → | 249 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| גְּדוֹתָ֑יו | gidyotav | banks its | H1415 → | |
| וַיַּבְרִ֙יחוּ֙ | vaiyavrichu | and they put to flight | H1272 → | |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הָ֣עֲמָקִ֔ים | haamakim | the valleys | H6010 → | 69 times |
| לַמִּזְרָ֖ח | lamizrach | to the east | H4217 → | 74 times |
| וְלַֽמַּעֲרָֽב׃ ס | velamaarav | and to the west | H4628 → | 14 times |
אֵ֣לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
הֵ֗ם[were] they
hemH1992 →553 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
עָבְר֤וּthey passed over
ʾaveruH5674 →556 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַיַּרְדֵּן֙the Jordan
haiyardenH3383 →182 times
בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁin the month
bachodeshH2320 →284 times
הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן<the> first
harishonH7223 →182 times
וְה֥וּאand it
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
מְמַלֵּ֖א[was] overflowing
memale'H4390 →249 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
גְּדוֹתָ֑יוbanks its
gidyotavH1415 →
וַיַּבְרִ֙יחוּ֙and they put to flight
vaiyavrichuH1272 →
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הָ֣עֲמָקִ֔יםthe valleys
haamakimH6010 →69 times
לַמִּזְרָ֖חto the east
lamizrachH4217 →74 times
וְלַֽמַּעֲרָֽב׃ סand to the west
velamaaravH4628 →14 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 12:5“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Proverbs 24:10
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
- Jeremiah 49:19
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:3–4
Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
- Jeremiah 50:44
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one…
- 1 Peter 4:12
Through
Joshua 4:18When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course…
it leads to
- Joshua 3:15
Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Joshua 3:15
Through
Jeremiah 49:19Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 12:5
“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 12:5
Through
Joshua 3:15Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
it leads to
- Joshua 3:13
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Joshua 3:13
About 1 Chronicles
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3297: “David and His Volunteers” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.