Teks -- 1 Chronicles 12:8 (NET)

12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

JFB: 1Ch 12:8-13 - of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David

That is, from the service of Saul and from the rest of the Gadites who remained steadfast adherents of his cause.

JFB: 1Ch 12:8-13 - into the hold

Or fortress, that is, of Ziklag, which was in the wilderness of Judah.

JFB: 1Ch 12:8-13 - whose faces were like the faces of lions, &c.

A fierce, lion-like countenance (2Sa 1:23), and great agility in pursuit (2Sa 2:18), were qualities of the highest estimation in ancient warfare.

Clarke: 1Ch 12:8 - And were as swift as the roes

And were as swift as the roes - That swiftness was considered to be a grand accomplishment in a warrior, appears from all ancient writings which treat of military affairs.

TSK: 1Ch 12:8 - into the hold // of war // handle // whose faces // as swift as the roes upon the mountains

into the hold : 1Ch 12:16, 1Ch 11:16; 1Sa 23:14, 1Sa 23:29, 1Sa 24:22

of war : Heb. of the host

handle : 2Ch 25:5; Jer 46:9

whose faces : 1Ch 11:22; 2Sa 1:23, 2Sa 17:10, 2Sa 23:20; Pro 28:1

as swift as the roes upon the mountains : Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste, 2Sa 2:18; Pro 6:5; Son 8:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 1Ch 12:8 - Separated themselves from Saul // Into the hold to the wilderness // Whose faces were like the faces of lions // As swift as the roes upon the mountains

Separated themselves from Saul to whom they had hitherto adhered; and from their brethren of their own tribe, who yet maintained Saul’ s cause; and from their families, and the places where they lived, from whom they went to David.

Into the hold to the wilderness or, into the hold of the wilderness , i.e. either to the cave of Adullam or Engedi; or rather to Ziklag, as appears from 1Ch 12:1 , which was in the wilderness of Judah, which is here called the hold , or the fortress, which name is also given to the city of David, 1Ch 11:7 , the Hebrew word being the same both here and there.

Whose faces were like the faces of lions who were full of courage, and by the majesty and fierceness of their countenances terrified their adversaries.

As swift as the roes upon the mountains: as their very looks daunted their enemies, and put them to flight, so they could easily pursue and overtake and destroy them in their flight.

Haydock: 1Ch 12:8 - Gaddi // Mountains

Gaddi, a city of the tribe of Gad, (2 Kings xxiii.) from which many went to join David, when he was in the country of Moab, (Menochius) as others of the Gadites did, ver. 14. ---

Mountains. A fierce countenance and swiftness were much commended in soldiers. "The eyes are always first conquered." Primi in omnibus præliis oculi vincuntur, says Tacitus, Mor. Germ. (Calmet) See Proverbs xxx. 30., and 2 Kings ii. 18. (Menochius)

Gill: 1Ch 12:8 - And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David, into the hold to the wilderness // men of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler // and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David, into the hold to the wilderness,.... Men of the tribe of Gad, who lived on the other side Jordan; these separated themselves from the rest of their tribe, from their families and dwellings, and from the government of Saul, and came over to David, and joined him either when he was in some strong hold in the wilderness of Ziph, or Maon, 1Sa 23:14, or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the wilderness of Judah:

men of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler; warlike, valiant, and courageous men, well skilled in military discipline: whose faces were like the face of lions; bold, stern, and fierce. The philosopher observes ^d, that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man, having a great mouth, a square face and forehead, large eye brows, &c.

and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; which are remarkable for their swiftness on the mountains, see Son 2:17. Aelianus ^e speaks of one sort of them that run as swift as a tempest. These Gadites, as with their undaunted looks and courage, intimidated their enemies, and put them to flight, so they were swift to pursue them, and overtake them.