提要
大衛躲避掃羅的逃亡生活，並不孤單。上帝曾在那些猶大本族之外的人中，帶給他許多支持者。曾與掃羅同伙的戰士，皆背叛並轉而參與大衛在希伯崙的軍隊。（希伯崙是非利士人的城，在猶大邊界。欲知背景，請看撒上27：1~7）這些人知道上帝已揀選了大衛為王。無疑地，他們也早就離開了掃羅，因為他瘋狂和變節。就是在掃羅自己的本族，也有大量的便雅憫人，離開了他而支持大衛。掃羅知道這事，並對此有些狂想、偏執的毛病（參撒上22：7~8）。這些便雅憫人是一群不平凡、戰技精巧的天才，這一點對任何軍隊都有巨大的價值（12：2）。即使在早年，人們便知道，他們是使用左手的。
也有一些迦得支派的軍人，參與大衛的陣營。（可能在未進入希伯崙定居之前。）另外有更多他自己本族的人，以及一些便雅憫人，當大衛在曠野的根據地時加入的。所謂根據地，可能指亞杜蘭及隱基底的山洞（撒上22：1；23：29）。當另外一批人加入時，他甚感疑慮，因為前此他曾被出賣過（撒上23：5、12；23：19~20）。他知道掃羅狡猾，且有可能派這些人來戲弄他。大衛向上帝表示自己全然無辜，並求祂審判那些可能害他的人（12：16~17）。但在主的靈「覆被亞瑪撒」（字面翻譯）時，便對這些人的和平意圖，予以確認。所以很清楚，他說的都是真話。當絕望的時候，上帝的話可能鼓勵了大衛（12：18）。
上帝也派某些瑪拿西支派的人來幫助他。他們剛好在大衛幾乎被非利士人派到戰場對抗掃羅時，加入了他（背景見撒上29章）。這無疑地，是他的禱告得到回答。大衛不想攻擊掃羅，故非利士領袖的懷疑，是理所當然的（12：19）。大衛的軍隊實在是夠強，能發動對掃羅的戰爭，況且他還有多數以色列人的支持。這支持，由掃羅死後，每個支派都有許多人到他所在的希伯崙擁他為王予以證實。只要掃羅仍然做王，則大衛無論如何不願伸手攻擊主所膏立的人（指掃羅，參撒上24：6；26：9~11）。他無欲無求地等待主，以祂自己的方式和時間，立他為王。因為主實在是信實的，必會實踐祂的應許。
有了瑪拿西人的幫助，大衛跟蹤摧毀了叛逆者；這叛逆者，或指那些焚燒洗革拉城，俘擄城中一切婦女孩童的亞瑪利人（12：21；撒上30：1、17~18）。在同一時期，掃羅因與非力士人作戰而受傷，最後因而自殺。得到掃羅的死訊，以色列民聚集到大衛面前。包含利未支派和約但河東的子民在內，沒有一派不派代表參加。那時快樂如潮，因為他們看見上帝的旨意終於完成，整個事件都有祂作為的記號。所有以色列人爭著效忠大衛，因為他們知道上帝已揀選一個敬虔公正的王來治理他們。當他們團結一致，而主的旨意完成時，上帝的子民真是樂透了。
主使大衛昌盛為王；當他征服了耶路撒冷作為都城以後，過了段時間，便想把主的約櫃放到一個顯著的地方。經過兩代，約櫃全然被遺忘在基列耶琳。所有以色列人都同意把約櫃請到耶路撒冷（欲知背景和進一步評註，請看撒下6章的讀經日程）。他們的意願可嘉，但卻忽略了由摩西所傳，關乎搬移約櫃的正確方法的上帝命令。（照民4：15）的規定，應該由哥轄子孫的利未人扛在肩上。烏撒的死，叫選民對主心生敬畏，且讓祂在凡事上居首位。如果他們這樣做，不幸事件便不會發生。 俄別以東以最高的崇敬，迎進了主的約櫃。當人以對祂喜悅的方式順服榮耀主時，就有無限的祝福緊跟著臨到。
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Overview
While David was in exile from Saul, he certianly was not alone. The Lord had brought to him many supporters besides those from his own tribe of Judah. Fighting men, who had formerly been with Saul, were defecting to join David's forces at Ziklag, a city of Philistia on the border of Judah's territory (for background see 1 Samuel 27:1-7). These men recognized that God had chosen David to be king. No doubt they had also left Saul because of his madness and treachery. Even a large number of Benjamites, Saul's own tribesmen, left him to give their support to David. Saul was aware of this and was paranoid about it (cf. 1 Samuel 22:7-8). These Benjamites were a group unusually gifted in ambidextrous fighting skills, and this was of great value to any army (12:2). Even in previous years, the Benjamites had been known for left-handedness (Judges 3:15; 20:16).
David was also joined (probably previous to his residence at Ziklag) by some men from the tribe of Gad, some more from his own tribe, and some from Benjamin while he was at his stronghold in the wilderness, which may refer to the cave of Adullam or at En Gedi (1 Samuel 22:1; 23:29). When another group came to join him, he was suspicious, for he had previously been betrayed (1 Samuel 23:5, 12; 23:19-20). He knew Saul was sly and could have sent these men to trick him. David expressed his utter innocence and called upon God to bring judgment if anyone did him harm (12:16-17). The Lord confirmed the peaceful intentions of these men when His Spirit "clothed Amasai" (literal translation); therefore, the truthfulness of his words was clear. God's words would have served as an encouragement to David who might have been in despair (12:18).
God sent David the help of some men from the tribe of Manasseh. They joined him just before he was sent away from joining the Philistines in battle against Saul (background found in 1 Samuel 29), which was no doubt an answer to his prayer. David would not fight against Saul, and the suspicion of the Philistine leaders was correct (12:19). David's army was indeed strong enough to wage war against Saul, and he had the support of the majority of Israel. This support is evident from the many men of every tribe who came to him at Hebron after Saul's death to make him king. As long as Saul was still king, however, David would not lift his hand against the one whom the Lord had anointed (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9-11). He was content to wait upon the Lord to bring about his kingship in His own way and timing, for God is indeed faithful to fulfill His promises.
With the help of Manasseh, David pursued and destroyed the raiders, likely referring to the Amalekites who burned his city of Ziklag and took captive all their wives and children (12:21; 1 Samuel 30:1, 17-18). During this same period, Saul was wounded in the battle with the Philistines, and this led to his suicide. With the news of Saul's death, the people of Israel flocked to David. No tribe, including Levi and those east of the Jordan, was without representation. It was a joyful time, for they saw the will of God finally accomplished and marked by total unity. All Israel pledged loyalty to David, for they knew God had chosen a godly and just king to rule over them. Great joy comes to the people of God when they are in unity and His will is done.
The Lord prospered David as king, and some time after he had conquered Jerusalem for his capital, he desired the Ark of the Lord to be brought into a place of prominence. For two generations, it had been all but forgotten in Kirjath Jearim. All Israel agreed to bring the Ark to Jerusalem (for background and further comments see "Day Unto Day" commentary on 2 Samuel 6). Their intentions were commendable, but they disregarded the command of God, as Moses had instructed, concerning the correct transportation of the Ark — the Levites of the family of Kohath were to bear it upon their shoulders (cf. Numbers 4:15). Uzza's death caused the people to have the respect and fear of the Lord that they should have had in the first place. If they had done so, this misfortune would not have occurred.
With utmost respect, the household of Obed-Edom took in the Ark of the Lord. When the Lord was obeyed and honoured in the way that pleased Him, many blessings followed.
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