David seemed to have good ground for his enquiry of the Benjamites, for Saul was of that tribe. But the Lord was better to him than all his fears. Is there not a sweet spiritual lesson veiled under this address of David to the Benjamites, and the answer of Amasai? Are we come to Jesus in sincerity and truth! Can we appeal to the God of our fathers in his covenant-love, and say, His chosen is our chosen, and God the Father's Christ our Christ. Thine we are, blessed Jesus, and to thee we vow allegiance and love forever! Oh! how delightful it is to feel as Ruth felt, and to yield ourselves to the Lord, as his servants, in affection. Ruth 1:16-17.
1 Chronicles 12:16-22
16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17 And David went out to meete 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.
18 Then the spirit camef upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19 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.
20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.