I Chronicles 12:16

And there fell some of Manasseh to David,.... Of the tribe of Manasseh; they took his part, and on his side, and joined him: when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; which was a strong proof of their cordial attachment to him: but they helped them not: the Philistines; neither David nor his men, nor the Manassites that joined them: for the lords of the Philistines, upon advisement; counsel taken among themselves: sent him away; that is, David and his men: saying, he will fall to his master Saul, to the jeopardy of our heads; meaning, that he would go off with his troops to Saul, and betray them into his hands, and with their heads make his peace with him, see Sa1 29:4.

What the mighty men did towards making David king we read in the foregoing chapter. Here we are told what the many did towards it. It was not all at once, but gradually, that David ascended the throne. His kingdom was to last; and therefore, like fruits that keep longest, it ripened slowly. After he had long waited for the vacancy of the throne, it was at two steps and those above seven years distant, that he ascended it. Now we are here told, I. What help came in to him to Ziklag, to make him king of Judah (v. 1-22). II. What help came in to him in Hebron, to make him king over all Israel, above seven years after (v. 23-40).