“And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.”
King James Version (KJV)
12:29 Kept the ward - Endeavoured to keep the crown in Saul'sfamily.
12:31 Manasseh - Which was within Jordan: for of the other halfbeyond Jordan he speaks, ver.#37|.By name - Who were not ashamed publickly to own David by putting theirnames to some paper presented to them for that purpose.
12:32 The times - They understood public affairs, the temper of thenation, and the tendencies of the present events. And they shewed theirwisdom at this time; for as they had adhered to Saul while he lived,as knowing the time was not yet come for David to take possession ofthe kingdom: and as they could not join David, while Abner lived,and had the command of the other tribes wherewith they were encompassed,so as soon as he was dead, and they had opportunity to declare themselves,they owned David for their king.