Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
What more should I say? He did not open his mouth to those planning deceit, and, as though he did not hear, he thought no word should be returned, nor did he answer their reproaches. When he was spoken of evilly, he prayed. When he was cursed, he blessed. He walked in simplicity of heart and fled from the proud. He was a follower of those unspotted from the world, one who mixed ashes with his food when bewailing his sins, and mingled his drink with weeping. Worthily, then, was he called for by all the people. All the tribes of Israel came to him, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Also yesterday and the day before when Saul lived, and reigned, you were he that led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, you shall feed my people!” And why should I say more about him of whom the word of the Lord has gone forth to say: “I have found David according to my heart” Who else always walked in holiness of heart and in justice as he did, so as to fulfill the will of Go...
Tribes. Thus were God's promises sweetly fulfilled, and David obtained the quiet dominion over all Israel, excepting perhaps a few of the tribe of Benjamin, according to the Vulgate, 1 Paralipomenon xii. 29. an army of 340,822 was collected on this occasion; and David signalized the commencement of his reign, by the taking of Jerusalem. (Calmet)
The tribe is Issachar is not specified in the text; but Josephus asserts, that 20,000 of them assembled; so that the army would amount to 359 (Salien) or 60 thousand, besides the 822. (Calmet)
These might be considered as deputies of all the rest of their brethren, 1 Paralipomenon xii. 38. They were abundantly supplied with all necessities. (Salien)
Flesh, of the same nation, as Moses had specified, Deuteronomy xvii. 15. (Calmet)
They now relinquish all the seeds of division, which had before hindered them from joining with their brethren of Juda. Kennicott discovers several important alterations, by comparing this history with 1 Chronicles...
We find that the word flesh is used in holy Scripture with many different meanings: for sometimes it stands for the whole person, that is, for that which consists of body and soul, as here: “And the Word was made flesh,”? and “All flesh shall see the salvation of our God.” Sometimes it stands for sinful and carnal people, as here: “My spirit shall not remain in those men, because they are flesh.” Sometimes it is used for sins themselves, as here: “But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit,” and again, “Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Lastly there follows, “Neither shall corruption inherit incorruption.” Sometimes [as with David] it stands for unity and relationship, as here: “Behold we are your bone and your flesh,” and the apostle says, “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh, and save some of them.” We must therefore inquire in which of these four meanings we ought to take the word flesh in this place. - "Conference 4.10"
