Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 12:17

"And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it." — 1 Chronicles 12:17 (ASV)

And David went out to meet them. — From his stronghold or hiding-place in the hill or wood. Literally, before them, i.e., he confronted them. (Compare to the same phrase in 1 Chronicles 14:8.)

And answered and said unto them. — This is the familiar New Testament phrase, καὶ ὰποκριθϵὶς ϵἰπϵν αύτοῖς. David’s speech and the answer of Amasai have all the marks of a genuine survival of antiquity. If for peace ye have come unto me to help me. For peace, i.e., with friendly intent. (Compare to Psalms 120:7.)

To help me. — Compare to 1 Chronicles 12:1, where David’s comrades are called helpers of the war, ξύμμαχοι.

Mine heart shall be knit unto you. — Literally, I shall have (fiet mihi) towards you a heart for union, or at unity: that is, a heart at one with and true to you. (Compare to one heart, 1 Chronicles 12:38, and Psalms 133:1, and terms like unanimis, δμόφρων.)

If ye be come to betray me. — Literally, and if to beguile me for my foes, that is, to betray me to them, as the Authorized Version. The false part of Sextus Tarquinius at Gabii, or of Zopyrus at Babylon. (Compare to Psalms 120:2.)

Seeing there is no wrong in mine hands. — Although (there is) no violence in my palms. (Psalms 7:4; Isaiah 53:9.)

The God of our fathers ... behold and punish. — The verbs are jussive or optative. (Compare to 2 Chronicles 24:22). The psalms of David breathe a confidence that Jehovah is a righteous judge, who never fails to vindicate innocence and punish highhanded violence and treacherous cunning. (Psalms 10:14; Psalms 18:20.)