Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 12:29

"And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul." — 1 Chronicles 12:29 (ASV)

Kindred. — Fellow-tribesmen.

Hitherto. — Up to that time. (Compare, same phrase, 1 Chronicles 9:18.)

Had kept. — Were still keeping guard over the house of Saul. For the phrase compare Numbers 3:38.

The Benjamites, as a whole, were still jealously guarding the interests of their own royal house. This remark, as well as the preceding expression, “Saul’s fellow-tribesmen,” is intended to explain the comparative smallness of the contingent from Benjamin. The tribe’s reluctance to recognize David survived the murder of Ish-bosheth.