And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.

And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand; but hitherto the greater part of them had adhered to the house of Saul.

And of the sons of Benjamin, brethren of Saul, are three thousand, and hitherto their greater part are keeping the charge of the house of Saul.

And of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand; for up to that time the greater part of them had been true to Saul.

and Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul.

For hitherto - Rather, "For still the greatest part of them maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul." This is given as the reason for so few coming to Hebron. It shows us that, even after the death of Ishbosheth, the Benjamites had hopes of furnishing a third king to the nation.

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had (k) kept the ward of the house of Saul.
(k) That is, the greatest number took Saul's side.

Benjamin . . . three thousand--This small number shows the unpopularity of the movement in this tribe; and, indeed, it is expressly stated that the mass of the population had, even after Ish-bosheth's death, anxiously endeavored to secure the crown in the family of Saul.

From the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged (שׁאוּל אחי, see on 1-Chronicles 12:2), only 3000 men came, for until that time (הנּה ועד, cf. 1-Chronicles 9:18) the greater number of them were keeping the guard of the house of Saul, i.e., were devoted to the interests of the fallen house. For משׁמרת שׁמר, see on Genesis 26:5 and Leviticus 8:35. From this we learn that the attachment of the Benjamites to Saul continued even after the death of his son Ishbosheth, and that it was with difficulty that they could bring themselves to recognise David as king.

Kept the ward - Endeavoured to keep the crown in Saul's family.