12 Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite.

And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,

And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;

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

29 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.

30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.

35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

36 And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.

38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.

Abawagizi ba Dawudi

12 (A)Bano be basajja abajja eri Dawudi e Zikulagi, gye yali yeekwese Sawulo mutabani wa Kiisi, era be bamu ku bamuyamba mu lutalo. (B)Baalina obusaale, era nga balasa bulungi, n’okuvuumuula nga bavuumuula amayinja n’emikono gyabwe egya ddyo n’egya kkono, ate nga balina oluganda ne Sawulo ow’ekika kya Benyamini.

Akiyezeeri ye yali omukulu, muganda we Yowaasi n’amuddirira, bombi nga batabani ba Semaa Omugibeya;

Yeziyeri ne Pereti batabani ba Azumavesi;

Beraka, ne Yeeku Omwanasoni, (C)ne Isumaya Omugibyoni, omusajja omuzira ku bali amakumi asatu, era omukulu waabwe;

ne Yeremiya, ne Yakaziyeri, ne Yokanaani, ne Yozabadi Omugederi; ne Eruzayi, ne Yerimosi, ne Beyaliya, ne Semaliya, ne Sefatiya Omukalufu;

ne Erukaana, ne Issiya, ne Azaleri, ne Yowezeeri, ne Yasobeyamu, Abakoola;

(D)ne Yowera ne Zebadiya, batabani ba yerokamu ow’e Gedoli.

(E)Abamu ku Bagaadi be yawula ku bannaabwe, ne bagenda eri Dawudi ku kigo kye mu ddungu. Baali basajja b’amaanyi abazira nga balina amafumu n’engabo era nga beetegefu okulwana. Amaaso gaabwe gaali nga ag’empologoma, era nga bawenyuka emisinde ng’empeewo mu nsozi.

Ezeri ye yali omukulu waabwe,

ne Obadiya n’amuddirira, ne Eriyaabu nga ye wookusatu,

10 ne Misumanna nga ye wookuna, ne Yeremiya nga ye wookutaano,

11 ne Attayi nga ye w’omukaaga, ne Eryeri nga ye w’omusanvu,

12 ne Yokanaani nga ye wa munaana, ne Eruzabadi nga ye wa mwenda,

13 ne Yeremiya nga ye wa kkumi, ne Makubannayi nga ye wa kkumi n’omu.

14 (F)Abagaadi abo baali baduumizi ba ggye, era asembayo mu bukulu ng’aduumira ekibinja eky’abantu lukumi. 15 (G)Era abo be basajja abaasomoka omugga Yoludaani, mu mwezi ogw’olubereberye, amazzi gaagwo bwe gaabimba ne ganjaala ku ttale ne bagoba abo bonna abaabeeranga mu biwonvu, ebuvanjuba era n’ebugwanjuba.

16 (H)Abamu ku basajja ba Benyamini ne Yuda nabo beegatta ku Dawudi mu kigo kye. 17 Dawudi n’afuluma okubasisinkana, n’abagamba nti, “Bwe muba muzze gye ndi mu mirembe, okunyamba, ndimwetegefu okubasembeza. Naye obanga muzze okundyamu olukwe eri abalabe bange, ate nga sirina musango, Katonda wa bajjajjaffe akirabe era abanenye.”

18 (I)Awo Omwoyo n’aka ku Amasayi, omukulu w’abo amakumi asatu, n’ayogera nti,

“Ffe tuli babo, Dawudi!
    Tuli naawe, Omwana wa Yese!
Obuwanguzi, Obuwanguzi gy’oli;
    era Obuwanguzi bubeere eri abo abakuyamba,
        kubanga Katonda wo ajja kukubeera.”

Awo Dawudi n’abaaniriza era n’abafuula bakungu mu ggye lye.

19 (J)Abasajja abamu ab’ekika kya Manase ne badda ku ludda lwa Dawudi, bwe yagenda n’Abafirisuuti okutabaala Sawulo newaakubadde nga ye n’abasajja be tebayamba Abafirisuuti kubanga oluvannyuma lw’okwetesaganyaamu, abakungu b’Abafirisuuti baamugoba. Baagamba nti, “Bw’anadda ku ludda lwa mukama we Sawulo, tunaagwa mu katyabaga.” 20 (K)Dawudi bwe yali ng’agenda e Zikulagi, abasajja ab’ekika kya Manase abaasalawo okumwegattako baali: Aduna, ne Yozabadi, ne Yediyayaeri, ne Mikayiri, ne Yozabadi, ne Eriku, ne Zirresayi, n’abakungu abaakuliranga ebibinja eby’olukumi mu Manase. 21 Baayamba nnyo Dawudi okulwana n’ebibinja bya bayeekera, kubanga bonna baali baserikale bazira, ate nga baduumizi mu ggye lye. 22 Buli lwakyanga nga wabeerawo abasajja abajja okuyamba ate era n’okwegatta ku Dawudi, okutuusa eggye lye bwe lyafuuka eddene, ery’amaanyi.

Abasajja Abeegatta ku Dawudi e Kebbulooni

23 (L)Guno gwe muwendo gw’abasajja abaali beetegekedde olutalo abajja eri Dawudi e Kebbulooni, okuggya obwakabaka ku Sawulo okubumuwa, ng’ekigambo kya Mukama bwe kyali:

24 abasajja ba Yuda abaakwatanga engabo n’effumu baali kakaaga mu lunaana abeetegese okulwana;

25 abasajja ba Simyoni, baali kasanvu mu kikumi;

26 abasajja ba Leevi, enkumi nnya mu lukaaga; 27 ng’omwo mwe muli Yekoyaada omukulu w’ennyumba ya Alooni n’abasajja enkumi ssatu mu lusanvu; 28 (M)ne Zadooki omuvubuka omulwanyi era omuzira, n’abakungu okuva mu nnyumba ye amakumi abiri mu babiri.

29 (N)Abalala baali abasajja aba Benyamini, baganda ba Sawulo, nga bali enkumi ssatu, era okutuusa ku lunaku olwo abo baali banyweredde ku ludda lwa Sawulo;

30 abasajja aba Efulayimu, abalwanyi abazira, ng’era batutumufu mu nda zaabwe, baali emitwalo ebiri mu lunaana;

31 abasajja ku kitundu eky’ekika kya Manase, abaayatulwa erinnya okujja okufuula Dawudi kabaka baali omutwalo gumu mu kanaana;

32 (O)abasajja aba Isakaali abategeera ebiseera, ne bamanya ebigwanidde Isirayiri baali abakulembeze ebikumi bibiri, n’ab’eŋŋanda zaabwe bonna abaabagobereranga;

33 abasajja aba Zebbulooni, nga baserikale bamanyirivu mu by’entalo, nga balina buli kya kulwanyisa kyonna, abayamba Dawudi n’omutima gumu baali emitwalo etaano;

34 abasajja aba Nafutaali baali abakulu lukumi, n’abasajja abaakwatanga engabo n’amafumu nga bali emitwalo esatu mu kasanvu;

35 abasajja aba Ddaani baali emitwalo ebiri mu kanaana mu lukaaga;

36 abasajja aba Aseri, nga baserikale bamanyirivu mu ntalo baali emitwalo ena;

37 emitala wa Yoludaani, wavaayo abasajja aba Lewubeeni, aba Gaadi, n’ekitundu ky’ekika kya Manase, abaalina ebyokulwanyisa ebya buli ngeri, nga bali emitwalo kkumi n’ebiri.

38 (P)Abo bonna baali basajja balwanyi abeewaayo mu bitiibwa byabwe.

Ne bajja e Kebbulooni okuweereza n’okufuula Dawudi kabaka wa Isirayiri yenna. 39 (Q)Eyo ne bamalayo ennaku ssatu ne Dawudi nga balya, nga banywa, ebyo ab’eŋŋanda zaabwe bye baali babasibiridde. 40 (R)Ate era waaliyo ne baliraanwa baabwe ab’e Isakaali, ne Zebbulooni, ne Nafutaali abaabaleeteranga emmere ku ndogoyi, ne ku ŋŋamira, ne ku nnyumbu ne ku nte, era baalina eŋŋaano nnyingi, ne keeke ez’ettiini, n’ebirimba eby’ezabbibu, n’omwenge, n’amafuta, n’ente n’endiga. Baasanyuka essanyu lingi nnyo nnyini mu Isirayiri.

Warriors Join David

12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag,(A) while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed;(B) they were relatives of Saul(C) from the tribe of Benjamin):

Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,[a](D) Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.(E)

Some Gadites(F) defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions,(G) and they were as swift as gazelles(H) in the mountains.

Ezer was the chief,

Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.

14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred,(I) and the greatest for a thousand.(J) 15 It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks,(K) and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 Other Benjamites(L) and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”

18 Then the Spirit(M) came on Amasai,(N) chief of the Thirty, and he said:

“We are yours, David!
    We are with you, son of Jesse!
Success,(O) success to you,
    and success to those who help you,
        for your God will help you.”

So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”)(P) 20 When David went to Ziklag,(Q) these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.[b]

Others Join David at Hebron

23 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron(R) to turn(S) Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:(T)

24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;

25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;

26 from Levi—4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok,(U) a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;

29 from Benjamin,(V) Saul’s tribe—3,000, most(W) of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;

30 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;

31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;

32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do(X)—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

33 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;

34 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;

35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;

36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;

37 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.

38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel.(Y) All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking,(Z) for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies(AA) of flour, fig cakes, raisin(AB) cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy(AC) in Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 In Hebrew texts the second half of this verse (Jeremiah … Gederathite) is numbered 12:5, and 12:5-40 is numbered 12:6-41.
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:22 Or a great and mighty army