The Growth of David’s Army(A)

12 Now (B)these were the men who came to David at (C)Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war, armed with bows, using both the right hand and (D)the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren.

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of [a]Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite; Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

Some Gadites [b]joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were (E)as swift as gazelles on 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, and Machbanai the eleventh. 14 These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a (F)thousand. 15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its (G)banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. 17 And David went out [c]to meet them, and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no [d]wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment.” 18 Then the Spirit [e]came upon (H)Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:

We are yours, O David;
We are on your side, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”

So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.

19 And some from Manasseh defected to David (I)when he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying, (J)“He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads.” 20 When he went to Ziklag, those of Manasseh who defected to him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of the thousands who were from Manasseh. 21 And they helped David against (K)the bands of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army. 22 For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, (L)like the army of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:3 Or Hasmaah
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:8 Lit. separated themselves to
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit. before them
  4. 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit. violence
  5. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Lit. clothed

12 大 衛 因 怕 基 士 的 兒 子 掃 羅 , 躲 在 洗 革 拉 的 時 候 , 有 勇 士 到 他 那 裡 幫 助 他 打 仗 。

他 們 善 於 拉 弓 , 能 用 左 右 兩 手 甩 石 射 箭 , 都 是 便 雅 憫 人 掃 羅 的 族 弟 兄 。

為 首 的 是 亞 希 以 謝 , 其 次 是 約 阿 施 , 都 是 基 比 亞 人 示 瑪 的 兒 子 。 還 有 亞 斯 瑪 威 的 兒 子 耶 薛 和 毗 力 , 又 有 比 拉 迦 , 並 亞 拿 突 人 耶 戶 ,

基 遍 人 以 實 買 雅 〈 他 在 三 十 人 中 是 勇 士 , 管 理 他 們 〉 , 且 有 耶 利 米 、 雅 哈 悉 、 約 哈 難 , 和 基 得 拉 人 約 撒 拔 、

伊 利 烏 賽 、 耶 利 摩 、 比 亞 利 雅 、 示 瑪 利 雅 , 哈 律 弗 人 示 法 提 雅 ,

可 拉 人 以 利 加 拿 、 耶 西 亞 、 亞 薩 列 、 約 以 謝 、 雅 朔 班 ,

基 多 人 耶 羅 罕 的 兒 子 猶 拉 和 西 巴 第 雅 。

迦 得 支 派 中 有 人 到 曠 野 的 山 寨 投 奔 大 衛 , 都 是 大 能 的 勇 士 , 能 拿 盾 牌 和 槍 的 戰 士 。 他 們 的 面 貌 好 像 獅 子 , 快 跑 如 同 山 上 的 鹿 。

第 一 以 薛 , 第 二 俄 巴 底 雅 , 第 三 以 利 押 ,

10 第 四 彌 施 瑪 拿 , 第 五 耶 利 米 ,

11 第 六 亞 太 , 第 七 以 利 業 ,

12 第 八 約 哈 難 , 第 九 以 利 薩 巴 ,

13 第 十 耶 利 米 , 第 十 一 末 巴 奈 。

14 這 都 是 迦 得 人 中 的 軍 長 , 至 小 的 能 抵 一 百 人 , 至 大 的 能 抵 一 千 人 。

15 正 月 , 約 但 河 水 漲 過 兩 岸 的 時 候 , 他 們 過 河 , 使 一 切 住 平 原 的 人 東 奔 西 逃 。

16 又 有 便 雅 憫 和 猶 大 人 到 山 寨 大 衛 那 裡 。

17 大 衛 出 去 迎 接 他 們 , 對 他 們 說 : 你 們 若 是 和 和 平 平 地 來 幫 助 我 , 我 心 就 與 你 們 相 契 ; 你 們 若 是 將 我 這 無 罪 的 人 賣 在 敵 人 手 裡 , 願 我 們 列 祖 的 神 察 看 責 罰 。

18 那 時 神 的 靈 感 動 那 三 十 個 勇 士 的 首 領 亞 瑪 撒 , 他 就 說 : 大 衛 啊 , 我 們 是 歸 於 你 的 ! 耶 西 的 兒 子 啊 , 我 們 是 幫 助 你 的 ! 願 你 平 平 安 安 , 願 幫 助 你 的 也 都 平 安 ! 因 為 你 的 神 幫 助 你 。 大 衛 就 收 留 他 們 , 立 他 們 作 軍 長 。

19 大 衛 從 前 與 非 利 士 人 同 去 , 要 與 掃 羅 爭 戰 , 有 些 瑪 拿 西 人 來 投 奔 大 衛 , 他 們 卻 沒 有 幫 助 非 利 士 人 ; 因 為 非 利 士 人 的 首 領 商 議 , 打 發 他 們 回 去 , 說 : 恐 怕 大 衛 拿 我 們 的 首 級 , 歸 降 他 的 主 人 掃 羅 。

20 大 衛 往 洗 革 拉 去 的 時 候 , 有 瑪 拿 西 人 的 千 夫 長 押 拿 、 約 撒 拔 、 耶 疊 、 米 迦 勒 、 約 撒 拔 、 以 利 戶 、 洗 勒 太 都 來 投 奔 他 。

21 這 些 人 幫 助 大 衛 攻 擊 群 賊 ; 他 們 都 是 大 能 的 勇 士 , 且 作 軍 長 。

22 那 時 天 天 有 人 來 幫 助 大 衛 , 以 致 成 了 大 軍 , 如 神 的 軍 一 樣 。

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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]

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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