1 Chronicles 12
New King James Version
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, 2 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.
3 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; 4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 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: 9 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.
David’s Army at Hebron
23 Now these were the numbers of the [f]divisions that were equipped for war, and (M)came to David at (N)Hebron to (O)turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, (P)according to the word of the Lord: 24 of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred [g]armed for war; 25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred; 26 of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred; 27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred; 28 (Q)Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two captains; 29 of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until then (R)the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul); 30 of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, [h]famous men throughout their father’s house; 31 of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king; 32 of the sons of Issachar (S)who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; 33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, (T)stouthearted men who could keep ranks; 34 of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear; 35 of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-eight thousand six hundred; 36 of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, forty thousand; 37 of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand armed for battle with every kind of weapon of war.
38 All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of (U)one mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 12:3 Or Hasmaah
- 1 Chronicles 12:8 Lit. separated themselves to
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit. before them
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit. violence
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 Lit. clothed
- 1 Chronicles 12:23 Lit. heads of those
- 1 Chronicles 12:24 equipped
- 1 Chronicles 12:30 Lit. men of names
1 Chronicles 12
Complete Jewish Bible
12 Following are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was still being kept away from Sha’ul the son of Kish; they were among the warriors who helped him fight his battles. 2 They were archers who could use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow; they were Sha’ul’s kinsmen from Binyamin. 3 Their leader was Achi‘ezer, then Yo’ash, the sons of Sh’ma‘ah the Giv‘ati, Y’zi’el, Pelet, the sons of ‘Azmavet, B’rakhah, Yehu from ‘Anatot, 4 Yishma‘yah the Giv‘oni, one of the strongest of the thirty and commander of the thirty, 5 (4b) Yirmeyah, Yachzi’el, Yochanan, Yozavad from G’derah, 6 (5) El‘uzai, Yerimot, B‘alyah, Sh’maryah, Sh’fatyah the Harufi, 7 (6) Elkanah, Yishiyahu, ‘Azar’el, Yo‘ezer, Yashov‘am the Korchi, 8 (7) and Yo‘elah and Z’vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G’dor.
9 (8) From the Gadi a number of strong, brave, trained fighting men defected to David at the fortress in the desert. They could handle shield and spear, they were as fierce as lions, and they were as fast as deer on the hills: 10 (9) ‘Ezer was the leader, ‘Ovadyah was second, Eli’av third, 11 (10) Mishmanah fourth, Yirmeyah fifth, 12 (11) ‘Atai sixth, Eli’el seventh, 13 (12) Yochanan eighth, Elzavad ninth, 14 (13) Yirmeyah tenth, and Makhbanai eleventh. 15 (14) These descendants of Gad were army commanders; the least of them was worth a hundred, and the greatest worth a thousand. 16 (15) These are the men who crossed the Yarden during the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and drove out all those who lived in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
17 (16) From the descendants of Binyamin and Y’hudah a number came to David at the fortress. 18 (17) When David went out to meet them, he said, “If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge.” 19 (18) Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said:
“We are yours, David;
on your side, son of Yishai!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers;
for your God helps you.”
David welcomed them and made them senior officers.
20 (19) From M’nasheh some defected to David when he was about to go with the P’lishtim to fight against Sha’ul; but they ended up not helping them; because the rulers of the P’lishtim, after consultation, sent David away, saying, “He will defect to his master Sha’ul at the cost of our heads.” 21 (20) As he was on his way to Ziklag, those who defected to him from M’nasheh included ‘Adnach, Yozavad, Y’dia‘el, Mikha’el, Yozavad, Elihu and Tziltai, commanders of thousands from M’nasheh. 22 (21) They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.
23 (22) Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God. 24 (23) Following are the numbers of those who came armed for war to David in Hevron, in order to transfer to him the kingdom of Sha’ul, according to what Adonai had said.
25 (24) The descendants of Y’hudah bearing shields and spears numbered 6,800, armed for war.
26 (25) Of the descendants of Shim‘on, strong, brave men for war, there were 7,100.
27 (26) Of the descendants of Levi, there were 4,600. 28 (27) Y’hoyada was the leader of the house of Aharon, and with him were 3,700; 29 (28) also Tzadok, a young man, strong and brave, with twenty-two commanders from his father’s family.
30 (29) Of the descendants of Binyamin the kinsmen of Sha’ul, there were 3,000; for up until then, the majority of them had remained loyal to the house of Sha’ul.
31 (30) Of the descendants of Efrayim, there were 20,800 strong, brave men, well known in their fathers’ families.
32 (31) Of the half-tribe of M’nasheh, 18,000 were designated by name to come and make David king.
33 (32) Of the descendants of Yissakhar, men who understood the times and knew what Isra’el ought to do, there were 200 leaders, and all their kinsmen were under their command.
34 (33) Of Z’vulun, 50,000 men were fit for military service, experienced in war and able to use all kinds of weapons; they were brave, and none was doubleminded.
35 (34) Of Naftali, there were 1,000 officers, and with them 37,000 troops having shields and spears.
36 (35) Of Dan, 28,600 were experienced in war.
37 (36) Of Asher, 40,000 men were fit for military service and experienced in war.
38 (37) On the other side of the Yarden, from the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for battle.
39 (38) All these soldiers who were experienced in war came to Hevron wholeheartedly to make David king over all Isra’el, and all the rest from Isra’el were single-hearted in wanting to make David king. 40 (39) They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 41 (40) Moreover, those who were near them — and even those as far as Yissakhar, Z’vulun and Naftali — brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: baked goods, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Isra’el.
1 Chronicles 12
New International Version
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; 2 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):
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4 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) 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.(E)
8 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.
9 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 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.
- 1 Chronicles 12:22 Or a great and mighty army
1 Ebyomumirembe 12
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
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. 2 (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.
3 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, 4 (C)ne Isumaya Omugibyoni, omusajja omuzira ku bali amakumi asatu, era omukulu waabwe;
ne Yeremiya, ne Yakaziyeri, ne Yokanaani, ne Yozabadi Omugederi; 5 ne Eruzayi, ne Yerimosi, ne Beyaliya, ne Semaliya, ne Sefatiya Omukalufu;
6 ne Erukaana, ne Issiya, ne Azaleri, ne Yowezeeri, ne Yasobeyamu, Abakoola;
7 (D)ne Yowera ne Zebadiya, batabani ba yerokamu ow’e Gedoli.
8 (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.
9 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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