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, ²armed 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.

³The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of ^[a]Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite; ⁴Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; ⁵Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁶Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; ⁷and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸Some 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: ⁹Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, ¹⁰Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, ¹¹Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, ¹²Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, ¹³Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh. ¹⁴These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a ^(F)thousand. ¹⁵These 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.

¹⁶Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. ¹⁷And 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.” ¹⁸Then 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.

¹⁹And 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.” ²⁰When 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. ²¹And they helped David against ^(K)the bands of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army. ²²For 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

²³Now 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: ²⁴of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred ^[g]armed for war; ²⁵of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred; ²⁶of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred; ²⁷Jehoiada, 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; ²⁹of 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); ³⁰of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, ^[h]famous men throughout their father’s house; ³¹of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king; ³²of 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; ³³of 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; ³⁴of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear; ³⁵of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-eight thousand six hundred; ³⁶of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, forty thousand; ³⁷of 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.

³⁸All 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. ³⁹And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them. ⁴⁰Moreover 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

Divrey Hayamim Alef 12

Orthodox Jewish Bible

12 Now these are they that came to Dovid to Tziklag, while he was still a fugitive because of Sha’ul Ben Kish; and they were among the gibborim, helpers in milchamah.

²They were armed with keshet (bow), and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting khitzim (arrows) from a keshet; they were kinsmen of Sha’ul, of Binyamin.

³The head was Achiezer, then Yoash, the Bnei Shema’ah the Giveati; Yeziel, Pelet, the Bnei Azmavet; Berachah, and Yehu the Antoti.

⁴⁽⁵⁾And Yishmayah the Giveoni, a gibbor among the Shloshim (Thirty), and over the Shloshim; and Yirmeyah, Yachaziel, Yochanan, and Yozavad the Gederati,

⁵⁽⁶⁾Eluzai, Yerimot, Bealyah, Shemaryahu, and Shephatyahu the Charuphi,

⁶⁽⁷⁾Elkanah, Yishiyahu, Azare’el, Yoezer, and Yashov‘am, the Korchi,

⁷⁽⁸⁾And Yoelah, and Zevadyah, the Bnei Yerocham of Gedor.

⁸⁽⁹⁾And of the Gadi there separated themselves unto Dovid into the stronghold in the midbar gibborei hachayil (men of valor), and anshei tzavah (army men) for milchamah, that could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of aryeh, and were as swift as the gazelles upon the harim;

⁹⁽¹⁰⁾Ezer the head, Ovadyah the second, Eliav the third,

¹⁰⁽¹¹⁾Mishmannah the fourth, Yirmeyah the fifth,

¹¹⁽¹²⁾Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

¹²⁽¹³⁾Yochanan the eighth, Elzavad the ninth,

¹³⁽¹⁴⁾Yirmeyah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

¹⁴⁽¹⁵⁾These were of the Bnei Gad, commanders of the tzava (army). One of the least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to an elef.

¹⁵⁽¹⁶⁾These are they that went over Yarden in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks; they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

¹⁶⁽¹⁷⁾And there came of the Bnei Binyamin and Yehudah to the stronghold unto Dovid.

¹⁷⁽¹⁸⁾And Dovid went out before them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come in shalom unto me to help me, mine lev shall be united unto you, but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no chamas in mine hands, Elohei Avoteinu look thereon, and pass [His] judgment.

¹⁸⁽¹⁹⁾Then the Ruach [HaKodesh] came upon Amasai, who was head of the Thirty, and he said, Thine are we, Dovid, and on thy side, thou Ben Yishai. Shalom, shalom be unto thee, and shalom be to thine helpers; for Eloheicha helpeth thee. Then Dovid received them, and made them heads of the gedud (raiding band, troop).

¹⁹⁽²⁰⁾And there defected some of Menasheh to Dovid, when he went with the Pelishtim (Philistines) against Sha’ul for milchamah, but they helped them [Pelishtim] not; for the rulers of the Pelishtim after etzah (counsel) sent him [Dovid] away, saying, He [Dovid] will defect to his adon Sha’ul to the jeopardy of our heads.

²⁰⁽²¹⁾As he went to Tziklag, there defected to him those of Menasheh, Adnach, and Yozavad, and Yedia’el, and Micha’el, and Yozavad, and Elihu, and Tziltai, heads of the alafim that were of Menasheh.

²¹⁽²²⁾And they helped Dovid against the gedud, for they were all gibborei chayil, and were sarim in the tzava (army).

²²⁽²³⁾For at that time day by day there came men to Dovid to help him, until it was a machaneh gadol, like the Machaneh Elohim.

²³⁽²⁴⁾And these are the numbers of the leaders that were ready-armed for the army, and came to Dovid to Chevron, to turn over the Malchut Sha’ul to him, according to the word of Hashem.

²⁴⁽²⁵⁾The Bnei Yehudah that bore shield and romach (spear) were six alafim and eight hundred, ready-armed for tzva.

²⁵⁽²⁶⁾Of the Bnei Shim’on, gibborei chayil for tzava, shivat alafim and one hundred.

²⁶⁽²⁷⁾Of the Bnei Levi four alafim and six hundred.

²⁷⁽²⁸⁾And Yehoyada was the nagid of those of Aharon, and with him were three alafim and sheva hundred;

²⁸⁽²⁹⁾And Tzadok, a na’ar gibbor chayil, and of bais aviv twenty and two sarim.

²⁹⁽³⁰⁾And of the Bnei Binyamin, the kindred of Sha’ul, three alafim; for up until then the greatest part of them had kept shomrim mishmeret Bais Sha’ul (guarded loyalty to the House of Sha’ul).

³⁰⁽³¹⁾And of the Bnei Ephrayim twenty elef and eight hundred, gibborei chayil, famous throughout the bais of their avot.

³¹⁽³²⁾And of the half tribe of Menasheh eighteen elef, which were designated by shmot, to come and make Dovid Melech.

³²⁽³³⁾And of the Bnei Yissakhar, which were men that had binah (understanding) of the times, to know what Yisroel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were under their commandment.

³³⁽³⁴⁾Of Zevulun, such as went forth to tzava (military service), expert in milchamah, with all instruments of milchamah, fifty elef, which could keep rank; they were not of double heart.

³⁴⁽³⁵⁾And of Naphtali elef sarim, and with them with shield and khanit (spear) thirty and shivah elef.

³⁵⁽³⁶⁾And of the Dani expert in milchamah twenty and eight elef and six hundred.

³⁶⁽³⁷⁾And of Asher, such as went forth to tzava (military service), expert in milchamah, forty elef.

³⁷⁽³⁸⁾And on the other side of Yarden, of the Reuveni, and the Gadi, and of the half shevet (tribe) of Menasheh, with all manner of instruments of tzava for the milchamah, a hundred and twenty elef.

³⁸⁽³⁹⁾All these anshei milchamah, that could keep rank, came with a levav shalem to Chevron, to make Dovid Melech over kol Yisroel; and all the rest also of Yisroel were of lev echad to make Dovid Melech.

³⁹⁽⁴⁰⁾And there they were with Dovid yamim shloshah, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them.

⁴⁰⁽⁴¹⁾Moreover they that were kerovim (near ones, neighbors) to them, even unto Yissakhar and Zevulun and Naphtali, brought lechem on chamorim, and on gemalim (camels), and on peradim, and on bakar, and food of kemach (flour), cakes of figs, and raisin cakes, and yayin, and shemen, and bakar, and tzon abundantly; for there was simchah in Yisroel.

1 Cronache 12

Conferenza Episcopale Italiana

I primi alleati di Davide

12 Questi sono gli uomini che raggiunsero Davide in Ziklàg, quando ancora fuggiva di fronte a Saul, figlio di Kis. Essi erano i prodi che l'aiutarono in guerra. ²Erano armati d'arco e sapevano tirare frecce e sassi con la destra e con la sinistra; erano della tribù di Beniamino, fratelli di Saul: ³Achièzer, il capo, e Ioas figli di Semaa, di Gàbaa; Ieziel e Pelet figli di Azmàvet; Beraca e Ieu di Anatòt; ⁴Ismaia di Gàbaon, prode fra i Trenta e capo dei Trenta; ⁵Geremia, Iacaziel, Giovanni e Iozabàd di Ghedera; ⁶Eleuzai, Ierimòt, Bealia, Semaria, Sefatia di Carif; ⁷Elkana, Issia, Azarel, Ioezer, Iosgibeam, Korachiti; ⁸Oela e Zebadia figli di Ierocam, di Ghedor.

⁹Dei Gaditi alcuni uomini passarono a Davide nella fortezza del deserto; erano uomini valorosi, guerrieri pronti a combattere, abili nell'uso dello scudo e della lancia; sembravano leoni ed erano agili come gazzelle sui monti: ¹⁰Ezer era il capo, Abdia il secondo, Eliàb il terzo, ¹¹Mismanna il quarto, Geremia il quinto, ¹²Attài il sesto, Eliel il settimo, ¹³Giovanni l'ottavo, Elzabàd il nono, ¹⁴Geremia il decimo, Makbannai l'undecimo. ¹⁵Costoro erano discendenti di Gad, capi dell'esercito; il più piccolo ne comandava cento e il più grande mille. ¹⁶Questi attraversarono il Giordano nel primo mese dell'anno, mentre era in piena su tutte le rive, e misero in fuga tutti gli abitanti della valle a oriente e a occidente.

¹⁷Alcuni dei figli di Beniamino e di Giuda andarono da Davide fino alla sua fortezza. ¹⁸Davide uscì loro incontro e presa la parola disse loro: «Se siete venuti da me con intenzioni pacifiche per aiutarmi, sono disposto a unirmi a voi; ma se venite per tradirmi e consegnarmi ai miei avversari, mentre io non mi abbandono affatto alla violenza, il Dio dei nostri padri veda e punisca». ¹⁹Allora lo spirito invase Amasài, capo dei Trenta:

«Siamo tuoi, Davide;
con te, figlio di Iesse!
Pace, pace a te,
pace a chi ti aiuta,
perché il tuo Dio ti aiuta».

Davide li accolse e li costituì capi di schiere.

²⁰Anche da Manàsse passarono a Davide, mentre insieme con i Filistei marciava in guerra contro Saul. Egli però non li aiutò perché nel consiglio i capi dei Filistei lo rimandarono dicendo: «A scapito delle nostre teste, egli passerebbe a Saul suo signore». ²¹Mentre erano diretto a Ziklàg, passarono dalla sua parte i manassiti Adnach, Iozabàd, Iediaèl, Michele, Iozabàd, Eliu e Zilletai, capi di migliaia nella tribù di Manàsse. ²²Essi aiutarono Davide contro i razziatori, perché erano tutti valorosi, e divennero capi dell'esercito. ²³In verità ogni giorno passavano dalla parte di Davide per aiutarlo e così il suo divenne un accampamento enorme.

I guerrieri che lo fecero re

²⁴Ecco le cifre dei capi armati che passarono a Davide in Ebron per effettuare, secondo l'ordine del Signore, il trasferimento del regno da Saul a lui.

²⁵Dei figli di Giuda, che portavano scudo e lancia: seimilaottocento armati.

²⁶Dei figli di Simeone, uomini valorosi in guerra: settemilacento.

²⁷Dei figli di Levi: quattromilaseicento, ²⁸Inoltre Ioiadà, capo della famiglia di Aronne, e con lui tremilasettecento ²⁹e Zadòk, giovane molto valoroso, e il casato con i ventidue capi.

³⁰Dei figli di Beniamino, fratelli di Saul: tremila, perché in massima parte essi rimasero al servizio della casa di Saul.

³¹Dei figli di Efraim: ventimilaottocento uomini valorosi, celebri nei loro casati.

³²Di metà della tribù di Manàsse: diciottomila, scelti singolarmente per partecipare alla nomina di Davide a re.

³³Dei figli di Issacar, che conoscevano bene i vari tempi sì da sapere che dovesse fare Israele nei singoli casi: duecento capi e tutti i loro fratelli alle loro dipendenze.

³⁴Di Zàbulon: cinquantamila, arruolati in un esercito, pronti per la battaglia con tutte le armi da guerra, disposti ad aiutare senza doppiezza.

³⁵Di Nèftali: mille capi e con loro trentasettemila dotati di scudo e di lancia.

³⁶Dei Daniti: ventottomilaseicento, armati per la guerra.

³⁷Di Aser: quarantamila guerrieri, pronti per la battaglia.

³⁸Dalla Transgiordania, ossia dei Rubeniti, dei Gaditi e di metà della tribù di Manàsse: centoventimila con tutte le armi di guerra.

³⁹Tutti costoro, guerrieri pronti a marciare, con cuore leale si presentarono in Ebron per proclamare Davide re su tutto Israele; anche il resto di Israele era concorde nel proclamare re Davide. ⁴⁰Rimasero lì con Davide tre giorni mangiando e bevendo quanto i fratelli avevano preparato per loro. ⁴¹Anche i loro vicini e perfino da Issacar, da Zàbulon e da Nèftali avevano portato cibarie con asini, cammelli, muli e buoi: farina, schiacciate di fichi, uva passa, vino, olio, buoi e pecore in gran quantità, perché c'era allegria in Israele.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI)

by Public Domain

1 Chronicles 12 New King James Version

The Growth of David’s Army(A)