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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
David’s Followers in the Wilderness
12 The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war.(A) 2 They were archers and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right hand or the left; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kindred.(B) 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah,[a] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,[b] Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:(C) 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys to the east and to the west.(D)
16 Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you, but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment.” 18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said,[c]
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to the one who helps you!
For your God is the one who helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.(E)
19 Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”)(F) 20 As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders,[d] for they were all warriors and commanders in the army.(G) 22 Indeed, from day to day people kept coming to David to help him until there was a great army, like an army of God.
David’s Army at Hebron
23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord.(H) 24 The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred. 26 Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. 27 Jehoiada, leader of the house of[e] Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 28 Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house.(I) 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul.(J) 30 Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command.(K) 33 Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops equipped for battle with all the weapons of war to help David[f] with singleness of purpose.(L) 34 Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty-seven thousand armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war.
38 All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.(M) 39 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them. 40 And also their neighbors from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.(N)
1 Chronicles 12
Revised Geneva Translation
12 Also, these are those who came to David, to Ziklag, while he was still under restraint because of Saul, the son of Kish. And they were among the valiant and helpers of the battle.
2 They were weaponed with bows and could use the right and the left hand with stones and with arrows and with bows and were Saul’s brethren, of Benjamin.
3 The chiefs were Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah, a Gibeathite, and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, Berachah and Jehu the Anathothite,
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a valiant man among thirty (and above the thirty), and Jeremiah and Jahaziel and Johanan and Jozabad the Gederathite,
5 Eluzai and Jerimoth and Bealiah and Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Elkanah and Jisshiah and Azarel and Joezer, Jashobeam of Korah
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 And some of the Gadites separated themselves to David, into the stronghold of the wilderness, valiant men of war, men of arms for battle who could handle spear and shield. And their faces were like the faces of lions, and similar in swiftness to the deer in the mountains:
9 Ezer the chief, 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 the sons of Gad, captains of the army. One of the least of them could resist a hundred, and the greatest a thousand.
15 These are those who went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and put to flight all those of the valley toward the east and the west.
16 And some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold, to David.
17 And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me, to help me, my heart shall be knit with yours. But if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, there being no wickedness in my hands, the God of our fathers will behold it and rebuke it.”
18 And the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of thirty. And he said, “We are yours, David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace! Peace to you and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them captains of the garrison.
19 And some from Manasseh fell to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle. But they did not help them. For the princes of the Philistines, under advisement, sent him away, saying, “He will fall to his master Saul for 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 Zillethai, heads of the thousands who were of Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against that band; for they were all valiant men and were captains in the army.
22 For at that time, day by day, they came to David to help him, until it was a great army, like the host of God.
23 And these are the numbers of the captains who were armed to battle and came to David (to Hebron) to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the Word of the LORD.
24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed to the war,
25 of the children of Simeon, valiant men of war, seven thousand one hundred.
26 of the children of Levi, four thousand six hundred.
27 And Jehoiada was the chief of those from Aaron. And with him were three thousand seven hundred.
28 And of Zadok (a very valiant young man) and of his father’s household, came twenty-two captains.
29 And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul,came three thousand. For a great part of them until that time had kept the ward of the House of Saul.
30 And of the children of Ephraim came twenty thousand, and eight hundred valiant men and famous men in the household of their fathers.
31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh came eighteen thousand, who were appointed by name to come and make David king.
32 And of the children of Issachar—who were men who 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 command.
33 Of Zebulun came fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war and in all instruments of war, who could keep the battle in formation. They were not of a double heart.
34 And of Naphtali came a thousand captains, and with them those with shield and spear (thirty-seven thousand).
35 And of Dan came twenty-eight thousand six hundred experts in battle.
36 And of Asher came forty thousand who went out to the battle and were trained in the wars.
37 And of the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites and of the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all instruments of war to fight with, one hundred twenty thousand.
38 All these men of war, who could lead an army, came to Hebron with upright heart to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of Israel was of one accord to make David king.
39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover, those who were near to them, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread upon donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen: abundant meat, flour, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. For there was joy in Israel.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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