Susţinătorii lui David în exil

12 Iată-i pe cei care s-au dus la David în Ţiklag, în timp ce acesta se ţinea departe de faţa lui Saul, fiul lui Chiş (ei au fost dintre vitejii care l-au ajutat în război; aceştia mânuiau arcul şi puteau să arunce pietre sau să tragă săgeţi cu arcul atât cu mâna dreaptă, cât şi cu mâna stângă; erau beniamiţi dintre rudele lui Saul):

căpetenia Ahiezer şi Ioaş – fii ai lui Şemaa din Ghiva;

Ieziel şi Pelet – fiii lui Azmavet;

Beraca şi Iehu din Anatot;

Işmaia din Ghivon, viteaz între cei treizeci şi conducător peste treizeci;

Ieremia, Iahaziel, Iohanan şi Iozavad din Ghedera;

harufiţii – Eluzai, Ierimot, Bealia, Şemaria şi Şefatia;

korahiţii – Elkana, Işia, Azarel, Ioezer, Iaşobeam;

Ioela şi Zebadia, fii ai lui Ieroham din Ghedor.

Dintre gadiţi, s-au alăturat lui David în fortăreaţa[a] din pustie războinici viteji, luptători aleşi, care mânuiau scutul şi lancea, erau neînfricaţi ca leii şi iuţi precum gazelele pe munţi.

Ezer era căpetenia,

Obadia – al doilea,

Eliab – al treilea,

10 Mişmana – al patrulea,

Ieremia – al cincilea,

11 Atai – al şaselea,

Eliel – al şaptelea,

12 Iohanan – al optulea,

Elzabad – al nouălea,

13 Ieremia – al zecelea,

Macbanai – al unsprezecelea.

14 Aceşti gadiţi au fost căpeteniile oştirii: cel mai neînsemnat valora cât o sută de oameni, cel mai renumit – cât o mie. 15 Aceştia sunt cei ce au trecut Iordanul în prima lună a anului, atunci când acesta se revarsă peste maluri şi i-au izgonit pe toţi cei din vale, înspre răsărit şi înspre apus.

16 De asemenea, şi dintre urmaşii lui Beniamin şi ai lui Iuda au venit la David la fortăreaţă. 17 David le-a ieşit în întâmpinare şi i-a îndemnat astfel:

– Dacă veniţi la mine cu gânduri bune, ca să mă ajutaţi, atunci inima mea se va uni cu voi, dar dacă vreţi să mă trădaţi duşmanilor mei, deşi nu sunt vinovat de nici o nelegiuire, Dumnezeul strămoşilor noştri să vadă şi să judece!

18 Atunci Amasai, căpetenia celor treizeci, a fost îmbrăcat cu Duhul şi a zis:

– Suntem de partea ta, David! Suntem cu tine, fiu al lui Işai! Pace! Pace ţie şi pace celor ce te ajută! Căci Însuşi Dumnezeul tău te-a ajutat!

David i-a primit şi i-a pus căpetenii peste ceată.

19 Şi dintre manasiţi au trecut de partea lui David, atunci când el i-a însoţit pe filisteni la luptă împotriva lui Saul. Ei[b] însă nu le-au fost de ajutor filistenilor, fiindcă domnitorii acestora au hotărât să-l trimită înapoi pe David, zicând: „Vom plăti cu capetele noastre dacă va trece de partea lui Saul, stăpânul lui!“ 20 Când David a plecat înspre Ţiklag, au trecut de partea lui manasiţii Adnah, Iozabad, Iediael, Mihail, Iozabad, Elihu şi Ţiletai, toţi fiind căpetenii ale miilor care erau în Manase. 21 Ei l-au ajutat împotriva cetei de jefuitori, căci toţi erau războinici viteji şi au ajuns conducători în oştire. 22 În fiecare zi veneau la David oameni ca să-l ajute, până când tabăra lui a ajuns ca tabăra lui Dumnezeu.

23 Iată numărul căpeteniilor înarmate pentru război, care au venit la David, în Hebron, ca să întoarcă spre el regatul lui Saul, după Cuvântul Domnului:

24 dintre urmaşii lui Iuda, care purtau scut şi lance, au fost şase mii opt sute de oameni înarmaţi pentru război;

25 dintre simeoniţi, războinici viteji, au fost şapte mii o sută;

26 dintre leviţi, au fost patru mii şase sute;

27 Iehoiada, conducătorul clanului lui Aaron, împreună cu trei mii şapte sute de oameni;

28 Ţadok, un războinic tânăr şi viteaz, împreună cu douăzeci şi două de căpetenii din familia sa;

29 dintre beniamiţi, rude ale lui Saul, au fost trei mii (până atunci majoritatea se păstrase loiali familiei lui Saul);

30 dintre efraimiţi, au fost douăzeci de mii opt sute de războinici viteji, bărbaţi renumiţi în familiile lor;

31 din jumătatea seminţiei lui Manase, au fost optsprezece mii, desemnaţi pe nume ca să vină să-l pună rege pe David;

32 dintre isahariţi, cei care au înţeles vremurile, astfel încât Israel să ştie ce trebuie să facă, au fost două sute de căpetenii, precum şi toate rudele acestora aflate sub comanda lor;

33 din Zabulon, cei în stare să meargă la oaste, instruiţi să lupte cu toate armele de război, au fost cincizeci de mii, gata să-l sprijine pe David cu o inimă hotărâtă;

34 din Neftali, au fost o mie de căpetenii şi, împreună cu acestea, treizeci şi şapte de mii de oameni înarmaţi cu scut şi suliţă;

35 dintre daniţi, instruiţi pentru război, au fost douăzeci şi opt de mii şase sute;

36 din Aşer, cei în stare să meargă la oaste, instruiţi pentru război, au fost patruzeci de mii;

37 dintre cei care erau dincolo de Iordan, adică dintre rubeniţi, gadiţi şi jumătate din seminţia lui Manase, înarmaţi pentru luptă cu tot felul de arme de război, au fost o sută douăzeci de mii.

38 Toţi aceşti războinici, care puteau ajuta oştirea, au venit cu gând de pace la Hebron ca să-l pună pe David rege peste tot Israelul. De asemenea, toţi ceilalţi din Israel s-au unit cu ei ca să-l facă pe David rege. 39 Au stat acolo, împreună cu David, timp de trei zile, mâncând şi bând, căci cei din poporul lor le pregătiseră masa. 40 Chiar şi vecinii lor, până în ţinutul lui Isahar, al lui Zabulon şi al lui Neftali, au adus mâncare încărcată pe măgari, pe cămile, pe catâri şi pe vite – provizii de făină, turte de smochine şi de stafide, ulei şi vin, vite şi oi din belşug, căci era bucurie în Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Cronici 12:8 Vezi nota de la 11:16; şi în v. 16
  2. 1 Cronici 12:19 Sau: David şi oamenii lui

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.

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

The Mighty Men Join David

12 (A)Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They (B)were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the (C)left hand; they were Benjaminites, (D)Saul's kinsmen. The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of (E)Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of (F)Anathoth, Ishmaiah of (G)Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,[a] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, Eluzai,[b] Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the (H)Korahites; And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

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 (I)swift as gazelles upon the mountains: 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 was a (J)match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was (K)overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah 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, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then (L)the Spirit clothed (M)Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David,
    and with you, O son of Jesse!
(N)Peace, peace to you,
    and peace to your helpers!
    For your God helps you.”

Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David (O)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, (P)“At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against (Q)the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops (R)who came to David in Hebron (S)to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, (T)according to the word of the Lord. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 (U)Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, (V)the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the (W)majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were (X)expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who (Y)had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, (Z)equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David[c] with (AA)singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of (AB)Asher 40,000 (AC)seasoned troops (AD)ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with (AE)a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a (AF)single mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, (AG)cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 Hebrew verse 5
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:5 Hebrew verse 6
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:33 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks David