David’s Supporters in Ziklag

12 (A)Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were equipped with bows, (B)using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and shoot arrows with the bow; (C)they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin. The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite, and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and in charge of the thirty. [a]Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, [b]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites, and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

From the Gadites valiant mighty men went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war who could handle a large shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and (D)they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains. Ezer was 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 Machbannai, the eleventh. 14 These men from the sons of Gad were [c]captains of the army; (E)the one who was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest, to a thousand. 15 (F)These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its 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 the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you come peacefully to help me, my heart shall 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 on it and decide.” 18 Then (G)the Spirit [e]covered (H)Amasai like clothing, the chief of the thirty; and he said,

We are yours, David,
And are with you, son of Jesse!
(I)Peace, peace to you,
And peace to him who helps you;
Indeed, your God helps you!”

Then David received them and made them [f]captains of the troops.

19 (J)From Manasseh some also defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, because the governors of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, “At the cost of our heads he might defect to his master Saul.” 20 As he was going to Ziklag, men from Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, [g]captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21 They helped David against (K)the band of raiders, for they were all valiant mighty men, and were captains in the army. 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army (L)like the army of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 In Heb the beginning of v 5, making 41 vv in this ch
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:5 V 6 in Heb
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:14 Or chiefs
  4. 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit violence
  5. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Lit clothed
  6. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Or commanders
  7. 1 Chronicles 12:20 Or chiefs

David’s desert army

12 The following persons came to David at Ziklag while he was banished from the presence of Saul, Kish’s son. They were some of the warriors who helped him in battle, armed with bows, and they could use either hand to shoot arrows or sling stones. They were Saul’s relatives from Benjamin:

Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash, both Shemaah’s sons from Gibeah; Jeziel and Pelet, Azmaveth’s sons; Beracah; Jehu of Anathoth; Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a warrior in the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty;[a] Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad from Gederah; [b] Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam the Korahites; Joelah; and Zebadiah, Jeroham’s son from Gedor.

Some left Gad to join David at the desert fortress, brave warriors trained for battle, armed with shield and spear, who looked like lions and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains: Ezer the leader, 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 military officers, the least of them ready to fight a hundred and the greatest a thousand. 15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and chased away everyone living in the valleys to the east and the west.

16 Some Benjaminites and Judahites also came to David at the fortress. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you’ve come to me with good intentions in order to help me, then we will join forces. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, though I’ve done no wrong, then may our ancestors’ God see it and punish you.”

18 Then a spirit took hold of Amasai, the leader of the Thirty:

David, we are yours;
    and on your side, Jesse’s son!
May it go very well for you,
    and may it go well for whoever helps you!
    Yes, your God has helped you.

Then David received them, and put them at the head of his troops.

19 Some of the Manassites also joined David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. But he[c] didn’t help them, because after considering the matter, the Philistine rulers sent him away. “He’ll rejoin his master Saul,” they said, “and it will cost us our heads.” 20 When he went to Ziklag some joined him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the raiding bands because they were all warriors and officers in the army. 22 Reinforcements came to David daily until there was an army as mighty as God’s army.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 12:5 in Heb
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:5 12:6 in Heb
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:19 LXX; MT they