Add parallel Print Page Options

23 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to Yahweh’s word. 24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed for war. 25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war: seven thousand one hundred. 26 Of the children of Levi: four thousand six hundred. 27 Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred, 28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. 29 Of the children of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives: three thousand, for until then, the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house. 30 Of the children of Ephraim: twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king. 32 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their command. 33 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all kinds of instruments of war: fifty thousand who could command and were not of double heart. 34 Of Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand. 35 Of the Danites who could set the battle in array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred. 36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array: forty thousand. 37 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle: one hundred twenty thousand. 38 All these were men of war, who could order the battle array, and 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 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had supplied provisions for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

Read full chapter

David’s Army at Hebron

23 What follows is a listing of the divisions of battle-ready troops who joined David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with what the Lord had spoken. 24 The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors, 25 the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100, 26 and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.

27 Jehoiada, a senior officer[a] in the house of Aaron, brought[b] with him 3,700. 28 Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.

29 The tribe of[c] Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of[d] Saul’s dynasty.

30 The tribe of Ephraim supplied[e] 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.

31 The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.

32 The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.

33 The tribe of Zebulun supplied 50,000 experienced troops, trained in the use of every kind of war weapon, in order to help David[f] with undivided loyalty.

34 The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.

35 The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.

36 The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.

37 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of[g] the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.

38 All these warriors arrived in battle order at Hebron, fully intending to establish David as king over all Israel. Furthermore, all of the rest of Israel were united in their intent to make David king. 39 They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.

40 Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought[h] abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:27 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:27 The Heb. lacks brought; and so throughout the chapter
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:29 The Heb. lacks The tribe of; and so throughout the chapter
  4. 1 Chronicles 12:29 The Heb. lacks what remained of
  5. 1 Chronicles 12:30 The Heb. lacks supplied; and so throughout the chapter
  6. 1 Chronicles 12:33 So LXX. The Heb. lacks David
  7. 1 Chronicles 12:37 Lit. Manasseh beyond
  8. 1 Chronicles 12:40 The Heb. lacks They brought