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 Time in the Wilderness(A)

12 Here’s a list of those who came to David at Ziklag when he was unable to travel freely due to Saul son of Kish. They were among the elite soldiers who assisted him in battle. Equipped as archers, they could use both their right and left hands to shoot arrows and hurl stones. As descendants of Benjamin, they were Saul’s relatives. Their leaders were Shemaah’s sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth, Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them),[a] Jeremiah,[b] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah, [c]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the descendants of Korah, and Jeroham’s sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.

Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks[d] and as agile[e] as a gazelle on a mountain slope. Their leader was Ezer, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. 14 These descendants of Gad were army leaders. The least of them[f] was equal to a hundred other soldiers[g] and the greatest to a thousand. 15 These men[h] crossed the Jordan in the first month of the year[i] during flood season and chased out everyone in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 Later, some descendants of Benjamin and Judah approached David at his stronghold, 17 and David went out to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come in peace to be of help to me, then you’ll have my commitment.[j] But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I’m innocent of wrongdoing, then may the God of our ancestors watch and judge.”

18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, leader of the Thirty, and he said,

“David, we belong to you;
    we’re with you, son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
    and peace to the one who helps you!
        For your deliverer is your God.”

So David received them and assigned them to be officers over troops. 19 Some of the descendants of Manasseh joined[k] David when he was going to fight against Saul, accompanied by the Philistines. Even so, David was of no help to them, because the Philistine rulers were counseled to send him away. They told themselves, “He’s going to go over to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”

20 As he traveled toward Ziklag, these descendants of Manasseh joined[l] him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders in charge thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiders, since they were all warriors and commanders in the army. 22 Indeed people kept coming to David every day to help him, until his army became a great, vast army.[m]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:4 Lit. over the Thirty
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:4 The remainder of this v. is 12:5 in MT
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:5 This v. is 12:6 in MT, and so throughout the chapter
  4. 1 Chronicles 12:8 Lit. with faces like those of lions
  5. 1 Chronicles 12:8 Or swift
  6. 1 Chronicles 12:14 Lit. One of their number
  7. 1 Chronicles 12:14 The Heb. lacks other soldiers
  8. 1 Chronicles 12:15 Lit. These are they who
  9. 1 Chronicles 12:15 The Heb. lacks of the year
  10. 1 Chronicles 12:17 Lit. then my heart will be knit to you
  11. 1 Chronicles 12:19 Lit. fell
  12. 1 Chronicles 12:20 Lit. fell
  13. 1 Chronicles 12:22 Lit. great, like an army of God