1 Chronicles 12:23-40
New English Translation
Support for David in Hebron
23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree:[a]
24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.[b]
25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.
26 From Levi there were 4,600. 27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and 22 leaders from his family.
29 From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe,[c] there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.[d]
30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.[e]
31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.
32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command—they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.[f]
33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.[g]
34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.
37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.
38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march.[h] They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation;[i] all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.[j] 39 They spent three days feasting[k] there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb,[l] for Israel was celebrating.[m]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Chronicles 12:23 tn Heb “these are the numbers of the heads of the forces armed for battle [who] came to David in Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him according to the mouth of the Lord.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:24 tn Heb “the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, [were] 6,800 armed for battle.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:29 tn Heb “from the sons of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:29 tn Heb “and until then, the majority of them were keeping the charge of the house of Saul.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:30 tn Heb “men of names for the house of their fathers.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:32 tn Heb “from the sons of Issachar, knowers of understanding for times to know what Israel should do, their heads [were] 200, and all their brothers according to their mouth.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:33 tn Heb “from Zebulun, those going out for battle, prepared for war with all weapons of war, 50,000, and to help without a heart and a heart.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:38 tc Heb “all these [were] men of war, helpers of the battle line.” The present translation assumes an emendation of עֹדְרֵי (ʿodere, “helpers of”) to עֹרְכֵי, (ʿorekhe, “prepared for”).
- 1 Chronicles 12:38 tn Heb “with a complete heart they came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:38 tn Heb “and also all the rest of Israel [was of] one mind to make David king.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:39 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:40 tn Heb “cattle and sheep.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:40 tn Heb “for there was joy in Israel.”
1 Chronicles 12:23-40
Christian Standard Bible
David’s Soldiers in Hebron
23 The numbers of the armed troops who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him,(A) according to the Lord’s word,(B) were as follows:
24 From the Judahites: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.
25 From the Simeonites: 7,100 valiant warriors ready for war.
26 From the Levites: 4,600 27 in addition to Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men; 28 and Zadok,(C) a young valiant warrior, with 22 commanders from his ancestral family.[a]
29 From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul:(D) 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).
30 From the Ephraimites: 20,800 valiant warriors who were famous men in their ancestral families.[b]
31 From half the tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.
32 From the Issacharites, who understood the times(E) and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command.
33 From Zebulun: 50,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, with one purpose(F) to help David.[c]
34 From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.
35 From the Danites: 28,600 trained for battle.
36 From Asher: 40,000 who could serve in the army, trained for battle.
37 From across the Jordan—from the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: 120,000 men equipped with all the military weapons of war.
38 All these warriors, lined up in battle formation, came to Hebron wholeheartedly determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel was also of one mind to make David king.(G) 39 They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. 40 In addition, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came and brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine and oil, herds, and flocks.(H) Indeed, there was joy in Israel.
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