1 Chronicles 12
1 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, his helpers in war.
The following is a list of the men who joined David when he was at Ziklag, still hiding from Saul, son of Kish. They were some of the leading warriors who fought on David's side.
2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.
They were all skilled archers, and could shoot arrows or slingshots with their right or their left hands. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.
3 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,
Ahiezer was their leader, then Joash; the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite;
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, (a strong warrior among the Thirty, and leader over the Thirty); Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite;
5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite;
6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (they were Korahites);
7 and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains:
Some warriors from the tribe of Gad went over to David's side when he was at the stronghold in the desert. They were strong and experienced warriors, battle-hardened, experts in the use of shields and spears. Their faces looked as fierce as lions, and they ran as fast as gazelles in the mountains.
9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
Ezer the was the leader, Obadiah (second), Eliab (third),
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
Mishmannah (fourth), Jeremiah (fifth),
11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Attai (sixth), Eliel (seventh),
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Johanan (eighth), Elzabad (ninth),
13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
Jeremiah (tenth), Machbannai (eleventh).
14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host: he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.
These warriors from Gad were army officers. The least able of them was in charge of 100 men; the best was in charge of 1,000.
15 These are they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.
These were ones who crossed the Jordan River in the first month of the year when it overflows its banks. They chased out all the people living in the valley, both to the east and to the west.
16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold unto David.
Some others from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah also came to join David at the stronghold.
17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
David went out to meet them and told them, “If you've come in peace to help me, we can be friends. But if you've come to betray me to my enemies, even though I've done no wrong, then may the God of our fathers see what you're doing and condemn you.”
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, [and he said], Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty. “We are yours, David, and we are with you, son of Jesse! May peace, prosperity, and success be yours and those who help you, for God is the one who is helping you.” So David allowed them to join him, and put them in charge of his bands of raiders.
19 Of Manasseh also there fell away some 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 away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
Others came over to David's side from the tribe of Manasseh and joined him when he went with Philistines to attack Saul. However, the Philistine rulers eventually decided to send them away, saying to themselves, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts us and goes over to his master Saul.”
20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh.
The following is a list of the men from Manasseh who went over to David's side as he returned to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.
They helped David against raiders for they were all strong and experienced warriors and commanders in the army.
22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great host, like the host of God.
Men arrived daily to help David until he had a large army, like the army of God.
23 And these are the numbers of the heads of them that were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Jehovah.
This is a list of the numbers of armed warriors who came and joined David in Hebron to turn over Saul's kingdom to him, as the Lord had said.
24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.
From the tribe of Judah, 6,800 warriors carrying shields and spears.
25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
From the tribe of Simeon, 7,100 strong warriors.
26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
From the tribe of Levi, 4,600,
27 And Jehoiada was the leader of [the house of] Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,
including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, and with him 3,700,
28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains.
and Zadok, a strong young warrior, with 22 members of his family, all officers.
29 And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
From the tribe of Benjamin, from among Saul's relatives, 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul up until this time.
30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses.
From the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800 strong warriors, each highly regarded in his own clan.
31 And of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.
From the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 men were designated by name to come and make David king.
32 And of the children of Issachar, 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.
From the tribe of Issachar came leaders who knew and could understand the signs of the times and what Israel should do—a total of 200 leaders of the tribe together with their relatives.
33 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and that could order [the battle array, and were] not of double heart.
From the tribe of Zebulun, 50,000 warriors. They were fully armed and battle-ready, and totally dedicated.
34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
From the tribe of Naphtali, 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors carrying shields and spears.
35 And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
From the tribe of Dan, 28,600 warriors, all battle-ready.
36 And of Asher, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, forty thousand.
From the tribe of Asher, 40,000 experienced warriors, all battle-ready.
37 And on the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.
From the east side of the Jordan River, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 warriors carrying all kinds of weapons.
38 All these, being men of war, that could order the battle array, 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.
All these men came to Hebron dressed for battle, completely committed to making David king. All of Israel agreed that David should become king.
39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had made preparation for them.
They stayed three days there, eating and drinking together, for their relatives had provided them with supplies.
40 Moreover they that were nigh unto them, [even] as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, victuals of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.
Their neighbors, even as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, arrived bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They had plenty of flour, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, for Israel was so happy.
