1Chronicles 12

1 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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:1

2 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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:2

3 Their leaders were Shemaah’s sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:3

4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them), ^{a12:4 Lit. over the Thirty} Jeremiah, ^{b12:4 The remainder of this v. is 12:5 in MT} Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:4

5 ^{c12:5 This v. is 12:6 in MT, and so throughout the chapter} Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:5

6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the descendants of Korah,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:6

7 and Jeroham’s sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:7

8 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 ^{d12:8 Lit. with faces like those of lions} and as agile ^{e12:8 Or swift} as a gazelle on a mountain slope.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:8

9 Their leader was Ezer, Obadiah was second, Eliab third,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:9

10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:10

11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:11

12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:12

13 Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:13

14 These descendants of Gad were army leaders. The least of them ^{f12:14 Lit. One of their number} was equal to a hundred other soldiers ^{g12:14 The Heb. lacks other soldiers} and the greatest to a thousand.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:14

15 These men ^{h12:15 Lit. These are they who} crossed the Jordan in the first month of the year ^{i12:15 The Heb. lacks of the year} during flood season and chased out everyone in the valleys, to the east and to the west.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:15

16 Later, some descendants of Benjamin and Judah approached David at his stronghold,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:16

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. ^{j12:17 Lit. then my heart will be knit to you} 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.”ISV — 1Chronicles 12:17

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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:18

19 Some of the descendants of Manasseh joined ^{k12:19 Lit. fell} 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.”ISV — 1Chronicles 12:19

20 As he traveled toward Ziklag, these descendants of Manasseh joined ^{l12:20 Lit. fell} him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders in charge thousands in Manasseh.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:20

21 They helped David against raiders, since they were all warriors and commanders in the army.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:21

22 Indeed people kept coming to David every day to help him, until his army became a great, vast army. ^{m12:22 Lit. great, like an army of God}ISV — 1Chronicles 12:22

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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:23

24 The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:24

25 the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100,ISV — 1Chronicles 12:25

26 and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:26

27 Jehoiada, a senior officer ^{n12:27 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority} in the house of Aaron, brought ^{o12:27 The Heb. lacks brought; and so throughout the chapter} with him 3,700.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:27

28 Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:28

29 The tribe of ^{p12:29 The Heb. lacks The tribe of; and so throughout the chapter} Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of ^{q12:29 The Heb. lacks what remained of} Saul’s dynasty.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:29

30 The tribe of Ephraim supplied ^{r12:30 The Heb. lacks supplied; and so throughout the chapter} 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:30

31 The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:31

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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:32

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 ^{s12:33 So LXX. The Heb. lacks David} with undivided loyalty.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:33

34 The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:34

35 The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:35

36 The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:36

37 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of ^{t12:37 Lit. Manasseh beyond} the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:37

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.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:38

39 They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:39

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 ^{u12:40 The Heb. lacks They brought} abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.ISV — 1Chronicles 12:40