1 Chronicles 12
1Now 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, helpers of the war.
2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Beracah, and Jehu the Anthothite,
4And Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
5Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
7And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David at the stronghold in the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the gazelles upon the mountains;
9Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
15These 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.
16And there came from the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold unto David.
17And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If you are come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you: but if you are come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look on it, and rebuke it.
18Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Yours we are, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you. Then David received them, and made them captains of his troop.
19And there deserted some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines after counsel sent him away, saying, He will desert to his master Saul to the peril of our heads.
20As he went to Ziklag, there deserted to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zellethai, captains of the thousands that were from Manasseh.
21And they helped David against the band of raiders: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.
22For at that time day by day there came more to David to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.
23And these are the numbers of the men that were ready armed for war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.
24The children of Judah that bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed for war.
25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, seven thousand and one hundred.
26Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
29And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for until now the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul.
30And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men throughout the house of their fathers.
31And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name, to come and make David king.
32And of the children of Issachar, who were 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 under their command.
33Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, who could keep ranks: they had singleness of heart.
34And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
35And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
36And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
37And 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 battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.
38All these men of war, that could keep ranks, 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.
39And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
40Moreover they that were near them, even from Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and supplies of meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
Commentaries for 1 Chronicles 12:0