1 Chronicles 12
1 Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle;
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 archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from 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 Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; 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 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, 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, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite;
Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite;
6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;
Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (they were Korahites);
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on 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 in command, 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, and Machbanai the eleventh.
Jeremiah (tenth), Machbannai (eleventh).
14 These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for 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 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, both to the east and to 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 Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
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, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”
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, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.
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 Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)
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 When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in 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 They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army.
They helped David against raiders for they were all strong and experienced warriors and commanders in the army.
22 For at that time men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
Men arrived daily to help David until he had a large army, like the army of God.
23 Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:
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 From Judah: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.
From the tribe of Judah, 6,800 warriors carrying shields and spears.
25 From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle.
From the tribe of Simeon, 7,100 strong warriors.
26 From Levi: 4,600,
From the tribe of Levi, 4,600,
27 including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men,
including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, and with him 3,700,
28 and Zadok, a mighty young man of valor, with 22 commanders from his own family.
and Zadok, a strong young warrior, with 22 members of his family, all officers.
29 From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.
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 From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men of valor, famous among their own clans.
From the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800 strong warriors, each highly regarded in his own clan.
31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated 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 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
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 From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.
From the tribe of Zebulun, 50,000 warriors. They were fully armed and battle-ready, and totally dedicated.
34 From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.
From the tribe of Naphtali, 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors carrying shields and spears.
35 From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.
From the tribe of Dan, 28,600 warriors, all battle-ready.
36 From Asher: 40,000 fit for service, prepared for battle.
From the tribe of Asher, 40,000 experienced warriors, all battle-ready.
37 And from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh there: 120,000 armed with every kind of weapon of war.
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 men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind 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 They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them.
They stayed three days there, eating and drinking together, for their relatives had provided them with supplies.
40 And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, 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.
