1 Chronicles 12
1 Also, these went to David at Ziklag, while he was still fleeing from Saul, the son of Kish. And they were very strong and distinguished fighters,
These were the men who came to David to Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the soldiers, his helpers in battle.
2 bending the bow, and using either hand in casting stones with slings, and shooting arrows. From the brothers of Saul, out of Benjamin:
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 Benjamites, Saul's fellow tribesmen.
3 the leader was Ahiezer, with Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah, and Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu, from Anathoth.
The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite. There were Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth. There were also Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite,
4 Also, there was Ishmaiah, from Gibeon, the strongest among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad, from Gederah;
Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a soldier among the thirty (and in command of the thirty); Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
5 and Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah, the Haruphites;
Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, from Carehim;
the Korahites Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, and
7 and also Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor.
Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 Then too, from Gad, there went over to David, when he was hiding in the desert, very robust men, who were excellent fighters, taking hold of shield and spear; their faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roe deer upon the mountains.
Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were fighting men, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were as fierce as the faces of lions. They were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.
9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
There were Ezer the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
Jeremiah the tenth, Makbannai the eleventh.
14 These were from the sons of Gad, leaders of the army. The least was in charge of one hundred soldiers, and the greatest was in charge of one thousand.
These sons of Gad were leaders of the army. The least led a hundred, and the greatest led a thousand.
15 These are the ones who crossed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is accustomed to overflow its banks. And they put to flight all those who were staying in the valleys, to the eastern region and to the west.
They crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its banks, and chased away all those living in the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.
16 Then some from Benjamin and from Judah also arrived at the stronghold where David was staying.
Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.
17 And David went out to meet them, and he said: “If you have arrived peacefully, so as to be a help to me, may my heart be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, though I have no iniquity in my hands, may the God of our fathers see and judge.”
David went out to meet them and addressed them: “If you have come in peace to me to help me, you may join me. But if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, may the God of our ancestors see and rebuke you, since I have done no wrong.”
18 Truly, the Spirit clothed Amasai, the leader among the thirty, and he said: “O David, we are yours! O son of Jesse, we are for you! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you.” Therefore, David received them, and he appointed them as leaders of troops.
Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty. Amasai said, “We are yours, David. We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace, may peace be to whoever helps you. May peace be to your helpers, for your God is helping you.” Then David received them and made them commanders over his men.
19 Moreover, some from Manasseh crossed over to David, when he went forth with the Philistines against Saul, so that he might fight. But he did not fight with them. For the leaders of the Philistines, taking counsel, sent him back, saying, “To the peril of our own heads, he will return to his lord, Saul.”
Some from Manasseh also deserted to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle. Yet they did not help the Philistines, because the Philistine lords consulted with each other and sent David away. They said, “He will desert to his master Saul at the risk of our lives.”
20 And so, when he returned to Ziklag, some fled over to him from Manasseh: Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Adnah, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh.
When he went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains over thousands of Manasseh.
21 These offered assistance to David against the robbers. For all were very strong men, and they became leaders in the army.
They helped David fight against the roving bands, for they were fighting men. Later they became commanders in the army.
22 Then, too, some came to David throughout each day, in order to help him, until they became a great number, like the army of God.
Day after day, men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.
23 Now this is the number of the leaders of the army who went to David when he was at Hebron, so that they might transfer the kingdom of Saul to him, in accord with the word of the Lord:
This is the record of the armed soldiers for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, which carried out Yahweh's word.
24 the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred, equipped for battle;
From Judah those who carried shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war.
25 from the sons of Simeon, very strong men for the fight, seven thousand one hundred;
From the Simeonites there were 7,100 fighting men.
26 from the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred;
From the Levites there were 4,600 fighting men.
27 as well as Jehoiada, a leader from the stock of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred;
Jehoiada was the leader of Aaron's descendants, and with him were 3,700.
28 and then Zadok, a youth of distinguished qualities, and the house of his father, twenty-two leaders;
With Zadok, a young, strong, and courageous man, were twenty-two leaders from his father's family.
29 and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul.
From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, were three thousand. Most of them had remained loyal to Saul until this time.
30 Then from the sons of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred, very strong and robust men, renowned among their kindred.
From the Ephraimites there were 20,800 fighting men, men who were famous in their fathers' houses.
31 And out of the one half tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, each by their names, went forth so that they might appoint David as king.
From the half tribe of Manasseh there were eighteen thousand famous men who came to make David king.
32 Also, from the sons of Issachar, there were learned men, who knew each of the times, in order to anticipate what Israel ought to do, two hundred leaders. And all the remainder of the tribe were following their counsel.
From Issachar, there were two hundred leaders who had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do. All their relatives were under their command.
33 Then, from Zebulun, there were those who went forth to battle, and who were standing in a battle line, prepared with the weapons of warfare; these fifty thousand arrived to assist, without duplicity of heart.
From Zebulun there were fifty thousand fighting men, prepared for battle, with all the weapons of war, and ready to give undivided loyalty.
34 And from Naphtali, there were one thousand leaders; and with them were thirty-seven thousand, prepared with shield and spear.
From Naphtali there were one thousand officers, and with them thirty-seven thousand men with shields and spears.
35 And then from Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred, ready for battle.
From the Danites there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
36 And from Asher, there were forty thousand, going forth to fight, and summoned to the battle line.
From Asher there were forty thousand men prepared for battle.
37 Then, across the Jordan, there were, from the sons of Reuben, and from Gad, and from the one half tribe of Manasseh, one hundred twenty thousand, prepared with the weapons of warfare.
From the other side of the Jordan, from the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons for battle.
38 All these men of war, equipped for the fight, went with a perfect heart to Hebron, so that they might appoint David as king over all of Israel. Then, too, all the remainder of Israel were of one heart, so that they might make David king.
All these soldiers, equipped for battle, came to Hebron with firm intentions to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were in agreement to make David king also.
39 And they were in that place with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had made preparations for them.
They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had sent them with provisions.
40 Moreover, those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing, on donkeys and camels and mules and oxen, bread for their provisions, with grain, dried figs, dried grapes, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep, with all abundance. For indeed, there was joy in Israel.
In addition, those who were near to them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, and cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for Israel was celebrating.
