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, helpers of the war.s2 They 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.3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,s4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,6 Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,7 And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;ss9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.s15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.s16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.sss18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.s19 And there fell 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 upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.s20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.s22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.s24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.s25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.ss30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.s31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.32 And of the children of Issachar, which 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 at their commandment.33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.sss34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.36 And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.s37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, 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.39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.s

1 Chronicles 12

The Men Who Helped David Become King

1 These are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished by Saul, son of Kish. They were among the soldiers who went into battle with David.2 They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, from the tribe of Benjamin.3 Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash (they were the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah), Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth,4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon (one of the thirty fighting men and one of their leaders),t Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah,5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph,6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (Korah’s descendants),

7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, Jeroham’s sons from Gedor.
8 Some men left Gad to join David at the fortified camp in the desert. They were warriors, trained soldiers, able to fight with shields and spears. They looked like lions and were as fast as gazelles on the hills.9 Ezer was the first of these soldiers. The second was Obadiah. The third was Eliab.10 The fourth was Mishmannah. The fifth was Jeremiah.11 The sixth was Attai. The seventh was Eliel.12 The eighth was Johanan. The ninth was Elzabad.13 The tenth was Jeremiah. The eleventh was Machbannai.14 These descendants of Gad were army officers. The least able one was in command of 100 men, and the best one was in command of 1,000.

15 In the first month of the year, these men crossed the Jordan River when it was flooding its banks. They chased away all the people in the valleys to the east and west.
16 Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fortified camp.

17 David went to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven’t committed a crime, may the God of our ancestors see this and judge you.”
18 Then the Spirit gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength to say,“We are yours, David.We are with you, son of Jesse.Success, success to you!Success to those who help you,because your God is helping you.”So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.19 Some men from Manasseh had deserted Saul’s army to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn’t help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, “It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.”)20 When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh deserted to join him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each one was an officer over 1,000 men in Manasseh.21 They helped David fight raiding parties because they were all warriors, commanders in the army.

22 From day to day, men came to help David until he had an army as large as God’s army.
23 These are the numbers of the men equipped for war. The men joined David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingship over to David, as the Lord had said.24 From Judah’s descendants there were 6,800 men equipped for war. They carried shields and spears.25 From Simeon’s descendants there were 7,100 warriors.26 From Levi’s descendants there were 4,60027 as well as Jehoiada (leader of Aaron’s families). With him there were 3,700 men,

28 and Zadok, a young warrior from whose family came 22 officers.
29 From Benjamin’s descendants, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 men, though most of them remained loyal to Saul’s family.

30 From Ephraim’s descendants there were 20,800 warriors who were famous among their families.
31 From half of the tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to make David king.32 From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Their relatives were under their command.33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 experienced soldiers. They were equipped for battle with every kind of weapon. Their loyalty was unquestioned.t34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders. With them were 37,000 who fought with shields and spears.35 From Dan there were 28,600 ready for battle.36 From Asher there were 40,000 experienced soldiers ready for battle.37 From the east side of the Jordan River, from Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 soldiers ready to fight with all kinds of weapons.38 All of these soldiers, who were prepared for battle, came with a single purpose to Hebron—to make David king of all Israel. The rest of Israel also had agreed to make David king.39 They ate and drank with David for three days because their relatives in Judah had provided enough for them.

40 Also, their neighbors as far as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, because Israel was celebrating.