1 Chronicles

The first book of the Chronicles, chapter 12, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 12 New English Translation

Warriors Who Joined David at Ziklag

   1 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin.) These were:
   3 Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, Jehu the Anathothite,
   4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader, (5) Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
   5 (6) Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
   6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,
   7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
   8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. 9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, 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, and Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand. 15 They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.
   16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David's stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said, "If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge!" 18 But a spirit empowered Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: "We are yours, O David! We support you, O son of Jesse! May you greatly prosper! May those who help you prosper! Indeed your God helps you!" So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.
   19 Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine LORDs sent David away, saying: "It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.") 20 When David went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.

Support for David in Hebron

   23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul's place, in accordance with the LORD's decree:
   24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.
   25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.
   26 From Levi there were 4,600. 27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron's descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.
   29 From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.
   30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.
   31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.
   32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command - they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
   33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.
   34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
   35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
   36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.
   37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.
   38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. 39 They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating.

King James Version

   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.
   2 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,
   4 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;
   9 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.
   15 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.
   16 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.
   18 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.
   19 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.
   20 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.
   22 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.
   24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
   25 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.
   30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
   31 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.
   34 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.
   37 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.