THE FIRST BOOK OF THE
CHRONICLES
1 Chronicles 12 ©
Here are mentioned some of David’s mighty men who came to him when he was yet pursued by Saul, v. 1, etc. First, some of Saul’s own family, 2. Secondly, next some out of the tribe of Gad, 14. Likewise some out of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, 16. And out of the tribe of Manasseh, 19. Lastly, here are rehearsed the commanders of the soldiers, who came to David at Hebron, to make him king, together with the number out of every tribe, 23. All Israel agree with one accord to make David king over them, 38. They feast one with another three days together, 39.
NOW these are they that came to David to 1Ziklag, 2while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among 3the mighty men, helpers of the war.
They were armed with bows, and could use both the 4right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of 5Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.
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,
And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
6And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into 7the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could 8handle shield and buckler, whose faces 9were like the faces of lions, and were 10as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
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.
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when 11it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them 12of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
And David went out to meet 13them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come 14peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, 15seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Then the spirit 16came upon Amasai, who was 17chief 18of 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.
And there fellasome of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: 19but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines 20upon advisementb sent him away, saying, He 21will fall to his master Saul 22to the jeopardy of our heads.
As he went 23to 24Ziklag, 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.
And they helped David against the 25band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains 26in the host.
For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like 27the host of God.
¶And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn 28the kingdom of Saul to him, 29according to the word of the LORD.
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
And Jehoiada 30was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s 31house twenty and two captains.
And of the children of Benjamin, 32the kindred of Saul, three thousand: 33for hitherto the greatest part of them 34had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
And of the children of Ephra-im twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, 35famous throughout the house of their fathers.
And 36of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had 37understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their 38commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, 39which could keep rank: they were 40not of double heart.
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
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.
All these men of war, that could keep rank, 41came 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.
And 42there they were with David three days, 43eating and drinking: 44for 45their brethren had prepared for them.
Moreover they that were 46nigh 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 47sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.