1 Chronicles 12: The men who came to David at Ziklag and Hebron
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What happens?
This chapter lists the men who came to David, first at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul, and then at Hebron to make him king. Men of Benjamin, Gad and Judah come to him in the stronghold, and Amasai answers David with the words "We are yours, David"; men of Manasseh join him too. Then the numbers of the armed men from the tribes are given, and they came with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel; there was feasting for three days and joy in Israel.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. David speaks to the men of Benjamin and Judah in verse 17, and Amasai answers him in verse 18, when a spirit (or: the Spirit) comes on him. In verse 19 the Philistine lords speak, and their words are told inside the verse. Verse 23, that these men came according to Yahweh's word, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.
In plain English: These are the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in the war.
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2They 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 of Saul’s relatives of the tribe of Benjamin.
In plain English: They were armed with bows and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones and shoot arrows from the bow. They were relatives of Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin.
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3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite;
In plain English: The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite;
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4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite;
In plain English: Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of (literally: over) the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite;
5Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite;
In plain English: Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite;
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6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;
In plain English: Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam, the Korahites;
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7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
In plain English: and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
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8Some Gadites joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains:
In plain English: Some men of Gad also joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for war, who could handle shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
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9Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
In plain English: Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
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10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
In plain English: Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
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11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
In plain English: Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
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12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
In plain English: Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
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13Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.
In plain English: Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.
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14These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army. He who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.
In plain English: These sons of Gad were chiefs of the army. The least of them was equal to a hundred (or: was over a hundred), and the greatest to a thousand (or: was over a thousand).
The Hebrew words: Word for word the verse says "one to a hundred, the little, and the great to a thousand". The Hebrew has only the small word "to" (or "for") before "a hundred" and before "a thousand". The words "was equal" are not in the Hebrew; this Bible adds them. "Was over" is the other way the small word can be taken, and the dictionary does not give it.
What changes: Read as "equal to", each man counted for a hundred, or for a thousand. Read as "over", each was in charge of a hundred, or of a thousand.
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15These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all who lived in the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.
In plain English: These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks. They drove away everyone who lived in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
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16Some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.
In plain English: Some of the people of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.
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17David went out to meet them, and answered them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it.”
In plain English: David went out to meet them and answered them, "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 there is no violence in my hands, may the God of our fathers see it and judge."
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18Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them captains of the band.
In plain English: Then the Spirit (or: a spirit) came on Amasai, the chief of the thirty (or: the officers), and he said, "We are yours, David, and with you, son of Jesse. Peace, peace to you, and peace to those who help you, for your God helps you." Then David received them and made them chiefs of the raiding band.
The Hebrew word: "Came on" is lavash, which the dictionary gives as "wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe". Word for word the verse says "a spirit clothed Amasai". Only three verses in the Hebrew Bible have a spirit and this word together: this verse, (Gideon) and (Zechariah). This Bible says "came on" in all three. The Hebrew has no "the" before "spirit" and no "of God" or "Yahweh's" with it here, so it can be read "the Spirit" or "a spirit".
The Hebrew words: Word for word Amasai's first words are "to you, David, and with you, son of Jesse". The words "we are" are this Bible's.
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19Some of Manasseh also joined David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they didn’t help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.”
In plain English: Some of Manasseh also joined David when he came with the Philistines to battle against Saul. But they did not help the Philistines, because the lords of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, "He will desert to his master Saul, at the cost of our heads."
Good to know: has the Philistine princes speaking about David in a similar way, including the words "the heads of these men". Manasseh is not named there.
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20As he went to Ziklag, some from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.
In plain English: When he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
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21They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were captains in the army.
In plain English: They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army.
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22For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like God’s army.
In plain English: For day after day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
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23These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to Yahweh’s word.
In plain English: These are the numbers of the chiefs of the men armed for war who came to David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to Yahweh's word.
The Hebrew word: "Word" here is literally "mouth": peh, which the dictionary gives as "the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)". In and the Hebrew has a different word, dabar, and this Bible says "word" for both.
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24The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed for war.
In plain English: The people of Judah who carried shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed for war.
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25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war: seven thousand one hundred.
In plain English: Of the people of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war: seven thousand one hundred.
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26Of the children of Levi: four thousand six hundred.
In plain English: Of the people of Levi: four thousand six hundred.
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27Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred,
In plain English: Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were three thousand seven hundred,
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28and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains.
In plain English: and Zadok, a young man, a mighty man of valor, and from his father's house twenty-two commanders.
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29Of the children of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives: three thousand, for until then, the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house.
In plain English: Of the people of Benjamin, the relatives of Saul: three thousand. Until then, most of them had kept their duty to the house of Saul.
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30Of the children of Ephraim: twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses.
In plain English: Of the people of Ephraim: twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses.
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31Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.
In plain English: Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name to come and make David king.
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32Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their command.
In plain English: Of the people of Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: two hundred chiefs, and all their relatives were at their command.
Good to know: The text does not say what "the times" were or what Israel ought to do. Word for word the verse says "those who knew understanding of the times".
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33Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array with all kinds of instruments of war: fifty thousand who could command and were not of double heart.
In plain English: Of Zebulun, those able to go out to war and to prepare for battle with every weapon of war: fifty thousand, who could keep the ranks (or: help) and who were not of a double heart.
The Hebrew word: "Keep the ranks" is adar, which the dictionary gives as "to arrange as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster". This Bible says "command" here and "order the battle array" in , where the same Hebrew word is used. The Hebrew word card for this verse says "to help".
The Hebrew words: "Not of a double heart" is word for word "without a heart and a heart". Lev, "heart", is the dictionary's "the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect".
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34Of Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.
In plain English: Of Naphtali: one thousand commanders, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear.
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35Of the Danites who could set the battle in array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
In plain English: Of the Danites who could prepare for battle: twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
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36Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array: forty thousand.
In plain English: Of Asher, those able to go out to war and prepare for battle: forty thousand.
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37On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle: one hundred twenty thousand.
In plain English: From across the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with every kind of weapon of war: one hundred twenty thousand.
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38All these were men of war who could order the battle array, and 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.
In plain English: All these were men of war who could keep a battle line. They came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were also of one heart to make David king.
The Hebrew words: "Whole" is shalem, which the dictionary gives as "complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly". The verse says they came "with a complete heart" and that the rest of Israel were "of one heart".
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39They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had supplied provisions for them.
In plain English: They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared food for them.
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40Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.
In plain English: Also their neighbors, from as far as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle and sheep in great numbers, for there was joy in Israel.
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