1 Chronicles 12 — NETB

12Verse 1These 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.^{Verse 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:^{Verse 3}Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, Jehu the Anathothite,^{Verse 4}Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader, Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,^{Verse 5}Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,^{Verse 6}Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,^{Verse 7}and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 9}Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,^{Verse 10}Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,^{Verse 11}Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,^{Verse 12}Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,^{Verse 13}Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.^{Verse 14}These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 16}Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold.^{Verse 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!”^{Verse 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.^{Verse 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.”)^{Verse 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.^{Verse 21}They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army.^{Verse 22}Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.

Support for David in Hebron

^{Verse 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:^{Verse 24}From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.^{Verse 25}From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.^{Verse 26}From Levi there were 4,600.^{Verse 27}Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him,^{Verse 28}along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.^{Verse 29}From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.^{Verse 30}From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.^{Verse 31}From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.^{Verse 32}From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 34}From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.^{Verse 35}From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.^{Verse 36}From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 39}They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions.^{Verse 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.