1 Also, these went to David at Ziklag, while he was still fleeing from Saul, the son of Kish. And they were very strong and distinguished fighters, 2 bending the bow, and using either hand in casting stones with slings, and shooting arrows. From the brothers of Saul, out of Benjamin: 3 the leader was Ahiezer, with Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah, and Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu, from Anathoth. 4 Also, there was Ishmaiah, from Gibeon, the strongest among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad, from Gederah; 5 and Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah, the Haruphites; 6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, from Carehim; 7 and also Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor. 8 Then too, from Gad, there went over to David, when he was hiding in the desert, very robust men, who were excellent fighters, taking hold of shield and spear; their faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roe deer upon the mountains. 9 Ezer was the leader, 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, Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These were from the sons of Gad, leaders of the army. The least was in charge of one hundred soldiers, and the greatest was in charge of one thousand. 15 These are the ones who crossed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is accustomed to overflow its banks. And they put to flight all those who were staying in the valleys, to the eastern region and to the west. 16 Then some from Benjamin and from Judah also arrived at the stronghold where David was staying. 17 And David went out to meet them, and he said: “If you have arrived peacefully, so as to be a help to me, may my heart be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, though I have no iniquity in my hands, may the God of our fathers see and judge.” 18 Truly, the Spirit clothed Amasai, the leader among the thirty, and he said: “O David, we are yours! O son of Jesse, we are for you! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you.” Therefore, David received them, and he appointed them as leaders of troops. 19 Moreover, some from Manasseh crossed over to David, when he went forth with the Philistines against Saul, so that he might fight. But he did not fight with them. For the leaders of the Philistines, taking counsel, sent him back, saying, “To the peril of our own heads, he will return to his lord, Saul.” 20 And so, when he returned to Ziklag, some fled over to him from Manasseh: Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Adnah, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh. 21 These offered assistance to David against the robbers. For all were very strong men, and they became leaders in the army. 22 Then, too, some came to David throughout each day, in order to help him, until they became a great number, like the army of God. 23 Now this is the number of the leaders of the army who went to David when he was at Hebron, so that they might transfer the kingdom of Saul to him, in accord with the word of the Lord: 24 the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred, equipped for battle; 25 from the sons of Simeon, very strong men for the fight, seven thousand one hundred; 26 from the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred; 27 as well as Jehoiada, a leader from the stock of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred; 28 and then Zadok, a youth of distinguished qualities, and the house of his father, twenty-two leaders; 29 and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul. 30 Then from the sons of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred, very strong and robust men, renowned among their kindred. 31 And out of the one half tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, each by their names, went forth so that they might appoint David as king. 32 Also, from the sons of Issachar, there were learned men, who knew each of the times, in order to anticipate what Israel ought to do, two hundred leaders. And all the remainder of the tribe were following their counsel. 33 Then, from Zebulun, there were those who went forth to battle, and who were standing in a battle line, prepared with the weapons of warfare; these fifty thousand arrived to assist, without duplicity of heart. 34 And from Naphtali, there were one thousand leaders; and with them were thirty-seven thousand, prepared with shield and spear. 35 And then from Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred, ready for battle. 36 And from Asher, there were forty thousand, going forth to fight, and summoned to the battle line. 37 Then, across the Jordan, there were, from the sons of Reuben, and from Gad, and from the one half tribe of Manasseh, one hundred twenty thousand, prepared with the weapons of warfare. 38 All these men of war, equipped for the fight, went with a perfect heart to Hebron, so that they might appoint David as king over all of Israel. Then, too, all the remainder of Israel were of one heart, so that they might make David king. 39 And they were in that place with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had made preparations for them. 40 Moreover, those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing, on donkeys and camels and mules and oxen, bread for their provisions, with grain, dried figs, dried grapes, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep, with all abundance. For indeed, there was joy in Israel.
1 Chronicles · Catholic Public Domain Version
1 Chronicles 12 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Adnah
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Ahiezer
Chief of the Benjamite archers, Saul's kinsmen, who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Amasai
Chief of the Thirty; the Spirit came upon him and he declared that he and his men were with David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:18
Attai
Sixth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:11
Azarel
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Azmaveth
Named as the father of Jeziel and Pelet, Benjamite archers who joined David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Bealiah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Beracah
Listed among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Eliab
Third in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Eliel
Seventh in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:11
Elihu
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Elkanah
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Eluzai
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Elzabad
Ninth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:12
Ezer
Chief of the Gadite mighty men who defected to David in the desert stronghold.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Ishmaiah
Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty, who joined David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Isshiah
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Jahaziel
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jashobeam
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Jediael
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Jehu
Jehu the Anathothite, listed among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Jeremiah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jeremiah
Fifth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:10
Jeremiah
Tenth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:13
Jerimoth
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Jeroham
Named as the father of Joelah and Zebadiah of Gedor.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Jeziel
Son of Azmaveth, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Joash
Son of Shemaah the Gibeathite, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Joelah
Son of Jeroham from Gedor, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Joezer
One of the Korahites listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:6
Johanan
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Johanan
Eighth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:12
Jozabad
Jozabad the Gederathite, listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:4
Jozabad
One of the two Manassites named Jozabad who defected to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Jozabad
One of the two Manassites named Jozabad who defected to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Michael
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Mishmannah
Fourth in rank among the Gadite mighty men who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:10
Obadiah
Second in command among the Gadites who defected to David.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:9
Pelet
Son of Azmaveth, among the Benjamite archers who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Shemaah
Named as the Gibeathite father of Ahiezer and Joash.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:3
Shemariah
Listed among the Benjamite warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Shephatiah
Shephatiah the Haruphite, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:5
Zebadiah
Son of Jeroham from Gedor, listed among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:7
Zillethai
Manassite who defected to David at Ziklag, a chief of thousands in Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 12:20
Cross references (27)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Samuel 27:2–6; 1 Chronicles 9:39; 2 Samuel 1:1; 1 Chronicles 11:24–25; 2 Samuel 4:10
- 2 Judges 20:16; Judges 3:15; 1 Chronicles 12:29; 1 Samuel 17:49
- 3 1 Chronicles 11:28; 1 Samuel 11:4; 2 Samuel 21:6; 1 Chronicles 11:33
- 4 Joshua 9:3; Joshua 15:36; Joshua 9:17–23; 1 Chronicles 11:15
- 7 Joshua 15:58; 1 Chronicles 4:18; 1 Chronicles 4:39
- 8 2 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 17:10; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Samuel 24:22; 1 Samuel 23:14
- 14 Leviticus 26:8; Deuteronomy 32:30
- 15 Joshua 3:15; Joshua 4:18; Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 49:19
- 17 1 Peter 2:23; Jude 9; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 12:1–2
- 18 Judges 6:34; Judges 3:10; John 6:67–68; 2 Samuel 17:25; Ruth 1:16
- 19 1 Samuel 29:2–9
- 20 Deuteronomy 1:15; Deuteronomy 33:17; Exodus 18:21; 1 Samuel 29:11
- 21 1 Chronicles 5:24; 1 Samuel 30:1–17; 1 Chronicles 11:21–22; 1 Chronicles 12:20; 1 Chronicles 11:10
- 22 2 Samuel 3:1; Job 17:9; Genesis 32:2; Joshua 5:14; Psalm 148:2
- 23 2 Samuel 2:3–4; 1 Chronicles 11:10; 1 Samuel 16:1; Psalm 89:19–20; 1 Samuel 16:3
- 27 1 Chronicles 27:17; 1 Chronicles 6:49–57; 2 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 11:9; 2 Kings 25:18
- 28 1 Chronicles 6:8; 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 6:53; 1 Kings 2:35; Ezekiel 44:15
- 29 2 Samuel 2:8–9; 1 Chronicles 12:2; Genesis 31:23
- 30 Genesis 6:4
- 31 Joshua 17:1–18
- 32 Ephesians 5:17; Esther 1:13; Luke 12:56–57; Proverbs 14:8; Isaiah 33:6
- 33 Psalm 12:2; John 1:47
- 36 1 Chronicles 12:33; Joel 2:7
- 37 Deuteronomy 3:12–16; Joshua 13:7–32; 1 Chronicles 5:1–10; Joshua 14:3; Joshua 22:1–10
- 38 Genesis 49:8–10; 1 Kings 8:61; Ezekiel 11:19; 2 Chronicles 30:12; Psalm 110:3
- 39 Genesis 26:30; 2 Samuel 6:19; Genesis 31:54; 2 Samuel 19:42
- 40 1 Samuel 25:18; Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 11:10; 2 Samuel 16:1; 2 Kings 11:20
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences