1 Now 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. 2 They 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. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; 4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite; 5 Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8 Some 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: 9 Ezer the chief, 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, and Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These 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. 15 These 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. 16 Some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David 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.” 18 Then 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. 19 Some 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.” 20 As he went to Ziklag, some from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were captains in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like God’s army. 23 These 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. 24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed for war. 25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war: seven thousand one hundred. 26 Of the children of Levi: four thousand six hundred. 27 Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred, 28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. 29 Of 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. 30 Of the children of Ephraim: twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king. 32 Of 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. 33 Of 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. 34 Of Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand. 35 Of the Danites who could set the battle in array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred. 36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array: forty thousand. 37 On 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. 38 All 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. 39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had supplied provisions for them. 40 Moreover 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.
1 Chronicles · World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Chronicles 12 World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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