1 Chronicles, 12

1. Now these [are] they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they [were] among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

1. The following men came to David in Ziklag where he had gone to escape from King Saul. They were valiant and reliable warriors, members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged.

2. [They were] armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in [hurling] stones and [shooting] arrows out of a bow, [even] of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.

2. They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow.

3. 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,

3. They were Ahiezer the leader, and Joash, sons of Hashemar from Gibeah, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, Berach and Jehu from Anathoth,

4. And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

4. Ismaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of The Thirty;

5. Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

5. Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad from Gederoth,

6. Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,

6. Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah from Hariph,

7. And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

7. Elkanah, Eshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, Korahites,

8. And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, [and] men of war [fit] for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces [were like] the faces of lions, and [were] as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

8. Joelah, Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

9. Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

9. Some Gadites also joined David's troops when he was at the desert fort. They were valiant fighting men and experts with shield and spear. They were as fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.

10. Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

10. Ezer was the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third,

11. Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

11. Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth.

12. Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

12. Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,

13. Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

13. Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,

14. 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.

14. Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh.

15. These [are] they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all [them] of the valleys, [both] toward the east, and toward the west.

15. These sons of God were troop commanders, each one in command of a unit, the junior officers placed over a hundred, and senior officers over a thousand.

16. And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

16. These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its course, and scattered all the people who lived on its banks, both east and west.

17. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine enemies, seeing [there is] no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look [thereon], and rebuke [it].

17. Those men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fort.

18. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who was] chief of 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.

18. David went to meet them and said, "If you come to me as friends, to give me help, then I am ready to join you. But if it is to betray me to my enemies, when I have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and punish you."

19. And there fell [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.

19. Then God's spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, leader of The Thirty, and he called out: "Yours we are, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace to you, peace to him that helps you, for God is on your side." David welcomed them and made them officers in his army.

20. As he went to Ziklag, 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.

20. Some people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David's side as he was setting out with the Philistines to fight Saul. But David did not help the Philistines, because their chiefs, after consultation, sent him back to Ziklag. They were afraid he would betray them to his former master Saul.

21. And they helped David against the band [of the rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

21. He was on his way to Ziklag when these Manassites joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manasseh.

22. For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of God.

22. They were reinforcements for David and his troops, since they were all outstanding soldiers and became officers in the army.

23. And these [are] the numbers of the bands [that were] ready armed to the war, [and] came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.

23. Indeed new men joined David's forces almost every day, so that his camp grew into an enormous camp.

24. The children of Judah that bare shield and spear [were] six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

24. These are the figures from the list of experienced warriors who joined David at Hebron to transfer Saul's kingship to him in accordance with the command of Yahweh:

25. Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

25. Sons of Judah carrying shield and spear: 6,800 men equipped for battle.

26. Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

26. Of the sons of Simeon; 7,100 well-trained men.

27. And Jehoiada [was] the leader of the Aaronites, and with him [were] three thousand and seven hundred;

27. Of the sons of Levi: 4,600

28. And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

28. in addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaronites, with 3,700 men;

29. And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

29. Zadok, a young and able fighter and 22 commanders of his family.

30. And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

30. Of the sons of Benjamin: 3,000 kinsmen of Saul, most of them hitherto in the service of the House of Saul.

31. And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

31. Of the sons of Ephraim: 20,800 men famous in their families.

32. And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.

32. Of the half tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 men assigned by name to go and proclaim David king.

33. Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: [they were] not of double heart.

33. Of the sons of Issachar, expert in knowing the times when Israel should take action, and the way to do it: 200 leaders and all their kinsmen under their command.

34. And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.

34. Of Zebulun: 50,000 men fit for service, ready to fight with weapons of every kind.

35. And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

35. Of Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 men armed with shield and spear.

36. And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

36. Of the Danites: 28,600 men ready for battle.

37. 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.

37. Of Asher: 40,000 men fit for service, ready for battle.

38. All these men of war, that could keep rank, 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.

38. From Transjordania: 120,000 men of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, with weapons of every kind.

39. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

39. All these warriors, ready for battle, came to Hebron willingly to proclaim David king over all Israel; and the rest of Israel, too, were all of one mind in making David king.

40. Moreover they that were nigh 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 sheep abundantly: for [there was] joy in Israel.

40. For three days they stayed there, eating and drinking with David, for their kinsmen had sent food for them.

41.

41. Moreover from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali their neighbors brought provisions, by donkey and camel, mule and ox - flour cakes, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, quantities of oxen and sheep; for there was joy in Israel.