CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Chronicles 12
Chapter 12 of 29
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Chronicles 12
This chapter lists the warriors who came to David while he was on the run from Saul and later the soldiers from every tribe who came to Hebron to make him king. It shows that God was building an army around David.
Scripture
1 Chronicles 12
Warriors Who Joined David at Ziklag
Study note
While David was hiding from King Saul, skilled warriors from Saul's own tribe of Benjamin came to join him at Ziklag. These men could shoot arrows and sling stones with either hand, making them very dangerous in battle.
1 These are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from King Saul son of Kish. They were skilled fighters who helped him in battle. 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.
2 They could shoot arrows and sling stones with either their right or left hand. They were from Saul's own tribe of Benjamin. 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.
3 The main ones were Ahiezer and Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah. Others included Jeziel and Pelet (sons of Azmaveth), Beracah, and Jehu from Anathoth. 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,
4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon also came. He was a powerful warrior and a leader of the Thirty. Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah came too. And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
5 Also Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph. Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Also Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam from the Korahite family. Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor. And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
Gadite Warriors Join David
Study note
Brave men from the tribe of Gad crossed the Jordan River when it was flooding to join David in the wilderness. They were described as fierce as lions and fast as gazelles. Even the least of them was equal to a hundred ordinary soldiers, and the greatest equal to a thousand.
8 Some tough warriors from the tribe of Gad also came to David at his desert stronghold. They were battle-hardened soldiers skilled with shields and spears. They had the fierce look of lions and were as quick as mountain gazelles. 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;
9 The first was Ezer, then Obadiah, then Eliab. Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10 Then came Mishmannah. Then Jeremiah. Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11 Then Attai, then Eliel. Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Then Johanan, then Elzabad. Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13 Then Jeremiah. Last was Machbannai. That was eleven in all. Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
14 These men from Gad served as army commanders. Even the weakest of them could take on a hundred ordinary soldiers, and the strongest could handle a thousand. 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.
15 These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during the first month of the year, when it was flooding over its banks. They chased away everyone living in the valleys on both sides of the river. 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.
Men of Benjamin and Judah Come to David
Study note
David was cautious when men from Benjamin and Judah arrived. He warned them that if they had come to betray him, God would punish them. The Spirit came upon Amasai, who declared their loyalty to David, and David accepted them.
16 Some men from Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his stronghold. And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17 David went out to meet them. He said, 'If you came to help me and be my friends, I welcome you with all my heart. But if you came to hand me over to my enemies when I've done nothing wrong, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.' 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.
18 Then God's Spirit took hold of Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he declared, 'We belong to you, David! We stand with you, son of Jesse! May peace come to you -- peace, peace! -- and to everyone who helps you, because your God is the one helping you.' So David welcomed them and made them officers in his army. 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.
Warriors From Manasseh
Study note
Some men from Manasseh joined David when he was with the Philistines, though the Philistines sent David away because they did not trust him. These men helped David fight against raiding bands. Day after day, more people came to join David until he had a great army.
19 Some men from Manasseh also came over to David's side when he marched with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But the Philistine rulers got worried and sent David away, saying, 'What if he switches sides during the battle and goes back to his old master Saul? It could cost us our lives!' 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.
20 David went to Ziklag. Men from Manasseh joined him there. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, another Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each had led a thousand soldiers in Manasseh. 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.
21 They helped David fight against raiding parties, because they were all brave soldiers. They became commanders in his army. And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
22 Day after day, more men came to support David, until his forces grew into a mighty army. 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.
The Army That Made David King
Study note
A massive army from all twelve tribes came to Hebron to make David king. The numbers were enormous, totaling over 340,000 armed warriors. The men of Issachar were noted for understanding the times and knowing what Israel should do. The whole gathering celebrated for three days with food and joy, because Israel was united at last.
23 Here is a count of the armed soldiers who came to David at Hebron. They came to hand the kingdom over from Saul to David, just as the Lord had said. 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.
24 From Judah: 6,800 soldiers carrying shields and spears. The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
25 From Simeon: 7,100 brave fighting men. Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
26 From Levi: 4,600 men. Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27 Jehoiada led the family of Aaron, and 3,700 men came with him. And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28 Zadok was a brave young man. Twenty-two officers from his family came with him. And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
29 From Benjamin (Saul's own tribe): 3,000 men. Until then, most of them had stayed loyal to Saul's family. 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.
30 From Ephraim: 20,800 brave warriors who were well-known in their families. And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
31 From the western half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 men who had been specifically chosen to come and make David king. And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
32 From Issachar: men who had a clear understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do. There were 200 leaders, and all their relatives followed their guidance. 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.
33 From Zebulun: 50,000 trained soldiers. They were ready for battle and fully loyal. 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.
34 From Naphtali: 1,000 officers, backed by 37,000 soldiers carrying shields and spears. And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
35 From Dan: 28,600 soldiers ready to fight. And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
36 From Asher: 40,000 trained soldiers prepared for battle. And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
37 From east of the Jordan came Reuben, Gad, and eastern Manasseh. They brought 120,000 soldiers with all kinds of weapons. 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.
38 All these fighting men came to Hebron fully prepared for battle. They were united in their desire to make David king over all of Israel. Everyone else in Israel wanted the same thing. 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.
39 The soldiers stayed with David for three days, eating and drinking. Their families back home had prepared food and supplies for them. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
40 People from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep -- huge amounts of everything. There was great celebration in Israel. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Chronicles 12
God draws people together for His purposesWholehearted devotion to leadershipDiscerning the right time to actUnity across tribal and social boundaries
Apply This Today
Living 1 Chronicles 12
Warriors came from every tribe to make David king with a 'whole heart.' God calls us to serve wholeheartedly, not halfheartedly. When you commit fully to what God has called you to do, you become part of something far bigger than yourself.
Go Deeper
Study 1 Chronicles in Covenant Path
Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.