I Chronicles 12

¹Also, 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,

²bending the bow, and using either hand in casting stones with slings, and shooting arrows. From the brothers of Saul, out of Benjamin:

³the leader was Ahiezer, with Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah, and Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu, from Anathoth.

⁴Also, there was Ishmaiah, from Gibeon, the strongest among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad, from Gederah;

⁵and Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah, the Haruphites;

⁶Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, from Carehim;

⁷and also Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor.

⁸Then 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.

⁹Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

¹⁰Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

¹¹Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

¹²Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

¹³Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

¹⁴These 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.

¹⁵These 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.

¹⁶Then some from Benjamin and from Judah also arrived at the stronghold where David was staying.

¹⁷And 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.”

¹⁸Truly, 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.

¹⁹Moreover, 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.”

²⁰And 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.

²¹These offered assistance to David against the robbers. For all were very strong men, and they became leaders in the army.

²²Then, too, some came to David throughout each day, in order to help him, until they became a great number, like the army of God.

²³Now 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:

²⁴the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred, equipped for battle;

²⁵from the sons of Simeon, very strong men for the fight, seven thousand one hundred;

²⁶from the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred;

²⁷as well as Jehoiada, a leader from the stock of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred;

²⁸and then Zadok, a youth of distinguished qualities, and the house of his father, twenty-two leaders;

²⁹and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul.

³⁰Then from the sons of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred, very strong and robust men, renowned among their kindred.

³¹And out of the one half tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, each by their names, went forth so that they might appoint David as king.

³²Also, 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.

³³Then, 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.

³⁴And from Naphtali, there were one thousand leaders; and with them were thirty-seven thousand, prepared with shield and spear.

³⁵And then from Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred, ready for battle.

³⁶And from Asher, there were forty thousand, going forth to fight, and summoned to the battle line.

³⁷Then, 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.

³⁸All 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.

³⁹And they were in that place with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had made preparations for them.

⁴⁰Moreover, 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.

I Chronicles 12

¹Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet fled from Saul the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors,

²Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin.

³The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samoa of Gabaath, and Jaziel, and Phallet the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu an Anathothite.

⁴And Samaias of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel and Johanan, and Jozabad of Gaderoth;

⁵And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia the Haruphite;

⁶Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of Carehim:

⁷And Joela, and Zabadia the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains.

⁹Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third,

¹⁰Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth,

¹¹Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

¹²Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth,

¹³Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh,

¹⁴These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand.

¹⁵These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and toward the west.

¹⁶And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda to the hold, in which David abode.

¹⁷And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge.

¹⁸But the spirit came upon Amasai the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.

¹⁹And there were some of Manasses that went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master Saul.

²⁰So when he went back to Siceleg, there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses.

²¹These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army.

²²Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.

²³And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to David, when he was in Hebron, to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, according to the word of the Lord.

²⁴The sons of Juda bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred well appointed to war.

²⁵Of the sons of Simeon valiant men for war, seven thousand one hundred.

²⁶Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred.

²⁷And Joiada prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.

²⁸Sadoc also a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two principal men.

²⁹And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.

³⁰And of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, men of great valour renowned in their kindreds.

³¹And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names, came to make David king.

³²Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel.

³³And of Zabulon such as went forth to battle, and stood in array well appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his aid, with no double heart.

³⁴And of Nephtali, a thousand leaders: and with them seven and thirty thousand, furnished with shield and spear.

³⁵Of Dan also twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle.

³⁶And of Aser forty thousand going forth to fight, and challenging in battle.

³⁷And on the other side of the Jordan of the sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses a hundred and twenty thousand, furnished with arms for war.

³⁸All these men of war well appointed to fight, 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.

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

⁴⁰Moreover they that were near them even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephtali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel.