Chapter 12

Now these [are] they that came⁶ to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close⁷ because of Saul the son of Kish: and they [were] among the mighty men, helpers⁶ of the war.

[They were] armed⁶ with bows, and could use both the right hand⁵⁶ and the left⁵⁶ in [hurling] stones and [shooting] arrows out of a bow, [even] of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.

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,

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

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

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

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

And of the Gadites there separated⁸ themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, [and] men of war [fit] for the battle, that could handle⁶ shield and buckler, whose faces [were like] the faces of lions, and [were] as swift¹⁵ as the roes upon the mountains;

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

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. ⁶²⁴⁰

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.

These [are] they that went over¹ Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown¹⁸ all his banks; ¹⁴²⁸ and they put to flight⁵⁵ all [them] of the valleys, [both] toward the east, and toward the west.

And there came⁴ of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

And David went out⁴ to meet them, and answered⁴ and said⁴ unto them, If ye be come¹ peaceably unto me to help² me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if [ye be come] to betray¹⁵ me to mine enemies, seeing [there is] no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look⁴ [thereon], and rebuke⁵⁵ [it].

Then the spirit came upon¹ Amasai, [who was] chief of the captains, ⁷⁹⁷⁰ [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;⁶ for thy God helpeth¹ thee. Then David received¹⁷ them, and made⁴ them captains of the band.

And there fell¹ [some] of Manasseh to David, when he came² with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped¹ them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away,¹⁴ saying,² He will fall⁴ to his master Saul to [the jeopardy of] our heads.

As he went² to Ziklag, there fell¹ 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.

And they helped¹ David against the band [of the rovers]: for they [were] all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

For at [that] time day by day there came⁴ to David to help² him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of God.

And these [are] the numbers of the bands [that were] ready armed⁷ to the war, [and] came¹ to David to Hebron, to turn⁵³ the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.

The children of Judah that bare⁶ shield and spear [were] six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed⁷ to the war.

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

Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

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

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

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept⁶ the ward of the house of Saul.

And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous ⁵⁸² throughout the house of their fathers.

And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen ⁶²⁴⁰ thousand, which were expressed⁸ by name, to come² and make David king.⁵³

And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding ^{3045 6} of the times, to know² what Israel ought to do;⁴ the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.

Of Zebulun, such as went forth⁶ to battle, expert⁶ in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank:² [they were] not of double heart.

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

And of the Danites expert⁶ in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

And of Asher, such as went forth⁶ to battle, expert² in war, forty thousand.

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.

All these men of war, that could keep⁶ rank, came¹ with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king⁵³ over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel [were] of one heart to make David king.⁵³

And there they were with David three days, eating⁶ and drinking:⁶ for their brethren had prepared⁵² for them.

Moreover they that were nigh them, [even] unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought⁵⁶ 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.