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The Histories · Old Testament

1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12: the men who came to David at Ziklag, the hold and Hebron

General context

The chapter names those who joined David at Ziklag "while he yet kept himself close because of Saul": Benjamites of Saul's own kin who could use both hands with sling and bow. Gadites separated to him in the wilderness hold, men whose "faces were like the faces of lions" and who were swift as roes; eleven are numbered, the least a captain over a hundred, and they crossed the Jordan in the first month when it overflowed its banks. When men of Benjamin and Judah come to the hold, David asks whether they come in peace or to betray him and calls on God to judge; the spirit comes on Amasai, who answers, "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee". Manasseh's captains defect to David when the Philistine lords send him away from the battle against Saul. Day by day the host grows "like the host of God". The second half counts the armed bands that came to Hebron "to turn the kingdom of Saul to him": Judah 6,800, Simeon 7,100, Levi 4,600 with Jehoiada and the young Zadok, Benjamin only 3,000 because most had kept Saul's house, Ephraim 20,800, half Manasseh 18,000, Issachar's two hundred heads "that had understanding of the times", Zebulun 50,000 "not of double heart", Naphtali, Dan, Asher and 120,000 from beyond Jordan. All came "with a perfect heart", and for three days they eat and drink food brought on asses, camels, mules and oxen, "for there was joy in Israel".

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 12:1, 1 Chronicles 12:2, 1 Chronicles 12:8, 1 Chronicles 12:14, 1 Chronicles 12:15, 1 Chronicles 12:17, 1 Chronicles 12:18, 1 Chronicles 12:19, 1 Chronicles 12:22, 1 Chronicles 12:23, 1 Chronicles 12:24, 1 Chronicles 12:28, 1 Chronicles 12:29, 1 Chronicles 12:32, 1 Chronicles 12:33, 1 Chronicles 12:37, 1 Chronicles 12:38, 1 Chronicles 12:40

1 Chronicles 12 (KJV)

1Now 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.

2They 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.

3The 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,

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

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

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

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

8And 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;

9Ezer the first, 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, Machbanai the eleventh.

14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

15These 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.

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

17And 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.

18Then 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.

19And 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.

20As 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.

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

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

23And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

29And 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.

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

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

32And 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.

33Of 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.

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

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

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

37And 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.

38All 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.

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

40Moreover 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.

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Historical context

The chapter reaches back before the Hebron scene of chapter 11. Ziklag is the time when David "kept himself close because of Saul", and "the hold" is a wilderness refuge; neither place is described. The text alludes to David going "with the Philistines against Saul to battle" and being dismissed by their lords, an episode Chronicles does not otherwise tell. Amasai, "chief of the captains", is not identified further; the Amasa of chapter 2 has a different name and should not be assumed to be the same man. The narrator prefaces Amasai's words with "the spirit came upon", presenting them as more than a soldier's pledge. Zadok appears here as "a young man mighty of valour" alongside Jehoiada the Aaronite leader. Benjamin's small contingent is explained by loyalty to "the house of Saul", the only explanation given for any number. Issachar's men are described by understanding rather than arms. The tribal figures are given one by one, and the chapter does not add them up. The three days of feasting are dated only to the Hebron gathering.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 12:1, 1 Chronicles 12:8, 1 Chronicles 12:19, 1 Chronicles 12:18, 1 Chronicles 12:27, 1 Chronicles 12:28, 1 Chronicles 12:29, 1 Chronicles 12:32, 1 Chronicles 12:39

Literary context

The chapter builds in three waves that rise in size: a band at Ziklag, companies at the hold, and a national army at Hebron. Animal images mark the early recruits, lions' faces and roes' speed, and a flooded Jordan measures their daring. At the centre is the only dialogue, David's guarded challenge and Amasai's answer, with the word "peace" three times. That exchange settles the question of trust that hangs over defectors from Saul's own tribe, who open the chapter. The Hebron count is a catalogue with recurring epithets, "expert in war", "mighty men of valour", but its refrain is about the heart: "not of double heart", "a perfect heart", "of one heart". The list ends with food rather than weapons, a procession of pack animals and provisions, and the closing phrase is joy. The chapter thus turns the roster form of chapter 11 into a picture of a whole people arriving.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 12:2, 1 Chronicles 12:8, 1 Chronicles 12:15, 1 Chronicles 12:17, 1 Chronicles 12:18, 1 Chronicles 12:33, 1 Chronicles 12:38, 1 Chronicles 12:40

Key moments

  1. Saul's kin come to Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:2). Benjamite archers who can use both hands join David while he hides from Saul.
  2. Gadites with lions' faces (1 Chronicles 12:8). Fierce, swift Gadite captains separate themselves to David in the wilderness hold.
  3. Over the flooded Jordan (1 Chronicles 12:15). The Gadites cross the Jordan in the first month when it has overflowed its banks.
  4. David's challenge (1 Chronicles 12:17). David asks the newcomers whether they come in peace or to betray him.
  5. Amasai's pledge (1 Chronicles 12:18). The spirit comes on Amasai and he declares peace to David and his helpers.
  6. Benjamin's three thousand (1 Chronicles 12:29). Only three thousand Benjamites come, since most had kept Saul's house.
  7. Three days of joy at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:40). Provisions arrive on pack animals and the narrator says there was joy in Israel.

For reflection

David meets men from Saul's own tribe with a challenge, peace or betrayal, and leaves the judgment to God. What does it take to receive help from people who might just as easily have been enemies?

People in this chapter

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