1 Chronicles

Retells some stories from Samuel and Kings, focusing on King David and the importance of worship.

Chapter 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.

*These people went to David at Ziklag when he was still hiding from Saul, the son of Kish. They were strong warriors and helped in battles.

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.

*They had bows and could shoot with both hands. They threw stones and arrows at targets, even from Saul's family group called Benjamin.

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,

*The leader was Ahiezer, followed by Joash, both sons of Shemaah from the Gibeonite family. Also part of it were Jeziel and Pelet, children of Azmaveth, and Berachah 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,

*And Ismaiah from Gibeon, a strong leader among the thirty and in charge of them, along with Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Josabad from Gederah.

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

*Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Happening person,

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

*Elkanah, Jesiah, Azareel, Joezer, and Jashobeam were part of the Korhites group.

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

*And Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

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;

*From the Gadites, many joined David in a fortress in the wilderness. These strong warriors were skilled in fighting and good with shields and protective gear. They looked like lions and moved fast like deer on mountains.

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

*Ezer is first, Obadiah is second, and Eliab is third.

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

*Verse 4: Mishmannah, the fourth; Verse 5: Jeremiah, the fifth.

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

*Attai was the sixth, Eliel was the seventh.

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

*Johanan was the eighth, Elzabad was the ninth.

13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

*Jeremiah was number ten, Machbanai was number eleven.

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.

*These were sons of Gad who led the army. The smallest leader had 100 followers, while the greatest leader had over 1,000.

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.

*These people crossed the Jordan River in the first month when it was overflowing its banks. They chased away everyone from the nearby valleys, in both the east and west directions.

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

*Many children from the families of Benjamin and Judah came to join David at his fortress.

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.

*David greeted them and said, "If you are here to peacefully help me, I will fully support you. But if you plan to betray me to my enemies, since I have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors observe this and correct it."

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.

*Then the spirit gave power to Amasai, the leader of the captains, and he said, "We are yours, David, and we're with you, son of Jesse. May peace be with you and your helpers. Your God is helping you." After that, David accepted them and made them leaders in his group.

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.

*Some people from Manasseh joined David when he fought against Saul with the Philistines. However, they didn't help David because the Philistine leaders, after consulting, sent him away, fearing that David would be captured by Saul and put their lives in danger.

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.

*As he traveled to Ziklag, leaders from Manasseh joined him. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Elihu, and Zilthai. These men were in charge of thousands of people from Manasseh.

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.

*They assisted David against the group of thieves because they were all brave and powerful warriors, and they were leaders in the army.

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.

*Every day, people joined David to assist him, growing his group until it became huge, like God's 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.

*These are the amounts of groups prepared for battle, who came to help David take over Saul's kingdom in Hebron, as God had said.

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

*Six thousand eight hundred children from Judah carried shields and spears, fully prepared for battle.

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

*From the descendants of Simeon, there were 7,010 brave warriors for battle.

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

*Four thousand and six hundred children were part of the Levi family.

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

*Jehoiada led the group called Aaronites, and he had 3,700 people with him.

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

*Zadok was a brave young man with 22 captains from his family.

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.

*From the descendants of Benjamin, who were related to Saul, there were 3,000. Most of them had been guarding Saul's house until now.

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

*In Ephraim's family, there were 20,800 brave men known for their strength and fame among their relatives.

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

*From half of the tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 people with named roles came to help make David the king.

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.

*The people from the tribe of Issachar were smart and knew when to do things for Israel. They had 200 leaders, and everyone else followed their instructions.

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.

*From the tribe of Zebulun, brave warriors skilled in war with various weapons totaled 50,000. They fought together without doubting their loyalty.

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

*In Naphtali, there were 1,000 leaders and 37,000 soldiers armed with shields and spears.

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

*The Danite warriors, skilled in battle, numbered 28,600.

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

*From the tribe of Asher, those who fought in war, skilled in battles, there were 40,000.

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.

*On the other side of the Jordan River, among the people of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 soldiers with various weapons for fighting.

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.

*All the strong fighters who could stay in line joined perfectly with their hearts to help make David the king of all Israel. Everyone else in Israel felt the same way and wanted David to be their king too.

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

*For three days, David and his group ate and drank because their relatives had prepared food for them.

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.

*Further, the nearby people, including Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on various animals like donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, along with meat, flour, fig cakes, raisin clusters, wine, oil, more oxen, and lots of sheep. They did this because there was great happiness in Israel.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes