1 Chronicles 12

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 12?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 12 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as Saul’s death. First Chronicles surveys Israel through genealogies and then retells David’s reign with special attention to worship, Levites, and preparations for the temple. Read this chapter with the wider themes of memory, worship, and genealogy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

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. 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. 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, 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, ⁵ Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, ⁶ Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites, ⁷ And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of 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; ⁹ Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, ¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, ¹¹ Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, ¹² Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. 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. 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. ¹⁶ And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. ²⁴ The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. ²⁵ Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. ²⁶ Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. ²⁷ And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred; ²⁸ And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains. 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. ³⁰ And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers. ³¹ And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David 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. 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. ³⁴ And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. ³⁵ And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. ³⁶ And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand. 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. 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. ³⁹ And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared 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.

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Glossary

David Person v. 1, 8, 16-19, 21-23, 31, 38-39: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .
Kish Person v. 1: A bow. (1. ) A Levite of the family of Merari ( 1 Chr. 23:21 ; 24:29 ). (2. ) A Benjamite of Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 8:30 ; 9:36 ). (3. ) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Chr. 29:12 ).
Saul Person v. 1, 19, 23, 29: Asked for. (1. ) A king of Edom ( Gen. 36:37 , 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48 .
Ziklag Place v. 1, 20: A town in the Negeb, or south country of Judah ( Josh. 15:31 ), in the possession of the Philistines when David fled to Gath from Ziph with all his followers. Modern identification: Tell esh Sharia.
Benjamin Person v. 2, 16, 29: Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.
Bow Tribe v. 2: The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase ( Gen. 21:20 ; 27:3 ; 48:22 ). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow ( 1 Chr. 8:40 ; 12:2 ; 2 Chr. 14:8 ; 17:17 ); so also were the Elamites.
Ahiezer Tribe v. 3: Brother of help; i. e., “helpful. ” (1. ) The chief of the tribe of Dan at the time of the Exodus ( Num. 1:12 ; 2:25 ; 10:25 ). (2. ) The chief of the Benjamite slingers that repaired to David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).
Anathoth Place v. 3: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ras el Kharruba.
Gibeah Place v. 3: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel el Ful.
Jehu Person v. 3: Jehovah is he. (1. ) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah ( 1 Chr. 2:38 ). (2. ) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).
Joash Person v. 3: Whom Jehovah bestowed. (1. ) A contracted form of Jehoash, the father of Gideon ( Judg. 6:11 , 29; 8:13, 29, 32). (2. ) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).
Gederah Place v. 4: The fortress; a fortified place, a town in the plain (shephelah) of Judah ( Josh. 15:36 ). This is a very common Canaanite and Phoenician name. It is the feminine form of Geder (12:13); the plural form is Gederoth (15:41). Modern identification: Jedireh.
Gibeon Place v. 4: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: El Jib.
Jahaziel Person v. 4: Beheld by God. (1. ) The third son of Hebron ( 1 Chr. 23:19 ). (2. ) A Benjamite chief who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ). (3. ) A priest who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 16:6 ).
Jeremiah Person v. 4, 10, 13: Raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1. ) A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness ( 1 Chr. 12:10 ). (2. ) A Gadite warrior ( 1 Chr. 12:13 ). (3. ) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ).
Bealiah Person v. 5: Whose Lord is Jehovah, a Benjamite, one of David’s thirty heroes of the sling and bow ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ).
Jerimoth Person v. 5: Heights. (1. ) One of the sons of Bela ( 1 Chr. 7:7 ). (2. ) 1 Chr. 24:30 , a Merarite Levite. (3. ) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (4. ) A Levitical musician under Heman his father.
Shephatiah Person v. 5: Judged of the Lord. (1. ) A son of David by Abital ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). (2. ) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (3. ) A Simeonite prince in David’s time ( 1 Chr. 27:16 ).
Elkanah Person v. 6: God-created. (1. ) The second son of Korah ( Ex. 6:24 ), or, according to 1 Chr. 6:22 , 23, more correctly his grandson.
Gedor Place v. 7: A wall. (1. ) A city in the mountains or hill country of Judah ( Josh. 15:58 ), identified with Jedar, between Jerusalem and Hebron. (2. ) 1 Chr. 4:39 , the Gederah of Josh. 15:36 , or the well-known Gerar, as the LXX. Modern identification: Khirbet Jedur.
Jeroham Person v. 7: Cherished; who finds mercy. (1. ) Father of Elkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel ( 1 Sam. 1:1 ). (2. ) The father of Azareel, the “captain” of the tribe of Dan ( 1 Chr. 27:22 ). (3. ) 1 Chr. 12:7 ; a Benjamite.
Joelah Person v. 7: A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:7 ).
Zebadiah Person v. 7: Gift of Jehovah. (1. ) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother ( 1 Chr. 27:7 ). (2. ) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chr. 17:7 , 8).
Eliab Tribe v. 9: To whom God is father. (1. ) A Reubenite, son of Pallu ( Num. 16:1 , 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6 ). (2. ) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness ( Num. 1:9 ; 2:7 ).
Ezer Person v. 9: Treasure. (1. ) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes, “dukes,” of Mount Hor ( Gen. 36:21 , 27). (2. ) 1 Chr. 7:21 ; (3. ) 4:4. (4. ) One of the Gadite champions who repaired to David at Ziklag (12:9).
Obadiah Person v. 9: Servant of the Lord. (1. ) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab ( 1 Kings 18:3 ).
Eliel Person v. 11: To whom God is might. (1. ) A chief of Manasseh, on the east of Jordan ( 1 Chr. 5:24 ). (2. ) A Gadite who joined David in the hold at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:11 ).
Gad Person v. 14: Fortune; luck. (1. ) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher ( Gen. 30:11-13 ; 46:16 , 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc.
Jordan Place v. 15, 31, 37: Biblical river. Modern identification: Jordan River.
Amasai Person v. 18: Burdensome. (1. ) A Levite, son of Elkanah, of the ancestry of Samuel ( 1 Chr. 6:25 , 35). (2. ) The leader of a body of men who joined David in the “stronghold,” probably of Adullam ( 1 Chr. 12:18 ).
Jesse Person v. 18: Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth ( Ruth 4:17 , 22; Matt. 1:5 , 6; Luke 3:32 ). He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David ( 1 Sam. 17:12 ).
Adnah Tribe v. 20: Delight. (1. ) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:20 ). (2. ) A general under Jehoshaphat, chief over 300,000 men ( 2 Chr. 17:14 ).
Elihu Person v. 20: Whose God is he. (1. ) “The son of Barachel, a Buzite” ( Job 32:2 ), one of Job’s friends.
Jozabad Tribe v. 20: Whom Jehovah bestows. (1. ) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ). (2. ) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh ( 1 Chr. 12:20 ).
Zilthai Tribe v. 20: Shadow (i. e., protection) of Jehovah. (1. ) A Benjamite ( 1 Chr. 8:20 ). (2. ) One of the captains of the tribe of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:20 ).
Hebron Place v. 23, 38: A community; alliance. (1. ) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. Modern identification: Tel Rumeida.
Simeon Person v. 25: Hearing. (1. ) The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26).
Levi Person v. 26: Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).
Jehoiada Person v. 27: Jehovah-known. (1. ) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David’s chief warriors ( 2 Sam. 8:18 ; 20:23 ). (2. ) The high priest at the time of Athaliah’s usurpation of the throne of Judah.
Zadok Person v. 28: Righteous. (1. ) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer ( 2 Sam. 8:17 ; 1 Chr. 24:3 ), high priest in the time of David ( 2 Sam. 20:25 ) and Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:4 ).
Zebulun Person v. 33, 40: Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 30:20 ). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).
Naphtali Person v. 34, 40: My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid ( Gen. 30:8 ). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons ( Gen. 46:24 ). Little is known of him as an individual.