New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Chronicles 12
1
Some fighting men came to David at Ziklag. They were among those who helped him in battle. David had been forced to hide from Saul, the son of Kish.
2
The men were armed with bows. They were able to shoot arrows or throw stones from a sling with either hand. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Here is a list of them.
Reference
3
Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth Beracah Jehu from Anathoth
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 11:28
4
Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader of the Thirty Jeremiah Jahaziel Johanan Jozabad from Gederah
Reference
People
8
Some men of Gad went over to David's side at his usual place of safety in the desert. They were brave fighting men. They were ready for battle. They were able to use shields and spears. Their faces were like the faces of lions. They could run as fast as antelopes in the mountains.
Reference
14
All of those men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000.
Reference
15
They went across the Jordan River when it was flowing over its banks. That happened in the first month of spring. They chased away everyone who lived in the valleys. They chased them away from the east and west sides of the river.
Reference
16
Some men from the territories of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his usual place of safety.
17
David went out to meet them. He said to them, "Have you come to me in peace? Have you come to help me? If you have, I'm ready to have you join me. But suppose you have come to hand me over to my enemies when I haven't even harmed anyone. Then may the God of our people see it and judge you."
Reference
18
The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was chief of the Thirty. He said, "David, we belong to you! Son of Jesse, we're on your side! May you have great success. May those who help you also have success. Your God will help you." So David welcomed them. He made them leaders in his army.
Reference
Creation
2 Samuel 17:25
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 2:17
Matthew 12:30
2 Kings 9:32
2 Kings 10:5
Peace
Galatians 6:16
References God
Ruth 1:16
Spirit
Judges 6:34
Judges 3:10
19
Some men of Manasseh went over to David's side when he marched out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But David and his men didn't help the Philistines. That's because after all of the Philistine rulers had discussed the matter, they sent him away. They said, "Suppose he deserts to his master Saul. Then our heads will be cut off!"
20
So David went to Ziklag. Here are the men of Manasseh who went over to his side. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai. They were leaders of companies of 1,000 men in Manasseh.
People
21
They helped David fight against enemy armies. All of the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David's army.
22
Day after day men came to help him. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.
Reference
23
Large numbers of men came to David at Hebron. They were prepared for battle. They came to hand Saul's kingdom over to him, just as the Lord had said. Here are the numbers of the men who came.
Reference
24
The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 6,800.
25
The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was 7,100.
26
The total number of men from Levi was 4,600.
27
They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with 3,700 men.
28
They also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.
Reference
29
The men from Benjamin were Saul's relatives. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul's family until that time. The total number of them was 3,000.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 12:2
30
The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.
31
The men from half of the tribe of Manasseh had been chosen by name to come and make David king. The total number of them was 18,000.
32
The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all of their relatives who were under their command.
Reference
33
The men from Zebulun knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. They had every kind of weapon. They came to help David with their whole heart. The total number of them was 50,000.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 12:2
34
The total number of officers from Naphtali was 1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.
35
The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.
36
The men from Asher knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 40,000.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 12:33
37
The men from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh were armed with every kind of weapon. The men came from the east side of the Jordan River. The total number of them was 120,000.
38
All of those fighting men offered to serve in the army. Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all of the people of Israel. All of the rest of the people also agreed to make David king.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 8:61
39
The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them.
40
Their neighbors also brought food. They brought it on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. They came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep. The people of Israel brought all of those things because they were so happy.
Reference
Summary of 1 Chronicles 12
This chapter describes the growing number of warriors and tribal leaders who supported David before and during his rise to become king over all Israel. The chapter begins with men who came to David while he was still living at Ziklag during his conflict with Saul. Some were from Benjamin, Saul's own tribe. They were skilled archers and warriors and were willing to abandon their previous allegiance to Saul's family and support David.
The chapter then describes warriors from Gad, who were exceptionally brave and physically capable. They crossed the Jordan during a period when the river was overflowing and joined David at his stronghold. Other men from Judah and Benjamin also came to David. David carefully questioned their intentions because he had experienced betrayal during his years as a fugitive. Amasai, under the influence of the Spirit, assured David that they had come in peace and that God was with him.
Men from Manasseh also joined David. Their support came at a critical moment when David was being rejected by the Philistine rulers who feared that he might turn against them.
The final and largest section describes the great gathering at Hebron. Representatives from nearly every tribe came to establish David as king over all Israel. Judah, Simeon, Levi, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, Asher, Reuben, and Gad are all represented.
The Chronicler emphasizes that the people came with one heart and a common purpose. The gathering was not merely a military assembly. It became a national celebration. The people remained at Hebron for three days, eating and drinking while provisions were supplied from throughout the land.
The chapter therefore portrays David's rise as a movement that gradually transformed from a small group of personal followers into a nationwide coalition. His support came from every major region and tribe of Israel.
Main Message:
David's kingdom was established when Israel's tribes united behind him, demonstrating that his kingship had grown from the loyalty of individual warriors into a national movement recognized throughout Israel.
The chapter then describes warriors from Gad, who were exceptionally brave and physically capable. They crossed the Jordan during a period when the river was overflowing and joined David at his stronghold. Other men from Judah and Benjamin also came to David. David carefully questioned their intentions because he had experienced betrayal during his years as a fugitive. Amasai, under the influence of the Spirit, assured David that they had come in peace and that God was with him.
Men from Manasseh also joined David. Their support came at a critical moment when David was being rejected by the Philistine rulers who feared that he might turn against them.
The final and largest section describes the great gathering at Hebron. Representatives from nearly every tribe came to establish David as king over all Israel. Judah, Simeon, Levi, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, Asher, Reuben, and Gad are all represented.
The Chronicler emphasizes that the people came with one heart and a common purpose. The gathering was not merely a military assembly. It became a national celebration. The people remained at Hebron for three days, eating and drinking while provisions were supplied from throughout the land.
The chapter therefore portrays David's rise as a movement that gradually transformed from a small group of personal followers into a nationwide coalition. His support came from every major region and tribe of Israel.
Main Message:
David's kingdom was established when Israel's tribes united behind him, demonstrating that his kingship had grown from the loyalty of individual warriors into a national movement recognized throughout Israel.