1 Chronicles 12

1 Now these are they that came to Dawid 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 (Binyamin).

3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Yoash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Yeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Yehu the Antothite,

4 And Yismayah the Giveonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu), and Yachaziel, and Yochanan, and Yosavad the Gederathite,

5 Eluzai, and Yerimot, and Bealyah, and Shemaryahu, and Shefatyah the Haruphite,

6 Elkanah, and Yishiyahu, and Azareel, and Yoezer, and Yashovam, the Korhites,

7 And Yoelah, and Zevadyahu, the sons of Yeroham of Gedor.

8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto Dawid 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, Ovadyah the second, Eliav the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Yochanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army; one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

15 These are they that went over Jordan (Yarden) 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 (Binyamin) and Judah (Yehudah) to the hold unto Dawid.

17 And Dawid went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, “If you be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you; but if you be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God (Elohim) of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.”

18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, “Yours are we, Dawid, and on your side, you son of Jesse (Yishai); peace, peace be unto you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God (Elohim) helpeth you.” Then Dawid received them, and made them captains of the band.

19 And there fell some of Menashsheh to Dawid, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; but they helped them not, for the lords (seranim) 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 Menashsheh, Adnah, and Yozavad, and Yediael, and Mikhael, and Yozavad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Menashsheh.

21 And they helped Dawid against the band of the rovers; for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the army.

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

23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to Dawid to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of יהוה.

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

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

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

27 And Yehoyada was the leader of the Aharonites, 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 (Binyamin), 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 Efrayim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

31 And of the half tribe of Menashsheh eighteen thousand, who were expressed by name, to come and make Dawid king.

32 And of the children of Yissaskhar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Yisrael ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

33 Of Zevulun, 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 Naftali 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 (Yarden), of the Reubenites (Reuveni), and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Menashsheh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.

38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make Dawid king over all Yisrael; and all the rest also of Yisrael were of one heart to make Dawid king.

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

40 Moreover they that were near them, even unto Yissaskhar and Zevulun and Naftali, 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 Yisrael.