1 Chronicles 12:8-19
New English Translation
8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.[a] 9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, 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, and Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.[b] 15 They crossed the Jordan River[c] in the first month,[d] when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.[e]
16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said,[f] “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you.[g] But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you,[h] may the God of our ancestors[i] take notice and judge!” 18 But a spirit[j] empowered[k] Amasai, the leader of the group of warriors known as the Thirty, and he said:[l]
“We are yours, O David!
We support[m] you, O son of Jesse!
May you greatly prosper.[n]
May those who help you prosper.[o]
Indeed[p] your God helps you!”
So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.
19 Some men from Manasseh joined[q] David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying, “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”)[r]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Chronicles 12:8 tn Heb “warriors, men of battle for war, prepared with shield and spear, and [like] the face of a lion were their faces, and like gazelles on the hills to hurry.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:14 tn Heb “one for a hundred the small, and the great for a thousand.” Another option is to translate the preposition ל (lamed) as “against” and to understand this as a hyperbolic reference to their prowess: “the least could stand against a hundred, the greatest against a thousand.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:15 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
- 1 Chronicles 12:15 sn That is, March-April.
- 1 Chronicles 12:15 tn Heb “and they chased all the valleys to the east and to the west.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 tn Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 tn Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 tn Heb “with no violence in my hands.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:17 tn Heb “fathers.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Perhaps “the Spirit,” but the text has simply רוּחַ (ruakh) with no article (suggesting an indefinite reference).
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Heb “clothed.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn The words “and he said” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Heb “are with.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Heb “Peace, peace to you.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is repeated to emphasize degree.
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Heb “and peace to the one who helps you.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:18 tn Or “for.”
- 1 Chronicles 12:19 tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.
- 1 Chronicles 12:19 tn Heb “and they did not help them for by counsel they sent him away, the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘With our heads he will fall to his master Saul.’”
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