1 Chronicles 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Fighting Men Join David

12 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.

3 Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite

Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth

Berakah

Jehu from Anathoth

4 Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty warrior among the 30 chiefs and a leader of the 30 chiefs

Jeremiah

Jahaziel

Johanan

Jozabad from Gederah

5 Eluzai

Jerimoth

Bealiah

Shemariah

Shephatiah, the Haruphite

6 the Korahites Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam

7 Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor

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.

9 Ezer was their chief.

Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.

10 Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.

11 Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.

12 Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.

13 Jeremiah was tenth. And Makbannai was eleventh.

14 All these men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000. 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.

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 for you to 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.”

18 The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was leader of the 30 chiefs. 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.

19 Some people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side. They did this 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 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 groups of 1,000 men in Manasseh. 21 They helped David fight against enemy armies. All the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David’s army. 22 Day after day men came to help David. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.

Other Fighting Men Join David at Hebron

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.

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 The men from Levi also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.

29 The men from Benjamin were from Saul’s tribe. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul’s family until that time. The total number of them was 3,000.

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 their relatives who were under their command.

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.

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.

37 The men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half 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 these fighting men offered to serve in the army.

Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all the Israelites. All the rest of the people also agreed to make David king. 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 Israelites brought all these things because they were so happy.

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1 Chronicles 12 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

12 And these [are] those coming in unto David to Ziklag, while shut up because of Saul son of Kish, and they [are] among the mighty ones, helping the battle, 2 armed with bow, right and left handed, with stones, and with arrows, with bows, of the brethren of Saul, of Benjamin. 3 The head [is] Ahieze...
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1 Chronicles 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 Also these came to David in Ziklag, when he fled yet from Saul, the son of Kish; the which were full strong men and noble fighters, (And these men also came to David in Ziklag, when he had fled from Saul, the son of Kish; and they were very strong men, and able and valiant fighters,) 2 bending bo...
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1 Chronicles 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

12 Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of...
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1 Chronicles 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

12 After David fled from Saul (son of Kish) to the Philistine city of Ziklag, all the tribes of Israel sent warriors to support him in battles. 2 There were especially skilled Benjaminite archers, able to sling stones and shoot arrows from their left hands[a] or from their right hands. 3 Their chi...
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1 Chronicles 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

All Israel Rallies to David12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left to sling stones and shoot ...
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1 Chronicles 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David’s Followers in the Wilderness12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were bowmen, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right ...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David’s Followers in the Wilderness12 The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war.(A)2 They were archers and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right ...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Warriors Join David’s Army12 The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle. 2 All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right....
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1 Chronicles 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

David’s Army Gets Larger12 These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while David was still hidden because of Saul the son of Kish. They were among the strong men who helped him in war. 2 They fought with the bow. They could also throw stones or shoot arrows with both the right and left hand. T...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Growth of David’s Army(A)12 Now (B)these were the men who came to David at (C)Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war, 2 armed with bows, using both the right hand and (D)the left in hurling stones and shooting arrow...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Warriors join David12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they we...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New International Version (NIV)

Warriors Join David12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag,(A) while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed;(B) th...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Fighting Men Join David12 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 rela...
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1 Chronicles 12 - New English Translation (NET)

Warriors Who Joined David at Ziklag12 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished[a] from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They...
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