1 Chronicles 12:16-22

Context

12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 12:17 David went out to meet them and said,¹ “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you.² But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you,³ may the God of our ancestors⁴ take notice and judge!” 12:18 But a spirit⁵ empowered⁶ Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said:⁷

“We are yours, O David!

We support⁸ you, O son of Jesse!

May you greatly prosper!⁹

May those who help you prosper!¹⁰

Indeed¹¹ your God helps you!”

So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.

12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined¹² 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.”)¹³ 12:20 When David¹⁴ went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.¹⁵

[12:17] ¹tn Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”

[12:17] ²tn Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”

[12:17] ³tn Heb “with no violence in my hands.”

[12:17] ⁴tn Heb “fathers.”

[12:18] ¹tn Perhaps “the Spirit,” but the text has simply רוּחַ (ruakh) with no article (suggesting an indefinite reference).

[12:18] ²tn Heb “clothed.”

[12:18] ³tn The words “and he said” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[12:18] ⁴tn Heb “are with.”

[12:18] ⁵tn Heb “Peace, peace to you.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is repeated to emphasize degree.

[12:18] ⁶tn Heb “and peace to the one who helps you.”

[12:18] ⁷tn Or “for.”

[12:19] ¹tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.

[12:19] ²tn 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.’”

[12:20] ¹tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:22] ¹tn Heb “for at the time of day in a day they were coming to David to help him until [there was] a great camp like the camp of God.” The term אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “God”) is probably used idiomatically here to indicate the superlative.