Discovery Box1 Chronicles 12:19-40
Context12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined 1 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.”) 2 12:20 When David 3 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. 4
12:23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree: 5
12:24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears. 6
12:25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.
12:26 From Levi there were 4,600. 12:27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 12:28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.
12:29 From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, 7 there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul. 8
12:30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families. 9
12:31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.
12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do. 10
12:33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty. 11
12:34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
12:35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
12:36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.
12:37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.
12:38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march. 12 They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; 13 all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. 14 12:39 They spent three days feasting 15 there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 12:40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, 16 for Israel was celebrating. 17
[12:19] 1 tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.
[12:19] 2 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.’”
[12:20] 3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:22] 4 tn 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.
[12:23] 5 tn Heb “these are the numbers of the heads of the forces armed for battle [who] came to David in Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him according to the mouth of the
[12:24] 6 tn Heb “the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, [were] 6,800 armed for battle.”
[12:29] 7 tn Heb “from the sons of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul.”
[12:29] 8 tn Heb “and until then, the majority of them were keeping the charge of the house of Saul.”
[12:30] 9 tn Heb “men of names for the house of their fathers.”
[12:32] 10 tn Heb “from the sons of Issachar, knowers of understanding for times to know what Israel should do, their heads [were] 200, and all their brothers according to their mouth.”
[12:33] 11 tn Heb “from Zebulun, those going out for battle, prepared for war with all weapons of war, 50,000, and to help without a heart and a heart.”
[12:38] 12 tc Heb “all these [were] men of war, helpers of the battle line.” The present translation assumes an emendation of עֹדְרֵי (’odÿrey, “helpers of”) to עֹרְכֵי, (’orÿkhey, “prepared for”).
[12:38] 13 tn Heb “with a complete heart they came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel.”
[12:38] 14 tn Heb “and also all the rest of Israel [was of] one mind to make David king.”
[12:39] 15 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
