1 Chronicles 12:20-30

20 As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh.

21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army.

22 Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord.

24 The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops.

25 Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred.

26 Of the Levites four thousand six hundred.

27 Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.

28 Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house.

29 Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul.

30 Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses.

1 Chronicles 12:20-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 12

This chapter gives an account of those that came to David at different times, and joined and assisted him both before the death of Saul, and when persecuted by him, and after he was made king of Judah in Hebron, and before he was king of all Israel, in order to it; of the Benjaminites that came to him when at Ziklag, 1Ch 12:1-7 of the Gadites that came to him when in the hold, 1Ch 12:8-15 of some of Judah and Benjamin, who came to him in the same place, 1Ch 12:16-18, and of the Manassites at the time he came with the Philistines against Saul, 1Ch 12:19-22 and the number of the several tribes are given, that came to him at Hebron to make him king over all Israel, 1Ch 12:23-40.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or [as officers of his troops]