1 Chronicles 12:1-10

David's Supporters in Ziklag

1 ¹Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because * of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.

2 They were equipped with bows, ²using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; ³they were Saul's kinsmen from Benjamin.

3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite,

4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,

5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,

6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites,

7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and ⁴they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

9 Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

1 Chronicles 12:1-10 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 27:2-6
• 2. Judges 3:15; Judges 20:16
• 3. 1 Chronicles 12:29
• 4. 2 Samuel 2:18

Footnotes

• [a]. In Heb the beginning of v 5, making 41 vv in ch
• [b]. V 6 in Heb
• [c]. Lit "separated themselves"