1 Chronicles

Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.

1These men came to David at the town of Ziklag. David was hiding there from King Saul, the son of Kish. These men were strong fighters who helped David in battle.

2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin.

2They carried bows. They could sling stones and shoot arrows with either hand. They came from Benjamin, the same family group as Saul.

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

3Their chief was Ahiezer, and then Joash. Both were sons of Shemaah from Gibeah. Next came Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth. Also Berachah, and Jehu from Anathoth.

4And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

4Then Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a brave fighter and a leader of the Thirty. Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Josabad from Gederah.

Note"The Thirty" was the name for David's group of thirty best fighters.

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

5Then Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph.

6Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,

6Then Elkanah, Jesiah, Azareel, Joezer, and Jashobeam. They were from the family of Korah.

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

7And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from the town of Gedor.

8And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

8Some men from the family group of Gad left their homes and joined David. He was staying in a safe hiding place out in the desert. They were brave and ready to fight. They knew how to use both large and small shields. Their faces looked fierce, like the faces of lions. They ran fast, like deer on the hills.

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

9Ezer was the leader. Obadiah was second. Eliab was third.

10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

10Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.

11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

11Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.

12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

12Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.

13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

13Jeremiah was tenth. Machbanai was eleventh.

14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

14These men of Gad were army leaders. The weakest one could stand against a hundred men. The strongest could stand against a thousand.

15These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

15They crossed the Jordan River in the first month of the year. The river was full and spilling over its banks. They chased away everyone in the valleys, on the east side and the west side.

NoteThe first month is early spring. That is when melting snow makes the Jordan River flood.

16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

16More men from Benjamin and from Judah came to David's hiding place too.

17And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

17David went out to meet them. He said, "If you come in peace to help me, my heart will join with yours. But if you come to hand me over to my enemies, God will see it. I have done nothing wrong. May the God of our fathers judge you."

18Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

18Then God's Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty. He said, "We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace to you, and peace to everyone who helps you. Your God is helping you." So David welcomed them. He made them leaders of his soldiers.

19And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

19Some men from Manasseh joined David when he marched out with the Philistine army to fight Saul. But David and his men did not help the Philistines. The Philistine rulers talked it over and sent David away. They said, "If he goes back to his master Saul, it will cost us our heads."

20As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

20When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zilthai. Each of them led a thousand soldiers in Manasseh.

21And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

21They helped David fight the raiders who attacked and stole from people. All of them were brave fighters and army leaders.

22For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

22Day after day, more men came to help David. Soon he had a huge army, like the army of God.

23And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.

23Here are the numbers of the armed men who came to David at Hebron. They came to hand Saul's kingdom over to him, just as the LORD had said.

24The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

24From Judah: 6,800 men with shields and spears, ready to fight.

25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

25From Simeon: 7,100 brave men, ready to fight.

26Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

26From Levi: 4,600 men.

27And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;

27Jehoiada was the leader of Aaron's family. He brought 3,700 men with him.

28And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains.

28Zadok was a brave young man. Twenty-two leaders from his own family came with him.

29And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

29From Benjamin, Saul's own family group: 3,000 men. Most of them had stayed loyal to Saul's family until now.

30And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

30From Ephraim: 20,800 brave men. They were well known in their own families.

31And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

31From half of the family group of Manasseh: 18,000 men. Each one was named to come and make David king.

32And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

32From Issachar: 200 leaders. They understood what was happening and knew what Israel should do. All their relatives followed their orders.

33Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

33From Zebulun: 50,000 trained soldiers with every kind of weapon. They could march in line together. They all wanted the same thing.

NoteThe old wording says they were "not of double heart." It means they were fully loyal to David, and not secretly on another side.

34And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.

34From Naphtali: 1,000 leaders, and 37,000 men with shields and spears.

35And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

35From Dan: 28,600 men who were trained to fight.

36And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

36From Asher: 40,000 trained soldiers, ready to fight.

37And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.

37From the east side of the Jordan River: 120,000 men from Reuben, Gad, and the other half of Manasseh. They carried every kind of weapon.

38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

38All these soldiers marched to Hebron in neat lines. They fully meant to make David king over all Israel. The rest of Israel wanted the very same thing.

39And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

39They stayed with David for three days, eating and drinking. Their relatives had gotten the food ready for them.

40Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.

40Their neighbors came too, even from far away in Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought flour, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins. They brought wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep. There was plenty for everyone. All Israel was full of joy.

NoteThe old word "meat" meant food of any kind, not just animal meat. Here it means flour and other supplies.