Those Who Came to David at Ziklag
1 Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of Saul’s relatives of the tribe of Benjamin. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; 4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite; 5 Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8 Some Gadites joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army. He who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand. 15 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all who lived in the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west. 16 Some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them, and answered them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it.” 18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them captains of the band. 19 Some of Manasseh also joined David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they didn’t help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.” 20 As he went to Ziklag, some from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were captains in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like God’s army.
The men who joined a fugitive came from the wrong tribe and the wrong side, and David tested them rather than assuming them.
The narrative now goes backward. David is king in chapter 11; here he is a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish 1 Chronicles 12:1, hiding in the wilderness. The writer is arranging by subject and not by date, and the subject is how a kingdom was gathered.
The first men listed are the least expected. They are Benjaminites, of Saul's relatives 1 Chronicles 12:2 — the hunted man's supporters come out of the hunter's own clan. Their skill is described with care: bows and slings, and the use of either hand.
The Gadites who follow are described with the only extended figure in the chapter. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains 1 Chronicles 12:8. They crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks 1 Chronicles 12:15, which is the season the river cannot be forded.
Then the scene that gives the chapter its weight. A party from Benjamin and Judah approaches the stronghold, and David goes out and puts the question to their faces: if you have come to help, my heart will be united with you; if to betray me, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it 1 Chronicles 12:17.
He does not assume loyalty. A man with a price on his head, badly in need of soldiers, opens by naming the possibility that they are informers — and he does not propose to test them himself. He refers the matter to God and waits.
The answer comes as a word rather than an oath. The Spirit comes on Amasai, and what he says turns the offer around: we are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse, and then the reason, for your God helps you 1 Chronicles 12:18. They are not joining a leader with prospects. They are joining a man they take to be backed.
The last group is the most awkward, and the writer does not smooth it. Some of Manasseh joined David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle 1 Chronicles 12:19 — that is, while he was marching in the enemy's army against his own king. The episode is reported flatly, with the detail that the Philistine commanders distrusted him and sent him home.
And the recruitment is summed up in a phrase that turns a war band into something else. Day by day men kept coming until there was a great army, like God's army 1 Chronicles 12:22.
settled What this mark means