UNROLL
First light over Ziklag in the northern Negev: a small mud-brick town on its mound above a dry wadi, and on the track across the bare hills a small band of armed men with a pack donkey walking toward it, their long shadows on the dust.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 12

Before Saul fell, men began to come to David: Saul’s own kinsmen, Gadites through a flooded Jordan, a man moved by the Spirit. Then all Israel.

40 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathersChapter 12
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag

Late afternoon on a dusty slope outside Ziklag: three Benjamite fighting men practice, one drawing a short bow left-handed at clay jars on a low stone wall, one holding a sling in his left hand, the third watching, the small town on its mound behind.

Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):

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Wilderness of JudahGadJordan RiverManassehZiklag (site uncertain)Gibeah (site uncertain)Hebron

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

To David at Ziklag and Hebron

While Saul still reigned, men came to David at Ziklag in the Negev (its site is uncertain) and at his stronghold in the wilderness: Benjamites from Saul’s own town of Gibeah, Gadites from across the Jordan, men of Judah and Manasseh. After Saul’s death all the tribes came to Hebron to make him king.

Came to Ziklag

Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin

  1. Gibeah, Anathoth

    Ahiezer their chief and five more

    Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite;

    Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;

    Beracah;

    Jehu the Anathothite;

  2. Over the Thirty

    Ishmaiah the Gibeonite and four more

    Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty;

    Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite;

  3. Eluzai, Jerimoth and three more

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

  4. Korahites

    Elkanah, Isshiah and three more

    Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;

  5. From Gedor

    Joelah and Zebadiah

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

Early morning on a steep ridge in Gilead: a line of bearded Gadite fighting men with round shields and spears runs lightly along the crest in single file, while below them a few gazelles bound away across the slope; the Jordan valley lies in haze far below.

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

Gadites

Gad’s eleven commanders

  1. First to third

    Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab

    Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,

  2. Mishmannah and Jeremiah

    Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

  3. Attai and Eliel

    Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

  4. Johanan and Elzabad

    Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

  5. Tenth and eleventh

    Jeremiah and Machbanai

    Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh.

These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.

A gray spring morning on the Jordan in flood: the brown river runs fast far over its banks into the tamarisk and willow thickets, and a line of Gadite fighting men wades across chest-deep along a rope, shields and spears held high, the first men climbing out on the far bank.

These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.

Question

Quick question

The Gadites came from across the Jordan to join David in the wilderness.

When did the Gadites cross the Jordan to join David?

Midday at a rocky stronghold above the wilderness of Judah: a band of armed men from Benjamin and Judah stops on the path below a cave mouth, spears grounded, while David stands a little above them on the rock, one hand open, his men behind him; bare hills and a pale line of the Dead Sea far off.

Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.

David

And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”

Amasai

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.”

So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.

1 Chronicles 12:18

Reflect

We are yours

Amasai said it to David before David wore a crown: “We are yours, O David!” and “for your God helps you.” Write down what it would mean to say the same to Jesus this week, in one decision or one relationship, before everything is settled.

David’s Army Grows at Hebron

All Israel comes to David

Saul’skinsmenBenjamin, atZiklag (12:1–7)GaditesThrough theJordan in flood(12:15)Benjamin andJudah“We are yours, ODavid!” (12:18)Manasseh’schiefsDay after day(12:19–22)DavidThe king God hadchosenEvery tribeAt Hebron, of onemind (12:38)

Whiteboard

First a few, then day after day, then all Israel. Men came to the king God had chosen, some while Saul still reigned and David was an outlaw at Ziklag. Chronicles names and counts them because they belong to the story.

Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:

At Hebron

From every tribe

  1. Shield and spear

    Judah: 6,800

    From Judah: 6,800 armed troops bearing shields and spears.

  2. Ready for battle

    Simeon: 7,100

    From Simeon: 7,100 mighty men of valor, ready for battle.

  3. Jehoiada and Zadok

    Levi: 4,600

    From Levi: 4,600, including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men, and Zadok, a mighty young man of valor, with 22 commanders from his own family.

  4. Saul’s kinsmen

    Benjamin: 3,000

    From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.

  5. Famous in clans

    Ephraim: 20,800

    From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men of valor, famous among their own clans.

  6. West of the Jordan

    Half of Manasseh: 18,000

    From the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.

  7. Understood the times

    Issachar: 200 chiefs

    From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.

  8. One purpose

    Zebulun: 50,000

    From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.

  9. Naphtali: 1,000 commanders and 37,000

    From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.

  10. Dan: 28,600

    From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.

  11. Asher: 40,000

    From Asher: 40,000 fit for service, prepared for battle.

  12. East of the Jordan

    Reuben, Gad, half of Manasseh: 120,000

    And from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh there: 120,000 armed with every kind of weapon of war.

men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do

1 Chronicles 12:32

All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

Evening outside Hebron's plain gate: men sit in long rows on the slopes around many fires, eating and drinking, while pack animals arrive along the road laden with sacks, jars and baskets; David sits among them with a cup, laughing.

They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them. And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

0:22

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Of one mind

Thank the Lord that He gathers His people from every tribe and nation around the King He has chosen. Ask for a heart “of one mind” with His people, and for wisdom like Issachar’s, to understand the times and know what to do. Pray for joy among God’s people where you are. Amen.

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1 Chronicles 12

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A verse to carry with you

We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.

1 Chronicles 12:18

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