La royauté
The Warriors Who Joined David
An extensive list of the brave warriors from all the tribes of Israel who joined David – first in Ziklag and the mountain fortress while he was fleeing from Saul, and later in Hebron where they gathered to make him king over all Israel.
1 Chroniques 12,1-41
1These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still confined because of Saul son of Kish. They were among the mighty men who helped him in battle,
וְאֵ֗לֶּה הַבָּאִ֤ים אֶל־דָּוִיד֙ לְצִ֣יקְלַ֔ג ע֣וֹד עָצ֔וּר מִפְּנֵ֖י שָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֑ישׁ וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ בַּגִּבּוֹרִ֔ים עֹזְרֵ֖י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
2armed with bows and able to shoot arrows or sling stones with either the right hand or the left. They were kinsmen of Saul, from Benjamin.
נֹ֣שְׁקֵי קֶ֗שֶׁת מַיְמִינִ֤ים וּמַשְׂמִאלִים֙ בָּֽאֲבָנִ֔ים וּבַחִצִּ֖ים בַּקָּ֑שֶׁת מֵאֲחֵ֥י שָׁא֖וּל מִבִּנְיָמִֽן׃
3Ahiezer was their chief, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Berachah; Jehu of Anathoth;
הָרֹ֨אשׁ אֲחִיעֶ֜זֶר וְיוֹאָ֗שׁ בְּנֵי֙ הַשְּׁמָעָ֣ה הַגִּבְעָתִ֔י *ויזואל **וִיזִיאֵ֥ל וָפֶ֖לֶט בְּנֵ֣י עַזְמָ֑וֶת וּבְרָכָ֕ה וְיֵה֖וּא הָעֲנְּתֹתִֽי׃
4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and over the thirty;
וְיִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה הַגִּבְעוֹנִ֛י גִּבּ֥וֹר בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־הַשְּׁלֹשִֽׁים׃
5Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah;
וְיִרְמְיָ֤ה וְיַחֲזִיאֵל֙ וְי֣וֹחָנָ֔ן וְיוֹזָבָ֖ד הַגְּדֵרָתִֽי׃
6Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite;
אֶלְעוּזַ֤י וִירִימוֹת֙ וּבְעַלְיָ֣ה וּשְׁמַרְיָ֔הוּ וּשְׁפַטְיָ֖הוּ *החריפי **הַחֲרוּפִֽי׃
7Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;
אֶלְקָנָ֡ה וְ֠יִשִּׁיָּהוּ וַעֲזַרְאֵ֧ל וְיוֹעֶ֛זֶר וְיָשָׁבְעָ֖ם הַקָּרְחִֽים׃
8and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
וְיוֹעֵאלָ֧ה וּזְבַדְיָ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י יְרֹחָ֖ם מִן־הַגְּדֽוֹר׃
9From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty warriors, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.
וּמִן־הַגָּדִ֡י נִבְדְּל֣וּ אֶל־דָּוִיד֩ לַמְצַ֨ד מִדְבָּ֜רָה גִּבֹּרֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל אַנְשֵׁ֤י צָבָא֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עֹרְכֵ֥י צִנָּ֖ה וָרֹ֑מַח וּפְנֵ֤י אַרְיֵה֙ פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וְכִצְבָאיִ֥ם עַל־הֶהָרִ֖ים לְמַהֵֽר׃ ס
10Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
עֵ֖זֶר הָרֹ֑אשׁ עֹבַדְיָה֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֱלִיאָ֖ב הַשְּׁלִשִֽׁי׃
11Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
מִשְׁמַנָּה֙ הָרְבִיעִ֔י יִרְמְיָ֖ה הַחֲמִשִֽׁי׃
12Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
עַתַּי֙ הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י אֱלִיאֵ֖ל הַשְּׁבִעִֽי׃
13Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
יֽוֹחָנָן֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י אֶלְזָבָ֖ד הַתְּשִׁיעִֽי׃
14Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י ס מַכְבַּנַּ֖י עַשְׁתֵּ֥י עָשָֽׂר׃
15These were the commanders of the army from the sons of Gad; the least of them was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
אֵ֥לֶּה מִבְּנֵי־גָ֖ד רָאשֵׁ֣י הַצָּבָ֑א אֶחָ֤ד לְמֵאָה֙ הַקָּטָ֔ן וְהַגָּד֖וֹל לְאָֽלֶף׃
16These were the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and they drove off everyone living in the valleys, both east and west.
אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָבְר֤וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן וְה֥וּא מְמַלֵּ֖א עַל־כָּל־*גדיתיו **גְּדוֹתָ֑יו וַיַּבְרִ֙יחוּ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֲמָקִ֔ים לַמִּזְרָ֖ח וְלַֽמַּעֲרָֽב׃ ס
17Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at the stronghold.
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ מִן־בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַד־לַמְצָ֖ד לְדָוִֽיד׃
18David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in peace, to help me, my heart will be joined to yours. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies, though there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see it and judge."
וַיֵּצֵ֣א דָוִיד֮ לִפְנֵיהֶם֒ וַיַּ֙עַן֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם אִם־לְשָׁל֞וֹם בָּאתֶ֤ם אֵלַי֙ לְעָזְרֵ֔נִי יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֧י עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם לֵבָ֖ב לְיָ֑חַד וְאִֽם־לְרַמּוֹתַ֣נִי לְצָרַ֗י בְּלֹ֤א חָמָס֙ בְּכַפַּ֔י יֵ֛רֶא אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ וְיוֹכַֽח׃ ס
19Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said: "We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to those who help you, for your God helps you." So David received them and made them officers over his troops.
וְר֣וּחַ לָבְשָׁ֗ה אֶת־עֲמָשַׂי֮ רֹ֣אשׁ *השלושים **הַשָּׁלִישִׁים֒ לְךָ֤ דָוִיד֙ וְעִמְּךָ֣ בֶן־יִשַׁ֔י שָׁל֨וֹם ׀ שָׁל֜וֹם לְךָ֗ וְשָׁלוֹם֙ לְעֹ֣זְרֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י עֲזָרְךָ֖ אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וַיְקַבְּלֵ֣ם דָּוִ֔יד וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י הַגְּדֽוּד׃ פ
20Some men of Manasseh also went over to David when he marched with the Philistines against Saul—though they did not help the Philistines, for the Philistine rulers, after taking counsel, sent David away, saying, "He may go over to his master Saul at the cost of our heads."
וּמִֽמְּנַשֶּׁ֞ה נָפְל֣וּ עַל־דָּוִ֗יד בְּבֹא֨וֹ עִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֧ים עַל־שָׁא֛וּל לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א עֲזָרֻ֑ם כִּ֣י בְעֵצָ֗ה שִׁלְּחֻ֜הוּ סַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּרָאשֵׁ֕ינוּ יִפּ֖וֹל אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֥יו שָׁאֽוּל׃
21As he was going to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh went over to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh.
בְּלֶכְתּ֣וֹ אֶל־צִֽיקְלַ֗ג נָפְל֣וּ עָלָ֣יו ׀ מִֽמְּנַשֶּׁ֡ה עַ֠דְנַח וְיוֹזָבָ֤ד וִידִֽיעֲאֵל֙ וּמִיכָאֵ֣ל וְיוֹזָבָ֔ד וֶאֱלִיה֖וּא וְצִלְּתָ֑י רָאשֵׁ֥י הָאֲלָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
22They helped David against the raiding bands, for they were all mighty warriors, and they became commanders in his army.
וְהֵ֗מָּה עָזְר֤וּ עִם־דָּוִיד֙ עַֽל־הַגְּד֔וּד כִּֽי־גִבּ֥וֹרֵי חַ֖יִל כֻּלָּ֑ם וַיִּהְי֥וּ שָׂרִ֖ים בַּצָּבָֽא׃
23Day after day men kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.
כִּ֚י לְעֶת־י֣וֹם בְּי֔וֹם יָבֹ֥אוּ עַל־דָּוִ֖יד לְעָזְר֑וֹ עַד־לְמַחֲנֶ֥ה גָד֖וֹל כְּמַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ
24These are the numbers of the armed troops who came to David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, as the LORD had said:
וְ֠אֵלֶּה מִסְפְּרֵ֞י רָאשֵׁ֤י הֶֽחָלוּץ֙ לַצָּבָ֔א בָּ֥אוּ עַל־דָּוִ֖יד חֶבְר֑וֹנָה לְהָסֵ֞ב מַלְכ֥וּת שָׁא֛וּל אֵלָ֖יו כְּפִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס
25From Judah, bearing shield and spear: 6,800 armed for war.
בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה נֹשְׂאֵ֥י צִנָּ֖ה וָרֹ֑מַח שֵׁ֧שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים וּשְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת חֲלוּצֵ֥י צָבָֽא׃ ס
26From Simeon, mighty warriors ready for battle: 7,100.
מִן־בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן גִּבּ֤וֹרֵי חַ֙יִל֙ לַצָּבָ֔א שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמֵאָֽה׃ ס
27From Levi: 4,600,
מִן־בְּנֵי֙ הַלֵּוִ֔י אַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס
28along with Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700,
וִיהוֹיָדָ֖ע הַנָּגִ֣יד לְאַהֲרֹ֑ן וְעִמּ֕וֹ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס
29and Zadok, a young man and a mighty warrior, with twenty-two commanders from his father's house.
וְצָד֥וֹק נַ֖עַר גִּבּ֣וֹר חָ֑יִל וּבֵית־אָבִ֥יו שָׂרִ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ ס
30From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000; until then most of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul.
וּמִן־בְּנֵ֧י בִנְיָמִ֛ן אֲחֵ֥י שָׁא֖וּל שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים וְעַד־הֵ֙נָּה֙ מַרְבִּיתָ֔ם שֹׁמְרִ֕ים מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בֵּ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל׃ ס
31From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty warriors, men of renown in their clans.
וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁמוֹנֶ֣ה מֵא֑וֹת גִּבּ֣וֹרֵי חַ֔יִל אַנְשֵׁ֥י שֵׁמ֖וֹת לְבֵ֥ית אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ ס
32From the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000, designated by name to come and make David king.
וּמֵחֲצִי֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָ֑לֶף אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִקְּבוּ֙ בְּשֵׁמ֔וֹת לָב֖וֹא לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֶת־דָּוִֽיד׃ ס
33From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs, with all their kinsmen under their command.
וּמִבְּנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֗ר יוֹדְעֵ֤י בִינָה֙ לַֽעִתִּ֔ים לָדַ֖עַת מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל רָאשֵׁיהֶ֣ם מָאתַ֔יִם וְכָל־אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּיהֶֽם׃ ס
34From Zebulun: 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with every kind of weapon, ready to help with undivided loyalty.
מִזְּבֻל֞וּן יוֹצְאֵ֣י צָבָ֗א עֹרְכֵ֧י מִלְחָמָ֛ה בְּכָל־כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אָ֑לֶף וְלַעֲדֹ֖ר בְּלֹא־לֵ֥ב וָלֵֽב׃ ס
35From Naphtali: 1,000 officers, and with them 37,000 men with shield and spear.
וּמִנַּפְתָּלִ֖י שָׂרִ֣ים אָ֑לֶף וְעִמָּהֶם֙ בְּצִנָּ֣ה וַחֲנִ֔ית שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה אָֽלֶף׃ ס
36From Dan: 28,600 men ready for battle.
וּמִן־הַדָּנִי֙ עֹרְכֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמוֹנָ֥ה אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס
37From Asher: 40,000 seasoned troops, prepared for battle.
וּמֵאָשֵׁ֗ר יוֹצְאֵ֥י צָבָ֛א לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ מִלְחָמָ֖ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃ ס
38And from beyond the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: 120,000 men armed with every kind of weapon of war.
וּמֵעֵ֣בֶר לַ֠יַּרְדֵּן מִן־הָראוּבֵנִ֨י וְהַגָּדִ֜י וַחֲצִ֣י ׀ שֵׁ֣בֶט מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה בְּכֹל֙ כְּלֵי֙ צְבָ֣א מִלְחָמָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף׃
39All these were fighting men who could hold their place in the ranks. They came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king.
כָּל־אֵ֜לֶּה אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִלְחָמָה֮ עֹדְרֵ֣י מַעֲרָכָה֒ בְּלֵבָ֤ב שָׁלֵם֙ בָּ֣אוּ חֶבְר֔וֹנָה לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֶת־דָּוִ֖יד עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ֠גַם כָּל־שֵׁרִ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לֵ֥ב אֶחָ֖ד לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֶת־דָּוִֽיד׃
40They spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had provided for them.
וַיִּהְיוּ־שָׁ֤ם עִם־דָּוִיד֙ יָמִ֣ים שְׁלוֹשָׁ֔ה אֹכְלִ֖ים וְשׁוֹתִ֑ים כִּֽי־הֵכִ֥ינוּ לָהֶ֖ם אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃
41Their neighbors as well, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen: flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance—for there was joy in Israel.
וְגַ֣ם הַקְּרֽוֹבִים־אֲ֠לֵיהֶם עַד־יִשָׂשכָ֨ר וּזְבֻל֜וּן וְנַפְתָּלִ֗י מְבִיאִ֣ים לֶ֡חֶם בַּחֲמוֹרִ֣ים וּבַגְּמַלִּ֣ים וּבַפְּרָדִ֣ים ׀ וּֽבַבָּקָ֡ר מַאֲכָ֡ל קֶ֠מַח דְּבֵלִ֨ים וְצִמּוּקִ֧ים וְיַֽיִן־וְשֶׁ֛מֶן וּבָקָ֥ר וְצֹ֖אן לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ