Read 1 Chronicles 12
Warriors Join David
12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite,4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
9 Ezer was the chief,
Obadiah the second in command, 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 Makbannai the eleventh.
14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. 15 It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16 Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”
18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:
“We are yours, David!
We are with you, son of Jesse!
Success, success to you,
and success to those who help you,
for your God will help you.”
So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
Others Join David at Hebron
23 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:
24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
26 from Levi—4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
30 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
37 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisincakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
Go Deeper
The purpose of this book is not just to repeat the stories of Samuel and Kings, but to set the stage to tell of the future hope of a Messianic king who would one day restore all things. Following the genealogies is the death of Saul, his failure as king, and the anointing of King David. The book transitions from the line of David to the reign of David. David’s reign was full of triumphs and tragedies, but overall he was Israel’s most celebrated king. Chronicles depicts David in a positive light and tells the more heroic stories throughout his life. Chapter 12 continues from the previous chapter listing out David’s army and the mighty men who joined him in battle.
The author of Chronicles categorizes David’s men into three different groups: the chiefs of David’s warriors (11:10-25), David’s warriors (11:26-47), and the warriors who joined David at Ziklag (12:1-22) and Hebron (12:23-40). Ziklag was a town in southern Judah. When Saul was the king of Israel, Ziklag was under Philistine control. Saul spent much of his time seeking to kill David. David proved that he was a man after God’s own heart and did not kill Saul, but waited for his appointed time. After the death of the prophet Samuel, David fled to Ziklag with six-hundred men (1 Samuel 27). While David was there, the Philistine king of Gath granted him the city of Ziklag. David ruled over this city for sixteen months until the death of Saul, and it became his military base. David then was anointed king of Judah and resided in a city called Hebron.
This chapter lists different groups of warriors who supported David during that time. They were the Benjaminites, the Gadites, the Manassites, and the numbers from the tribes who made David king at Hebron. These men were characterized as “brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear” (v. 8). They were men who day after day “came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God” (v. 22). This is a list of loyal warriors who were dedicated to sticking by David’s side. We learn from this that David was a leader worth following. These men recognized characteristics of David that made them want to rally around him. There was joy in Israel because of him (v. 40). They were all in.
This chapter shows us the overwhelming support and unity around King David. It is important to understand the context in which this book was written. The chronicles were historical accounts of events that took place. It was looking back on what had already happened in the history of the nation of Israel. At the time this was written, Israel had already returned from seventy years of captivity in Babylon following the decree of Cyrus. We learn from the books of Nehemiah and Ezra that things were not going well for them. There was a need for unity amongst the people. The author’s purpose was to remind the people of God’s faithfulness and the hope of a future Messianic King that would come through the line of David. The stories of David in the past pointed to a future hope for the people. God was going to restore all things through his line.
Questions
- What is something that stands out to you about this chapter?
- What do you know about David in the Bible? What were some of his successes and failures as a leader?
- Who are the people in your life that would metaphorically “go to battle” for you?
Keep Digging
Interested in learning more about the “mighty men” of David? Check out this article from GotQuestions.org to learn more about them!
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8 responses to “1 Chronicles 12”
“Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God” (v22).
God’s favor is poured out on David in amassing a great army with amazing skills of speed, strength, and even bowmen who were ambidextrous. What stands out is the number of men from various tribes who volunteered and pledged their loyalty to David. God was in the business of building an army for the man after his own heart, David.
Amen!
22 “Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.“
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127). Likewise, unless the Lord builds an army, those who build it labor in vain.
Fellowship, leadership, faithfulness, rememberance
We are to remember where we were and how we have come out of that place. BUT GOD, He has loved us and hopefully we love Him back enough to have a redemptive story. We are to remember and to tell others this is God and how He has helped me to turn my life towards Him.
Faithfulness to Him in all He has done in my life. He has made the way when there was no way. BUT GOD being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved me, even when I was dead in my trespasses, made me alive together with Christ—by grace I have been saved— and raised me up with Him and seated me with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph 2:4).
BUT GOD has given me leadership in this season of my life. His Word has been illuminated to where it should have been 50 years ago. BUT GOD has directed my path in this season of time and I have listened this time.
Fellowship with like minded believers is also essential for doing, and becoming more for the “army” of God. Praying for others in the body. Serving others, showing up, stacking chairs, puttiong up tables, taking down tables, accepting roles of table leader, learning more from BRP, giving hugs, standing in the gap with and for all who ask and some that dont.
All these things are what David’s mighty men surround him with to complete the task that God has called them and now us to do.
God thank You for Your love and provision in my life. God thank You for allowing me to be in fellowship with You foremost, but also with other like minded believers. God thank You for showing me through Your Word, how it can be applied today, for me, in these minutes of this day. God thank You for the fellowship of so many that all want to be a part of Your Story. God, thank You for being rich in mercy in all the minutes of this day. God show me how to be all that You have called me to be in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been so blessed by these morning devotions, God’s Word, the commentary’s, and by the follow-up reply’s!!
Thank You ALL
Amen!
A diverse group of warriors coming together to support David. This unity among different tribes reminds us of the strength found in diversity.
As believers, we are called to be one body in Christ, each with unique gifts and roles.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function” (Romans 12:4).
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the people in my life who show up. And then I opened 1 Chronicles 12.
This entire chapter is a roll call of people who showed up—from many places, tribes, and positions. Not for their own glory—but to align themselves with God’s anointed.
God’s perfect plan, provision, and purpose shows up again and again through the following:
1. A Show of Strength
This wasn’t a ragtag band of rejects and hangers-on. The text makes clear throughout that this was a mighty assembly of warriors—able, equipped, experienced and exceptional.
2. A Show of Identity
One of David’s warriors, Ezer, bears a name that means “help” or “strong ally.” It’s the same Hebrew word used to describe God as our helper. Ezer’s role as a leader reflects the strength and military aid implied by his name.
3. A Show of Bravery
The Gadites crossed the Jordan “when it was overflowing its banks.” They didn’t wait for ideal conditions. They literally waded right in—and came out fighting.
4. A Show of Discernment
David greeted the warriors of Benjamin and Judah with both a welcome and a warning. He tested their motives before trusting them, and when they pledged peace “in the name of the God of our fathers,” the Spirit confirmed their sincerity.
5. A Show of Allegiance
Chapter 12 describes the soldiers who switched their allegiance from King Saul to David as “defecting.” However, such “righteous defection” was not a betrayal of their past—but a choice to follow God’s promise. While politically risky, it was an act of spiritual loyalty, marking faithfulness to an authority higher than any earthly ruler.
6. A Show of Unity
In verses 24 to 38, we witness a biblical “roll call,” in which more than 300,000 men come together to a single purpose. So many men from such diverse tribes unite “with a perfect heart” to make David king.
7. A Show of Obedience
Over 4,000 men came from the tribe of Levi. Wait a second—warrior priests? What’s up with that? They weren’t fighters by trade—but they came anyway. The Levites’ presence at Hebron showed a willingness to serve well outside their regular job description—and to honor God in “all other duties that may be assigned.”
8. A Show of Fellowship
Eating and drinking together was a common practice in ancient cultures to ratify covenants and build fellowship. This three-day feast was both celebration and covenant, affirming their God-given unity. What I wouldn’t give for an invitation to that party! (But boy, would I hate to be stuck with the catering bill! 😉)
9. A Show of Rejoicing
Given everything we’ve seen so far, who wouldn’t be celebrating? Everyone coming together, receiving God’s blessings, and seeing his promises fulfilled? I don’t think it can get more “joyful” than that!
The Significance of Showing Up
This has been my theme all week. Even before reading this chapter, I was already thinking about the importance of presence.
In my current season, this truth hits VERY close to home. Even as we speak, friends and family are making time, rearranging schedules, and traveling from out of town (and out of state!) to be present at a special performance event.
And while I hope they’ll enjoy how cute I look in my costume 😉 or how well I perform my routine, that’s not why they’re coming. Not really. They’ll be there… to BE THERE for me.
If I’ve learned anything from this show, it’s how much it matters when our people are present. I’ve depended on people to show up for me… so I can show up for a cause that’s significant… to support people who desperately need someone to show up for them.
Just as David’s men came together to stand with him in obedience to God’s call, we need our own “mighty ones” to stand beside us—to celebrate, to comfort, to strengthen and support, or to simply be present.
Because God calls us to be a “show up” people.