1 Chronicles 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Books of Chronicles in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Chronicles in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is compiled from older sources by an unknown person or group, designated by modern scholars as "the Chronicler", and had the final shape established in late fifth or fourth century BCE. This chapter contains the list of people who joined David: before his coronation (verses 1–22) and after he was made king in Hebron (verses 23–40). The whole chapter belongs to the section focusing on the kingship of David (1 Chronicles 9:35 to 29:30).
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language. It is divided into 40 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;
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1 Chronicles 11 and 12 combine a 'variety of chronologically and geographically disparate lists' to establish the unity of "all Israel" (north and south), with their unanimous recognition of David's kingship. The outer framework consists of David's anointing at Hebron (1 Chronicles 11:1–3; 12:38–40) to enclose the lists of the warriors who attended the festivities (11:10–47; 12:23–38). The inner framework comprises the lists of David's forces while at Ziklag (12:1–7; 12:19–22) to enclose the warriors who joined him at “the stronghold” (12:8–18).[1]
The first set of lists of the chapter contains the warriors joining David before he became king. It divides into four sections: the Benjaminites who came to David in Ziklag (verses 1–8); the Gadites who came toDavid's mountain stronghold (verses 9–16), as well as the people of Benjamin and Judah (verses 17–19); the people of Manasseh came to David in Ziklag (verses 20–22). Although only four tribes were mentioned, the structure clearly points to the conclusion in verse 22, that David got much support. The account of Manassites summarizes some incidents in 1 Samuel 28–30.
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. They 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.[2] This passage suggests that some people of Benjamin defected to David while Saul was still reigning (cf. 2:12–32 9).
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite,
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,[4]
Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.[5] Amasai's prophetic words, with "peace" (Hebrew: שָׁל֜וֹם, [6]) mentioned three times, speak of David's closeness with his supporters at the beginning of his rise to power. This relationship would be dissolved when the kingdom was divided in the time of Rehoboam's reign (10:16 9).
And some from Manasseh defected to David when he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying, "He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads."[8] The battle between Saul and the Philistines was mentioned in chapter 10 and the case of David not involved in that battle was summarized from 29:1–30 9.
The subsequent list is bracketed by brief accounts of David's coronation in Hebron (verses 23, 38–40); structured as a kind of military census. David was accepted as king by all people with all their hearts (verse 38), followed by great feasts of joy, unique to the Chronicles (cf. e.g. 29:22 9; 30:21-6 9). The three-day celebration involves many foodstuffs brought by donkeys, mules, camels and oxen from three northern tribes: Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali, such as bread, fig-cakes, raisins and wine. The mood is described in the word "joy" (or "rejoicing"; verse 40) which later appears in Hezekiah's Passover festival (30:23 9, 30:26 9) and post-exilic worship festivals (8:12 9, 17; 12:43 9).
And 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.[9] Saul's kingdom was passed on peacefully to David in Hebron (cf. 1 Chronicles 10:14–11:3).
. Ernst Würthwein . The Text of the Old Testament . . Grand Rapids, MI . 1995 . Erroll F.. Rhodes . 0-8028-0788-7 . January 26, 2019.