Why did David receive the men of Benjamin and Juda and make them captains?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Amasai answered David’s concern about their intentions by declaring their loyalty and wishing peace to him and his helpers, because his God helped him; David then received them and gave them command.

Chapter breakdown

This chapter names those who joined David while he fled from Saul and those who came to Hebron to make him king.

Valiant and skilled warriors came to David at Siceleg while he was still fleeing Saul, son of Cis. These men were Saul’s brethren from Benjamin. They used bows and could use either hand to throw stones with slings and shoot arrows. The chief was Ahiezer. The list names him and Joas, sons of Samaa of Gabaath; Jaziel and Phallet, sons of Azmoth; Beracha; Jehu the Anathothite; and Samaias of Gabaon, the strongest among the thirty and over them. It continues with Jeremias, Jeheziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gaderoth, Eluzai, Jerimuth, Baalia, Samaria, Saphatia the Haruphite, Elcana, Jesia, Azareel, Joezer, Jesbaam of Carehim, and Joela and Zabadia, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

Men of Gad also joined David while he was hiding in the wilderness. They were valiant, skilled warriors carrying shields and spears. Their faces were compared to lions’ faces and their speed to roebucks on the mountains. Their order was Ezer the chief, Obdias second, Eliab third, Masmana fourth, Jeremias fifth, Ethi sixth, Eliel seventh, Johanan eighth, Elzebad ninth, Jerenias tenth and Machbani eleventh. These sons of Gad were army captains: the least commanded a hundred soldiers and the greatest a thousand. They crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it usually overflows its banks, and put to flight all those living in the valleys to both the east and west.

Men of Benjamin and Juda came to David’s stronghold. He went out to meet them and said that if they came peacefully to help him, his heart would be joined to theirs. If they were plotting against him for his enemies, though he had no iniquity in his hands, he asked the God of their fathers to see and judge. The spirit came upon Amasai, chief among thirty. He declared that they belonged to David and were for him, the son of Isai. He wished peace to David and his helpers, because David’s God helped him. David received them and made them captains of the band.

Some of Manasses joined David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight. David did not fight with the Philistines: their lords took counsel and sent him back, saying he might return to his master Saul at the danger of their heads. On David’s return to Siceleg, captains of thousands in Manasses fled to him. The source names Ednas, Jozabad, Jedihel, Michael, Ednas, Jozabad, Eliu and Salathi, keeping Ednas and Jozabad twice in the list. These valiant men helped David against the rovers and became commanders in the army. More people came to help him day by day, until their number was great, like the army of God.

The chapter next records the army chiefs who came to David at Hebron to transfer Saul’s kingdom to him according to the Lord’s word. Juda supplied 6,800 men carrying shields and spears, equipped for war; Simeon supplied 7,100 valiant men for war; and Levi supplied 4,600. Joiada, prince of the race of Aaron, came with 3,700. Sadoc was a young man of excellent disposition, and his father’s house had twenty-two principal men. Benjamin, Saul’s brethren, supplied 3,000, because until then a great part of them had followed Saul’s house. Ephraim supplied 20,800 men of great valour, renowned in their families. The half tribe of Manasses supplied 18,000, each named, who came to make David king.

Issachar had two hundred principal men of understanding who knew the times and what Israel should do; the rest of their tribe followed their counsel. Zabulon supplied 50,000 men who went to battle and stood in formation with armour for war, coming to help David with no divided heart. Nephtali supplied a thousand leaders and 37,000 men with shields and spears. Dan supplied 28,600 prepared for battle. Aser supplied 40,000 who went out to fight and challenged in battle. Across the Jordan, Ruben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasses together supplied 120,000 armed for war.

All these men, equipped to fight, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel. The rest of Israel also shared one heart in making him king. They stayed with David for three days, eating and drinking, because their brethren had prepared for them. Those nearby, reaching as far as Issachar, Zabulon and Nephtali, brought loaves on asses, camels, mules and oxen. They supplied meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel.

The story inside

The chapter follows David’s growing support from his flight from Saul to the gathering at Hebron. It first names skilled warriors from Saul’s own tribe and eleven Gadite captains, preserving their weapons, ranks and crossing of the overflowing Jordan. When men of Benjamin and Juda arrive, David asks whether they intend help or betrayal. Amasai’s declaration answers him, and David receives the men as captains. The account then explains why David did not fight with the Philistines: their lords sent him back because they feared he would return to Saul at their expense. Captains of Manasses join him on that return and help against the rovers, while his company grows daily. At Hebron, the purpose of the gathering is stated plainly: transfer Saul’s kingdom to David according to the Lord’s word. The separate tribe numbers and descriptions lead to the shared resolve to make him king, followed by three days of eating and drinking with provisions supplied by their brethren.

Lessons worth keeping

1
David’s reception follows a stated answer about loyalty. He offers to join hearts with peaceful helpers but asks God to judge if they are plotting for his enemies. Amasai declares support and peace because God helps David. David then accepts them and makes them captains. These are the recorded words and result; no oath ceremony or invented meeting place is needed.
2
The army grows through different recorded events. Gad’s captains cross the Jordan when it overflows; Manasses’s captains join David after the Philistine lords send him back, and help him against the rovers. The chapter gives the lords’ fear as their reason for dismissing David. It does not say that the Gadites swam or identify the rovers as Amalekites.
3
The Hebron gathering joins a shared purpose with practical provision. Different groups have distinct numbers and roles, including Issachar’s counsel and Nephtali’s leaders. They come with one heart to make David king. Their brethren prepare food, and people bring supplies on four kinds of animals, so the gathering eats and drinks for three days amid Israel’s joy.

Test your recall

Men of Benjamin and Juda arrive → David asks whether they intend help or betrayal → Amasai declares loyalty and peace → David receives them as captains. The Philistine lords fear David will return to Saul at their danger → they send him back → captains of Manasses join him at Siceleg and help against the rovers. The tribes gather to transfer Saul’s kingdom according to the Lord’s word → their brethren prepare and bring provisions → they eat and drink with David for three days.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 42618–42621
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 12 Who followed David when he fled from Saul. And who came to Hebron to make him king.
Lines 42623–42644
12:1. Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet fled from Saul the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors, 12:2. Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin. 12:3. The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samaa of Gabaath, and Jaziel, and Phallet the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu an Anathothite. 12:4. And Samaias of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel and Johanan, and Jozabad of Gaderoth; 12:5. And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia the Haruphite; 12:6. Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of Carehim: 12:7. And Joela, and Zabadia the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
Lines 42646–42667
12:8. From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains. 12:9. Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third, 12:10. Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth, 12:11. Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12:12. Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth, 12:13. Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh, 12:14. These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand. 12:15. These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and toward the west.
Lines 42669–42680
12:16. And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda to the hold, in which David abode. 12:17. And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge. 12:18. But the spirit came upon Amasai the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Lines 42682–42696
12:19. And there were some of Manasses that went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master Saul. 12:20. So when he went back to Siceleg, there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses. 12:21. These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army. 12:22. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.
Lines 42698–42723
12:23. And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to David, when he was in Hebron, to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, according to the word of the Lord. 12:24. The sons of Juda bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred well appointed to war. 12:25. Of the sons of Simeon valiant men for war, seven thousand one hundred. 12:26. Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred. 12:27. And Joiada prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 12:28. Sadoc also a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two principal men. 12:29. And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul. 12:30. And of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, men of great valour renowned in their kindreds. 12:31. And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names, came to make David king.
Lines 42725–42744
12:32. Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel. 12:33. And of Zabulon such as went forth to battle, and stood in array well appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his aid, with no double heart. 12:34. And of Nephtali, a thousand leaders: and with them seven and thirty thousand, furnished with shield and spear. 12:35. Of Dan also twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle. 12:36. And of Aser forty thousand going forth to fight, and challenging in battle. 12:37. And on the other side of the Jordan of the sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses a hundred and twenty thousand, furnished with arms for war.
Lines 42746–42758
12:38. All these men of war well appointed to fight, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel, were of one heart to make David king. 12:39. And they were there with David three days eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. 12:40. Moreover they that were near them even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephtali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel.