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1 Chronicles 12

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.

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,

And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,

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

Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,

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

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.

As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.

And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.

For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.

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.

The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;

And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.

And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.

All these men of war, that could keep rank, 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.

And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.

What does 1 Chronicles 12:5 mean?

1 Chronicles 12:5

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

Explanation

1 Chronicles 12:5 is a verse within a list of names found in the first book of Chronicles in the Old Testament of the Bible.

This particular verse refers to five warriors: Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, who joined King David at Ziklag.

These individuals were among those who supported David in his quest to establish his reign over Israel, during a time when Saul was still king.

The verse, in its literal sense, is simply a historical record of individuals who supported and fought for David.

On a deeper level, the inclusion of these names in the biblical narrative could suggest the importance of collective effort and unity behind a leadership perceived as legitimate by the people.

Each person listed, although not individually expanded upon, contributes to the larger narrative of David's rise to power and the establishment of a unified kingdom of Israel under his rule.

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Historical Context

1 Chronicles was written after the Babylonian exile, possibly between 400 and 250 BCE.

Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Ezra, a scribe and priest.

At the time of this verse's setting, David was not yet king, and Saul was the first king of Israel.

David had been anointed by the prophet Samuel but was forced to flee from Saul and operate as a leader in exile.

The warriors named in 1 Chronicles 12 were part of a larger group of fighters who eventually made David king.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse and the surrounding passages could be seen as illustrating the sovereignty of God in the establishment of leaders.

David, though not yet king, was anointed by God, and the allegiance of these various warriors could be viewed as divine will at work.

Some Christian theologians also interpret David's rise to power foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as the true and eternal "King" in Christian theology. In this light, the joining of the warriors can also symbolize the gathering of believers under Christ's leadership.

Practical Applications

The practical application of 1 Chronicles 12:5 can be to acknowledge and appreciate the role of each individual within a community.

Every person, regardless of their seemingly minor or supportive role, contributes to the whole.

This reinforces the concept of unity and collective effort in achieving common goals.

It can also teach the importance of loyalty and support for rightful and just leadership.

Cross-References

Related verses in the King James Version of the Bible include:

1 Chronicles 12:1-7, which mentions other individuals who joined David at Ziklag as he was preparing for his reign.
1 Samuel 22:1-2, which describes those who gathered around David during his time of fleeing Saul, forming the core of his future army.
2 Samuel 5:1-3, which recounts the elders of Israel coming to David to anoint him king over Israel, showing a later formal recognition of his leadership.

Language Study

The key names mentioned in the verse are primarily of Hebrew origin:

Eluzai might mean “God is my strength.”
Jerimoth is translated as “He will be exalted.”
Bealiah could be interpreted as “The Lord is Jah” or "Yahweh is Master."
Shemariah means “guarded by Yahweh.”
Shephatiah means “Yahweh has judged.”
Haruphite is likely a reference to one's origin and may be associated with “Haruph,” a location or familial clan.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, lists of names are important for preserving history and honoring those who contributed to significant events.

Similar to the way the Chronicles account preserves the names of those loyal to David, other ancient texts, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Iliad, mention heroes and their lineages to convey lineage and maintain cultural memory.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no direct intersection of this verse with modern scientific understandings, as it is a historical account from a religious text.

However, genealogy, the study of families and lineages, has become a scientific field with advances in genetics and DNA analysis, potentially offering insights into the historical movements and family connections of ancient populations.

Commentaries

Commentators on this passage of the Bible often focus on its role in chronicling the historical support for David's reign.

Matthew Henry's commentary, for example, emphasizes the military strength and devotion of the warriors who joined David and their importance in the establishment of his kingdom.

The Pulpit Commentary discusses the genealogical significance of such lists, noting their relevance to the Jewish people in post-exilic times as they sought to reaffirm their historical and religious identity.

1 Chronicles 12

1 Chronicles 12

What does 1 Chronicles 12:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Chronicles Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does 1 Chronicles 12:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Chronicles Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?