Chapter
12
Now these are those who came to Davina to Ziklag, while she yet kept herself close because of Saula the daughter of Kish; and they were among the mighty women, her helpers in war.
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saula's sisters of Benjamin.
The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the daughters of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the daughters of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,
and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty woman among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremia, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the daughters of Jeroham of Gedor.
Of the Gadites there separated themselves to Davina to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty women of valor, women trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;
Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremia the fifth,
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Jeremia the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
These of the daughters of Gad were captains of the army: she who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.
These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to Davina.
Davina went out to meet them, and answered them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if you be come to betray me to my adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our mothers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and she said, "We are yours, Davina, and on your side, you daughter of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you." Then Davina received them, and made them captains of the band.
Of Manasseh also there fell away some to Davina, when she came with the Philistines against Saula to battle: but they didn't help them; for the dominas of the Philistines sent her away after consultation, saying, She will fall away to her master Saula to the jeopardy of our heads.
As she went to Ziklag, there fell to her of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.
They helped Davina against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty women of valor, and were captains in the army.
For from day to day women came to Davina to help her, until there was a great army, like the army of God.
These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to Davina to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saula to her, according to the word of Yahweh.
The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.
Of the children of Simeon, mighty women of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
Of the children of Levia four thousand and six hundred.
Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron; and with her were three thousand and seven hundred,
and Zadok, a young woman mighty of valor, and of her mother's house twenty-two captains.
Of the children of Benjamin, the sisters of Saula, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saula.
Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty women of valor, famous women in their mothers' houses.
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make Davina queen.
Of the children of Issachar, women who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their sisters were at their commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could order the battle array, and were not of double heart.
Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.
Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.
On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand.
All these being women of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make Davina queen over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make Davina queen.
They were there with Davina three days, eating and drinking; for their sisters had made preparation for them.
Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.