Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 12:1
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator introduces a group of warriors arriving at Ziklag to join David during his flight from King Saul. The account marks a specific moment when David remains separated from Saul's court while assembling military support.
The words — The Hebrew וְאֵלֶּה הַבָּאִים (ve-'elleh ha-bā'îm) literally renders "and these [are] the ones who came." The participle עָצוּר ('āṣûr) means "kept back" or "held captive," describing David's constrained political status.
The thread — The arrival at Ziklag parallels David's relocation to Philistine territory in 1 Samuel 27:2 and his return to that city in 2 Samuel 1:1. The Benjamite affiliation of these fighters stands in contrast to the deceptive messenger in 2 Samuel 4:10.
Why it lands — The text records the factual consolidation of armed followers around David while he remains outside Saul's authority. It demands the reader observe how Saul's own tribe begins supplying the military foundation for David's rise.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 27:2 So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.
- 2 Samuel 1:1 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.
- 2 Samuel 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
- 1 Chronicles 8:33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
- 1 Chronicles 9:39 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
- 1 Chronicles 11:10 Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 11:19 saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
- 1 Chronicles 11:24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.