Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 12:29
From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records a military roster of tribal contingents assembling at Hebron to consolidate support for David’s coronation.
The words — אֲחֵ֥י ('a.Chei) means "relatives" or "kinsmen," and שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים (she.Lo.shet 'a.la.Fim) translates literally to "three thousand."
The thread — The passage connects these Benjamites to Saul’s former court, paralleling the earlier mention of Saul’s kinsmen at Gilboa (1 Chronicles 12:2), Abner’s transfer of Saul’s son to Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8), and the recurring biblical motif of clan loyalty (Genesis 31:23).
Why it lands — The text states that a significant portion of Saul’s former supporters remained loyal to his house until this moment, requiring the reader to note the deliberate political shift as former rival tribal factions formally join David’s ranks.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 2:8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
- 1 Chronicles 12:2 they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):
- Genesis 31:23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.