Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 12:34
From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 men with shield and spear.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records the military contributions of the tribes as they assemble to support David’s kingship. The text lists Naphtali’s forces immediately after detailing Zebulun’s contingent and before Dan’s.
The words — שָׂרִים (sārîm) denotes commanders or leaders, and בְּצִנָּה (bəṣinnâ) literally means with a shield, specifying the defensive equipment carried by the troops.
The thread — This muster format repeats in the surrounding verses, with 1 Chronicles 12:33 detailing Zebulun’s 50,000 and 1 Chronicles 12:35 recording Dan’s 28,600. The pattern establishes a standardized census of tribal loyalty and readiness.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of organized, equipment-ready tribal support for David. It requires the reader to account for the scale and discipline of the united forces without embellishment.
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 Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.