1 Chronicles 12:2

1 Chronicles 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):
• English Standard Version (ESV)They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen.
• New King James Version (NKJV)armed with bows, using both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren.

Context of 1 Chronicles 12:2

1David went to Ziklag town because King Saul, the son of Kish, had chased him away. Many brave men went to David there. They were some of the brave soldiers who helped David to fight in war. They could shoot with bows and arrows. They could use slings to throw stones with either their right hand or their left hand. They were relatives of Saul, from Benjamin's tribe. Their names were: 3Ahiezer, their leader, and his brother Joash. They were sons of Shemaah, who was from Gibeah town. Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth. Beracah. Jehu, from Anathoth town. 4Ishmaiah, from Gibeon town. He was the leader of the 30 great soldiers. Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad, who was from Gederah.

1 Chronicles 12:2 word by word

נֹ֣שְׁקֵי קֶ֗שֶׁת מַיְמִינִ֤ים וּמַשְׂמִאלִים֙ בָּֽאֲבָנִ֔ים וּבַחִצִּ֖ים בַּקָּ֑שֶׁת מֵאֲחֵ֥י שָׁא֖וּל מִבִּנְיָמִֽן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• armedנָשַׁקnâshaq · to handleH5401
• with bowsקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
• and could use both the right handיָמַןyâman · to go rightH3231
• and the leftשִׂמְאֵלώâma'l · to go leftH8041
• stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• of Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 12:2

• Judges 3:15Again the Israelites called out to the Lord for help. He chose Ehud to be their leader. He was the son of Gera, from Benjamin's tribe. Ehud's strong hand was his left hand. The Israelites sent him to pay their taxes to King Eglon of Moab.
• Judges 20:16In Benjamin's army there were 700 men who used their left hands to fight. Each of them could use a sling to throw a stone at a very small thing. They could even hit a hair!
• 1 Samuel 17:49David reached into his bag and he took out a stone. He put the stone into his sling and he threw it. The stone hit the Philistine man's head, above his eyes. It went in very deep. Goliath fell down with his face on the ground.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 12:2

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The skill of the Benjamites as archers is noted in 1 Chronicles 8:40, and 2 Chronicles 14:8. Their proficiency in using the left hand appears in the narrative of Judges (Judges 3:15, and marginal reference) where their special excellency as slingers is also noticed. Even of Saul‘s brethren - Compare 1 Chronicles 12:29. Even of Saul‘s own tribe there were some who separated themselves from his cause, and threw in their lot with David.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22Support for making David king started before Saul's death. When Saul was king and David was on the run, warriors joined David, forming a large group from various tribes across Israel. Even Saul's relatives left him to support David as king (1 Chronicles 12:2). David wisely assessed these deserters (1 Chronicles 12:17) to ensure they were not spies for Saul. Before David was officially anointed at Hebron, the people's wishes aligned with God's will for…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-221Ch 12:1-22. The Companies That Came to David at Ziklag. 1-7. Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag--There are three lists given in this chapter, arranged, apparently, according to the order of time when the parties joined the standard of David. while he yet kept himself close because of Saul--that is, when the king's jealousy had driven him into exile from the court and the country. Ziklag--(See on 1Sa 27:6). It was during his retirement in…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 12:2

• Archery
• Benjamin
• David
• Stones

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Armour
• Bow
• Chronicles, Books of
• Close
• Games
• Jonathan
• Sling
• Chronicles, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary