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):
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.

Context of 1 Chronicles 12:2

1Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kinsmen. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of 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 3:15Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
• Judges 20:16Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
• 1 Samuel 17:49And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to 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