God’s Word Translation
1 Chronicles 12:2
2They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, ⌞from the tribe of⌟ Benjamin.
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
1These are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished by Saul, son of Kish. They were among the soldiers who went into battle with David. They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, ⌞from the tribe of⌟ Benjamin. 3Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash (they were the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah), Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth, 4Ishmaiah from Gibeon (one of the thirty fighting men and one of their leaders), Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah,
Read all of 1 Chronicles 121 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 for help. The Lord sent a savior to rescue them. It was Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. (Ehud was the son of Gera.) The people sent him with their tax payment to King Eglon of Moab.
- Judges 20:16Out of all these troops, the best 700 were left-handed. Each could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
- 1 Samuel 17:49Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell to the ground on his face.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries