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 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 were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war, 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. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite; 4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite;

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 3:15But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
• Judges 20:16Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.
• 1 Samuel 17:49Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

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
• Armour
• Bow
• Chronicles, Books of
• Close
• Games
• Jonathan
• Sling
• David
• Genealogy

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