King David's Army I Chronicles 12

I Chronicles 12:1 "Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war."

David was a mighty man of war but he could not do it alone. This chapter tells of his mighty men and gives numbers of how many came from the various tribes. I will use several verses to cover this chapter.

v2 "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."

Perhaps the key phrase is even of Saul's brethren. Israel was behind David but Saul still reigned.

v8 "And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains."

They looked fierce in battle that did not find the weapons of war cumbersome and could move around fast and sure footed when fighting.

v22 "For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God."

They came to help David. Back in verse 1 it said the mighty men were helpers of the war.

v32 "And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment."

These were men who could advise David of the attitudes in the land and were able to tell him what was happening in the country and among the people.

v40 "Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought Bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly; for there was joy in Israel."

The morale was high among the army. These people went through the land and gathered up supplies to feed the army. As the numbers increased it must have been a daunting task to find food for all of them as we know from the story of Abigail.

Here are the numbers:
Judah: 6800
Simeon: 7100
Levi: 4600
Jehoiada (Aaronites): 3700
Zadok (a priest): 22 captains
Benjamin (Saul's kindred): 3000
Ephraim: 2800
Manasseh (half tribe) 18,000
Issachar: 200 captains plus all their brethren
Zebulum: 50,000 (could keep rank not of double heart)
Naphtali: 1,000 captains, 37,000 (with shield and spear)
Danities: 28,600
Asher: 40,000
Reubenities, Gadites, half tribe of Manasseh from other side of Jordan: 120,000
All the rest of Israel: of one heart to make David king.

David could have taken the kingdom with this army but Saul was defeated by the Philistines.

Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? v2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

Keywords: David, Old Testament, Chronicles, Bible Study. David gathers his mighty men.