1 Chronicles 12 18

1 Chronicles 12:18 kjv

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

1 Chronicles 12:18 nkjv

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: "We are yours, O David; We are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you." So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.

1 Chronicles 12:18 niv

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you." So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

1 Chronicles 12:18 esv

Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you." Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

1 Chronicles 12:18 nlt

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David!
We are on your side, son of Jesse.
Peace and prosperity be with you,
and success to all who help you,
for your God is the one who helps you."
So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.

1 Chronicles 12 verses

1 Chronicles 12 18 Meaning

The verse describes a pivotal moment when the Spirit of God empowered Amasai, a prominent military leader, to publicly declare unwavering loyalty to David, expressing fervent blessings of peace upon him and his supporters, grounded in the recognition that God Himself was helping David. This divinely inspired affirmation led David to immediately accept these men and appoint them to leadership roles.

1 Chronicles 12 18 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 12 details the mighty warriors who rallied to David while he was a fugitive from King Saul, first at Ziklag and later at Hebron. This chapter is a testament to David's growing legitimacy and God's favor upon him, even before he formally ascended the throne over all Israel. It catalogues the brave and skilled men from various Israelite tribes who were "mighty men of valor" and joined David, often supernaturally empowered, understanding that the time was coming for David to assume kingship as divinely appointed. Verse 18 specifically highlights a dramatic and spiritually significant moment where Amasai, a prominent figure, is divinely inspired to confirm his and his comrades' allegiance to David. The historical context is one of political transition and instability, where loyalty was paramount, and divine affirmation played a crucial role in validating leadership. This gathering at Ziklag sets the stage for David's eventual, undisputed reign over a united Israel, demonstrating God's consistent hand in raising him to power.

1 Chronicles 12 18 Word analysis

• Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:

  • Spirit (רוּחַ, Ruach): In this context, "Ruach" refers to the Holy Spirit of God. Its "coming upon" individuals in the Old Testament signifies a special anointing or empowering by God for a specific task, such as leadership, prophecy, or exceptional strength. This is not merely Amasai's personal thought but a divine inspiration, giving his words prophetic weight and validating David's legitimacy as God's chosen king. This divine enabling parallels the Spirit coming upon judges (Judg 3:10, 6:34), Saul (1 Sam 10:6), and later David (1 Sam 16:13), authenticating their divine calling.
  • Amasai, chief of the captains: Amasai held a significant military position, lending authority and impact to his inspired declaration. His leadership would influence many others to follow David.
  • came upon...and he said: Indicates an immediate, powerful, and public outpouring of the Spirit, resulting in an inspired utterance that directly affirms David's position.

• 'We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse!'

  • We are yours: This is an unconditional declaration of allegiance, signifying complete surrender, loyalty, and dedication to David. It implies becoming David's property or devoted servants, committing their lives and future to his cause.
  • with you: This phrase expresses active participation, solidarity, and partnership. It’s a promise to stand alongside David, to support him in all his endeavors.
  • O son of Jesse!: "Jesse" was David's father (1 Sam 16:1). Referring to David as "son of Jesse" underscores his humble, un-princely origins. This was a title often used to identify David's common background, sometimes disparagingly by his enemies (e.g., Saul in 1 Sam 20:27, 22:7), but here, coming from Spirit-inspired Amasai, it acknowledges God's unexpected choice of an ordinary individual for extraordinary divine purposes. It also reaffirms that their allegiance is to the individual chosen by God, not just a dynastic figure.

• 'Peace, peace be to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.'

  • Peace, peace (שָׁלוֹם, Shalom): The repetition of "Shalom" intensifies the blessing, emphasizing a profound, complete, and holistic wish for well-being, wholeness, prosperity, security, health, and covenantal harmony. It encompasses the absence of conflict as well as flourishing in every aspect of life, signifying God's blessing. Such emphatic repetition is a Hebrew idiom to highlight intensity or totality (cf. "Holy, Holy, Holy" in Isa 6:3).
  • to your helpers: This extends the comprehensive blessing of "Shalom" to everyone who supports David's cause. It builds unity and a sense of shared purpose within David's emerging kingdom.
  • for your God helps you: This is the core theological justification and explanation for their allegiance and blessing. Amasai attributes David's success and growing influence not to his own strength or military might, but directly to God's active intervention and assistance. It’s a recognition of God’s providential hand in David’s life and destiny. The phrase "your God" personalizes this divine support, affirming the special relationship between God and David.

• Then David received them and made them captains of the troop.

  • David received them: David acknowledged and accepted their inspired declaration and pledge, showing his wisdom and discernment in recognizing the Spirit's work. This implies trust and welcoming.
  • made them captains of the troop: David immediately integrated them into his leadership structure, affirming their significance and demonstrating his effective leadership in utilizing the divinely sent and inspired men who joined him. This shows David's ability to govern and delegate.

1 Chronicles 12 18 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s particular emphasis on the Spirit of God empowering individuals to serve David, as seen in this verse, highlights a key theme throughout Chronicles: that God actively intervenes in human affairs, especially to uphold and establish His chosen leaders and to ensure the fulfillment of His promises. This emphasis on divine enablement (the "Spirit coming upon") differs slightly from the Old Testament narratives found in Samuel, underscoring the Chronicler's specific theological purpose of presenting David's reign as divinely sanctioned and blessed. Amasai's declaration of allegiance, affirmed by the Spirit, effectively silenced any doubts about David’s future kingship, solidifying the resolve of other warriors to join him. This episode serves as an example for the audience of Chronicles, who were grappling with the challenges of their post-exilic reality, by reminding them of God's sovereign involvement and His capacity to bring about His will through faithful leaders and individuals who recognize His hand.

1 Chronicles 12 18 Commentary

1 Chronicles 12:18 captures a deeply significant moment demonstrating the divine legitimization of David’s leadership. The anointing of Amasai by the Spirit of God elevates his pledge from mere political alliance to a prophetic endorsement, establishing David's cause as God's will. The term "Shalom" repeated emphasizes a comprehensive blessing of flourishing upon David and his supporters, implicitly contrasting the turbulent reign of Saul with the anticipated peace of a kingdom under God’s favor. The explicit reason for this blessing and allegiance—"for your God helps you"—underscores the theological conviction that David’s rising power was directly a result of divine assistance. This was a testament to God's faithfulness to His promise to establish David's throne. David's response, to immediately accept and elevate these men, displays his discerning leadership and willingness to embrace those God sent to strengthen his hand. The verse therefore portrays David not just as a king-in-waiting, but as a leader uniquely favored and supported by God, around whom God was gathering faithful, Spirit-empowered individuals for the establishment of His kingdom.