17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if you come to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wickedness in mine hands, the God of our fathers behold it, and rebuke it.

18 And the [a]spirit came upon Amasai, which was the chief of thirty, and he said, Thine are we, David, and with thee, O son of Jesse. Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be unto thine helpers: for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the garrison.

19 ¶ And of Manasseh, some fell to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they [b]helped them not: for the Princes of the Philistines (A)by advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul [c]for our heads.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 12:18 The spirit of boldness and courage moved him to speak thus.
  2. 1 Chronicles 12:19 They came only to help David, and not to succor the Philistines, which were enemies to their country.
  3. 1 Chronicles 12:19 Or, on the jeopardy of our heads.

17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”

18 Then the Spirit(A) came on Amasai,(B) chief of the Thirty, and he said:

“We are yours, David!
    We are with you, son of Jesse!
Success,(C) 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.

19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”)(D)

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