1 Chronicles 12:29
New International Version
from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;

New Living Translation
From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.

English Standard Version
Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Berean Standard Bible
From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.

King James Bible
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

New King James Version
of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until then the greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul);

New American Standard Bible
From the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen, three thousand; for until now the majority of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

NASB 1995
Of the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

NASB 1977
And of the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Legacy Standard Bible
Of the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Amplified Bible
Of the tribe of Benjamin, the relatives of [King] Saul, 3,000; for until now the majority of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Christian Standard Bible
From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul: 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul: 3,000 (up to that time the majority of the Benjaminites maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul).

American Standard Version
And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

English Revised Version
And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From Benjamin's descendants, Saul's relatives, there were 3,000 men, though most of them remained loyal to Saul's family.

International Standard Version
The tribe of Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of Saul's dynasty.

Majority Standard Bible
From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time.

NET Bible
From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.

New Heart English Bible
Of the people of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Webster's Bible Translation
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

World English Bible
Of the children of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives: three thousand, for until then, the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And of the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, [are] three thousand, and until now their greater part are keeping the charge of the house of Saul.

Young's Literal Translation
And of the sons of Benjamin, brethren of Saul, are three thousand, and hitherto their greater part are keeping the charge of the house of Saul.

Smith's Literal Translation
And from the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: and hitherto from many of them watching the watches of the house of Saul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul.

New American Bible
Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul: three thousand—until this time, most of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

New Revised Standard Version
Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And from the sons of Benyamin, the brothers of Shaul, a thousand three, and until the day when Shaul was killed, those were the Guards of the garrison of the house of Shaul.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand; for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And of the sons of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: and still the greater part of them kept the guard of the house of Saul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Army Grows at Hebron
28and Zadok, a mighty young man of valor, with 22 commanders from his own family. 29From Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul: 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to the house of Saul up to that time. 30From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men of valor, famous among their own clans.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 2:8-9
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, / and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

2 Samuel 3:1
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

2 Samuel 19:9-10
And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. / But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

1 Kings 12:21-24
And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. / But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: / “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people ...

1 Chronicles 11:1-3
Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

1 Chronicles 15:3
And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

1 Chronicles 27:1
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division:

2 Chronicles 10:16-19
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. / Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 11:1-4
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. / But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: / “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin ...

Psalm 78:9
The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.

Psalm 78:67-68
He rejected the tent of Joseph and refused the tribe of Ephraim. / But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.

Hosea 5:5
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

Hosea 5:10
The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

Hosea 5:12-14
So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah. / When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound. / For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.


Treasury of Scripture

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for till now the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.

kindred [heb] brethren

1 Chronicles 12:2
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.

Genesis 31:23
And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

2 Samuel 2:8,9
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; …

Jump to Previous
Adhered Allegiance Benjamin Benjaminites Charge Children Greater Greatest Hitherto House Keeping Kept Kindred Kinsmen Loyal Majority Part Saul Saul's Thousand Three Time True. Ward
Jump to Next
Adhered Allegiance Benjamin Benjaminites Charge Children Greater Greatest Hitherto House Keeping Kept Kindred Kinsmen Loyal Majority Part Saul Saul's Thousand Three Time True. Ward
1 Chronicles 12
1. The companies that came to David at Ziklag
23. The armies that came to him at Hebron














From the Benjamites
The tribe of Benjamin holds a significant place in Israel's history. As the smallest tribe, it was known for its fierce warriors and strategic importance. The Hebrew root for Benjamin, "Binyamin," means "son of the right hand," symbolizing strength and favor. Historically, the Benjamites were known for their skill in battle, as seen in Judges 20. Their loyalty to Saul, a Benjamite himself, reflects a deep tribal allegiance that was common in ancient Israel.

the kinsmen of Saul
Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjamite, and his kin would naturally have a vested interest in the monarchy. The Hebrew term for "kinsmen" here is "ach," which can mean brother or close relative, indicating a familial bond. This phrase highlights the personal and tribal loyalty that Saul's relatives had, which was a significant factor in the political dynamics of the time. Their support for Saul's house underscores the importance of family ties in maintaining power and influence.

3,000
The number 3,000 is significant, indicating a substantial group of warriors. In biblical numerology, the number three often symbolizes completeness or divine perfection. This large number of Benjamites suggests a formidable force, reflecting the tribe's military prowess and the seriousness of their loyalty to Saul's house. It also indicates the potential threat they posed to David's claim to the throne, as they could have been a powerful opposition.

most of whom had remained loyal
The phrase "remained loyal" is translated from the Hebrew "shamar," meaning to keep, guard, or preserve. This loyalty was not just passive but active, involving a conscious decision to support Saul's lineage despite the shifting political landscape. Their loyalty is noteworthy, as it demonstrates the enduring allegiance to Saul's house even after his death, highlighting the complexities of tribal and familial loyalty in ancient Israel.

to the house of Saul
The "house of Saul" refers to Saul's dynasty or family line. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a "house" was more than just a physical dwelling; it represented a lineage or dynasty. The loyalty to Saul's house indicates a commitment to his legacy and a resistance to the new leadership under David. This phrase encapsulates the tension between the old and new orders in Israel's monarchy, as David sought to unify the tribes under his rule.

(29) Kindred.--Fellow-tribesmen.

Hitherto.--Up to that time. (Comp., same phrase, 1Chronicles 9:18.)

Had kept.--Were still keeping guard over the house of Saul. For the phrase comp. Numbers 3:38. The Benjamites, as a whole, were still jealously guarding the interests of their own royal house. This remark, as well as the preceding expression, "Saul's fellow-tribesmen," is intended to explain the comparative smallness of the contingent from Benjamin. The tribe's reluctance to recognise David survived the murder of Ish-bosheth.

Verse 29. - Had kept the ward; rather, had kept on the side of; the Hebrew, שֹׁמְרִים מִשְׁמֶרֶת; Vulgate, adhuc sequebatur. The proposed translation of זְעַדיחֵנָח by "still" ('Speaker's Commentary,' in loc.) is very doubtful. The for hitherto of this verse explains the reason of the comparatively small number Of the Benjamites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From the Benjamites,
בְּנֵ֧י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

the kinsmen
אֲחֵ֥י (’ă·ḥê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 251: A brother, )

of Saul:
שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

3,000,
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

most of whom
מַרְבִּיתָ֔ם (mar·bî·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4768: Increase, great number, greatness

had remained
שֹׁמְרִ֕ים (šō·mə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

loyal to
מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת (miš·me·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function

the house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Saul
שָׁאֽוּל׃ (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

up to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

that time.
הֵ֙נָּה֙ (hên·nāh)
Adverb
Strong's 2008: Hither, thither


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 12:29 Of the children of Benjamin the brothers (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 12:28
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