Fighting Men Join David
1Some fighting men came to David at Ziklag. They were among those who helped him in battle. David had been forced to hide from Saul, the son of Kish. 2The men were armed with bows. They were able to shoot arrows or throw stones from a sling with either hand. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Here is a list of them.
3Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite
Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth
Berakah
Jehu from Anathoth
4Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty warrior among the 30 chiefs and a leader of the 30 chiefs
Jeremiah
Jahaziel
Johanan
Jozabad from Gederah
5Eluzai
Jerimoth
Bealiah
Shemariah
Shephatiah, the Haruphite
6the Korahites Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam
7Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor
8Some men of Gad went over to David’s side at his usual place of safety in the desert. They were brave fighting men. They were ready for battle. They were able to use shields and spears. Their faces were like the faces of lions. They could run as fast as antelopes in the mountains.
9Ezer was their chief.
Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.
10Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.
11Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.
12Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.
13Jeremiah was tenth. And Makbannai was eleventh.
14All these men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000. 15They went across the Jordan River when it was flowing over its banks. That happened in the first month of spring. They chased away everyone who lived in the valleys. They chased them away from the east and west sides of the river.
16Some men from the territories of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his usual place of safety. 17David went out to meet them. He said to them, “Have you come to me in peace? Have you come to help me? If you have, I’m ready for you to join me. But suppose you have come to hand me over to my enemies when I haven’t even harmed anyone. Then may the God of our people see it and judge you.”
18The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was leader of the 30 chiefs. He said,
“David, we belong to you!
Son of Jesse, we’re on your side!
May you have great success.
May those who help you also have success.
Your God will help you.”
So David welcomed them. He made them leaders in his army.
19Some people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side. They did this when he marched out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But David and his men didn’t help the Philistines. That’s because after all the Philistine rulers had discussed the matter, they sent him away. They said, “Suppose he deserts to his master Saul. Then our heads will be cut off!” 20So David went to Ziklag. Here are the men of Manasseh who went over to his side. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai. They were leaders of groups of 1,000 men in Manasseh. 21They helped David fight against enemy armies. All the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David’s army. 22Day after day men came to help David. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.
Other Fighting Men Join David at Hebron
23Large numbers of men came to David at Hebron. They were prepared for battle. They came to hand Saul’s kingdom over to him, just as the Lord had said. Here are the numbers of the men who came.
24The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 6,800.
25The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was 7,100.
26The total number of men from Levi was 4,600. 27They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with 3,700 men. 28The men from Levi also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.
29The men from Benjamin were from Saul’s tribe. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul’s family until that time. The total number of them was 3,000.
30The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.
31The men from half of the tribe of Manasseh had been chosen by name to come and make David king. The total number of them was 18,000.
32The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all their relatives who were under their command.
33The men from Zebulun knew how to fight well. That’s because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. They had every kind of weapon. They came to help David with their whole heart. The total number of them was 50,000.
34The total number of officers from Naphtali was 1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.
35The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.
36The men from Asher knew how to fight well. That’s because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 40,000.
37The men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh were armed with every kind of weapon. The men came from the east side of the Jordan River. The total number of them was 120,000.
38All these fighting men offered to serve in the army.
Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all the Israelites. All the rest of the people also agreed to make David king. 39The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them. 40Their neighbors also brought food. They brought it on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. They came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep. The Israelites brought all these things because they were so happy.
1Now 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.12.1 while…: Heb. being yet shut up 2They 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. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,12.3 Shemaah: or, Hasmaah 4And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite, 5Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites, 7And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8And 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;12.8 of war: Heb. of the host12.8 as swift…: Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste 9Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. 14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.12.14 one…: or, one that was least could resist an hundred, and the greatest a thousand 15These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.12.15 overflown: Heb. filled over 16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. 17And 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 ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.12.17 to meet…: Heb. before them12.17 be knit: Heb. be one12.17 wrong: or, violence 18Then 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.12.18 came…: Heb. clothed 19And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.12.19 to the…: Heb. on our heads 20As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh. 21And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.12.21 against…: or, with a band 22For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
23¶ And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.12.23 bands: or, captains, or, men: Heb. heads 24The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.12.24 armed: or, prepared 25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. 26Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. 27And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred; 28And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains. 29And 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.12.29 kindred: Heb. brethren12.29 the greatest…: Heb. a multitude of them 30And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.12.30 famous: Heb. men of names 31And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king. 32And 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. 33Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.12.33 expert…: or, rangers of battle, or, ranged in battle12.33 keep…: or, set the battle in array12.33 not…: Heb. without a heart and a heart 34And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. 35And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. 36And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.12.36 expert: or, keeping their rank 37And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. 38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. 40Moreover 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.12.40 meat…: or, victual of meal
