12Some 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

Beracah

Jehu from Anathoth

⁴Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader of the Thirty

Jeremiah

Jahaziel

Johanan

Jozabad from Gederah

⁵Eluzai

Jerimoth

Bealiah

Shemariah

Shephatiah, the Haruphite

⁶the Korahites Elkanah, Isshiah, 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 Macbannai was eleventh.

¹⁴All of those 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 to have you 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 chief of the Thirty. 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 men of Manasseh went over to David’s side 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 of 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 companies of 1,000 men in Manasseh. ²¹They helped David fight against enemy armies. All of the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David’s army.

²²Day after day men came to help him. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.

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