death (1 Chr 11:1–3). This acclamation is followed by the conquest of Jerusalem (11:4–9), the mention of assorted warriors who strengthened David’s position (11:10–47), and the rallies of Benjaminites, Gadites, Judahites, and Benjaminites to David at various locales (12:1–19). It would seem that the Davidic kingdom only grows stronger with such defections. But a close reading of 1 Chr 11–12 reveals that those defections occurred earlier in David’s career, either before he became king (e.g., at his