Warriors Who Joined David at Ziklag

12:1 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished1 from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 12:2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin.2) These were:3

12:3 Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;

Berachah,

Jehu the Anathothite,

12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader,

(12:5)4 Jeremiah,

Jahaziel,

Johanan,

Jozabad the Gederathite,

12:5 (12:6) Eluzai,

Jerimoth,

Bealiah,

Shemariah,

Shephatiah the Haruphite,

12:6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,

12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.5 12:9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 12:14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.6 12:15 They crossed the Jordan River7 in the first month,8 when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.9

12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 12:17 David went out to meet them and said,10 “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you.11 But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you,12 may the God of our ancestors13 take notice and judge!” 12:18 But a spirit14 empowered15 Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said:16

“We are yours, O David!

We support17 you, O son of Jesse!

May you greatly prosper!18

May those who help you prosper!19

Indeed20 your God helps you!”

So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.

12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined21 David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”)22 12:20 When David23 went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.24