Fighting Men Join David

12 Some 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

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

Jeremiah

Jahaziel

Johanan

Jozabad from Gederah

5 Eluzai

Jerimoth

Bealiah

Shemariah

Shephatiah, the Haruphite

6 the Korahites Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam

7 Joelah 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.

9 Ezer was their chief.

Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.

10 Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.

11 Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.

12 Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.

13 Jeremiah 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.

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.

24 The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 6,800.

25 The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was 7,100.

26 The 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. 28They also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.

29 The men from Benjamin were Saul’s relatives. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul’s family until that time. The total number of them was 3,000.

30 The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.

31 The 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.

32 The 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 of their relatives who were under their command.

33 The 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.

34 The total number of officers from Naphtali was 1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.

35 The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.

36 The 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.

37 The men from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of 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 of those fighting men offered to serve in the army. Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all of the people of Israel. All of 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 people of Israel brought all of those things because they were so happy.