The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag
1 Now these are the ones who came to David to Ziklag while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2 They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of Saul’s relatives of the tribe of Benjamin.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite.
There was Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, Beracah,
Jehu the Anathothite,
4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the 30 and a leader of the 30,
Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
5 Eluzai, Jerimoth; Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Elkanah, Isshiah Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 Some Gadites joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains:
9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.
14 These of the Gadites were captains of the army: he who was least was over 100 troops, and the greatest over 1,000. 15 These are the ones who went over the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks, and they put to flight all who lived in the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.
16 Some from the Benjamites and from Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and answered them, “If you have come to me in peace, to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it.”
18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the 30, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, son of Jesse. Peace. Peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers, for your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them captains of the band.
19 Some of Manasseh also joined David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.”
20 As he went to Ziklag, some from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of rovers, for they were all mighty men of valor and were captains in the army. 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
David’s Army Grows at Hebron
23 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord:
24 The descendants of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800 armed for war.
25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for the war: 7,100.
26 Of the Levites: 4,600. 27 Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron, and with him were 3,700, 28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and his family, 22 captains.
29 Of the Benjaminites, Saul’s relatives: 3,000, for until then most of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house.
30 Of the Ephraimites: 22,800 mighty men of valor, famous men in their families.
31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.
32 Of the Issacharites, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs; and all their brothers were at their command.
33 Of Zebulun, 50,000 who were fit for war and could keep battle formation, trained in all kinds of weaponry, who could command and did not have a divided heart toward David.
34 Of Naphtali: 1,000 captains, and with them with shield and spear 37,000.
35 Of the Danites who could keep battle formation: 28,600.
36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could keep battle formation: 40,000.
37 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle: 120,000.
38 All these were men of war who, arrayed for battle, 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. 39 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had supplied provisions for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.