David’s early followers
1The following men came to David in Ziklag where he had gone to escape from King Saul. They were valiant and reliable warriors, members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul be longed. 2They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow. 3They were Ahiezer the leader, and Joash, sons of Hashemar from Gibeah, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, Berach and Jehu from Anathoth, 4Ismaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of The Thirty; 5Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad from Gederoth, 6Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah from Hariph, 7Elkanah, Eshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, Korahites, 8Joelah, Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
9Some Gadites also joined David’s troops when he was at the desert fort. They were valiant fighting men and experts with shield and spear. They were as fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer. 10Ezer was the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 11Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth. 12Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 13Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 14Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 15These sons of God were troop commanders, each one in command of a unit, the junior officers placed over a hundred, and senior officers over a thousand. 16These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its course, and scattered all the people who lived on its banks, both east and west.
17Those men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fort. 18David went to meet them and said, “If you come to me as friends, to give me help, then I am ready to join you. But if it is to betray me to my enemies, when I have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and punish you.”
19Then God’s spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, leader of The Thirty, and he called out: “Yours we are, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace to you, peace to him that helps you, for God is on your side.”
David welcomed them and made them officers in his army. 20Some people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side as he was setting out with the Philistines to fight Saul. But David did not help the Philistines, because their chiefs, after consultation, sent him back to Ziklag. They were afraid he would betray them to his former master Saul. 21He was on his way to Ziklag when these Manassites joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manasseh. 22They were reinforcements for David and his troops, since they were all outstanding soldiers and became officers in the army. 23Indeed new men joined David’s forces almost every day, so that his camp grew into an enormous camp.
The warriors who assured David’s kingship
24These are the figures from the list of experienced warriors who joined David at Hebron to transfer Saul’s kingship to him in accordance with the command of Yahweh:
25Sons of Judah carrying shield and spear: 6,800 men equipped for battle. 26Of the sons of Simeon; 7,100 well-trained men. 27Of the sons of Levi: 4,600 28in addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaronites, with 3,700 men; 29Zadok, a young and able fighter and 22 commanders of his family.
30Of the sons of Benjamin: 3,000 kinsmen of Saul, most of them hitherto in the service of the House of Saul. 31Of the sons of Ephraim: 20,800 men famous in their families. 32Of the half tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 men assigned by name to go and proclaim David king. 33Of the sons of Issachar, expert in knowing the times when Israel should take action, and the way to do it: leaders and all their kinsmen under their command.
34Of Zebulun: 50,000 men fit for service, ready to fight with weapons of every kind. 35Of Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 36Of the Danites: 28,600 men ready for battle. 37Of Asher: 40,000 men fit for service, ready for battle. 38From Transjordania: 120,000 men of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, with weapons of every kind.
39All these warriors, ready for battle, came to Hebron willingly to proclaim David king over all Israel; and the rest of Israel, too, were all of one mind in making David king. 40For three days they stayed there, eating and drinking with David, for their kinsmen had sent food for them. 41Moreover from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali their neighbors brought provisions, by donkey and camel, mule and ox – flour cakes, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, quantities of oxen and sheep; for there was joy in Israel.
