1 Chronicles

David’s Supporters

The 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 belonged.

They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow.

They were Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah; Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Berach and Jehu from Anathoth;

Ismaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of The Thirty;

Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederoth;

Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah from Haruph,

Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam; Korahites:

Joelah, Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

Some Gadites also joined David’s troops when he was at the desert fort. They were valiant fighting men and experts with shields and spears. They were as fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.

Ezer was the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third,

Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth.

Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,

Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,

Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh.

These sons of Gad were troop commanders, each in command of a unit; the junior officers placed over a hundred, and the senior officers over a thousand.

These men 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.

Those men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fort.

David 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.”

Then 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.

Some 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.

He was on his way to Ziklag when these Manassites joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manasseh.

They were reinforcements for David and his troops since they were all outstanding soldiers and became officers in the army.

Indeed, new men joined David’s forces almost every day so that his camp grew into an enormous camp.

These are the figures from the list of experienced warriors who joined David at Hebron to transfer Saul’s kingship to him by the command of the Lord:

Sons of Judah carrying shield and spear: , men equipped for battle.

Of the sons of Simeon; , well-trained men.

Of the sons of Levi: ,

in addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaronites, with , men;

Zadok, a young and able fighter, and commanders of his family.

Of the sons of Benjamin: , relatives of Saul, most of them hitherto in the service of the house of Saul.

Of the sons of Ephraim: , men famous in their families.

Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, , men were assigned by name to go and proclaim David king.

Of the sons of Issachar, an expert in knowing the times when Israel should take action and the way to do it: leaders and all their relatives under their command.

Of Zebulun: , men fit for service, ready to fight with weapons of every kind.

Of Naphtali: , commanders, and with them, , men armed with shields and spears.

Of the Danites: , men ready for battle.

Of Asher: , men fit for service, prepared for battle.

From Transjordan: , men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with weapons of every kind.

All 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.

For three days, they stayed there, eating and drinking with David, because their relatives had sent food for them.

Moreover, 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.