Bible Text & Cross-references:
Who followed David when he fled from Saul. And who came
to Hebron to make him king.
1 Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, *while he yet fled
from Saul, the son of Cis, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors,
2 Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings,
and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul and Benjamin.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samaa, of Gabaath, and
Jaziel, and Phallet, the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu, an Anathothite.
4 And Samaias, of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the
thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel, and Johanan, and Jezabad, of Gaderoth;
5 And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia, the
Haruphite;
6 Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam, of Carehim:
7 And Joela, and Zabadia, the sons of Jeroham, of Gedor.
8 From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness,
most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were
swift like the roebucks on the mountains.
9 Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third,
10 Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth.
11 Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth,
13 Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh,
14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least
of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand.
15 These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when
it is used to flow over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the vallies, both toward the east and toward the
west.
16 And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda, to the hold
in which David abode.
17 And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably
to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies, whereas I have no iniquity in
my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge.
18 But the spirit came upon Amasai, the chief among thirty, and he said:
We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth
thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19 And there were some of Manasses, that went over to David, when he
came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: *because the lords of the Philistines taking
counsel, sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master, Saul.
20 So when he went back to Siceleg, *there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas,
and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses.
21 These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant
men, and were made commanders in the army.
22 Moreover, day by day there came some to David to help him, till they
became a great number, like the army of God.
23 And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to David,
when he was in Hebron, *to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, according to the word of the Lord.
24 The sons of Juda, bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred,
well appointed to war.
25 Of the sons of Simeon, valiant men for war, seven thousand one hundred.
26 Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred.
27 And Joiada, prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand
seven hundred.
28 Sadoc also, a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of
his father, twenty-two principal men.
29 And of the sons of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand:
for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.
30 And of the sons of Ephraim, twenty thousand eight hundred, men of
great valour, renowned in their kindreds.
31 And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by
their names came to make David king.
32 Also of the sons of Issachar, men of understanding, that knew all
times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel.
33 And of Zabulon, such as went forth to battle, and stood in array well
appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his aid, with no double heart.
34 And of Nephthali, a thousand leaders; and with them seven and thirty
thousand, furnished with shield and spear.
35 Of Dan also, twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle.
36 And of Aser, forty thousand, going forth to fight, and challenging
in battle.
37 And on the other side of the Jordan, of the sons of Ruben, and of
Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses, a hundred and twenty thousand, furnished with arms for war.
38 All these men of war, well appointed to fight, 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 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking: for
their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover they that were near them, even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon,
and Nephthali, brought loaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: and meal, figs, raisins,
wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep, in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.
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*
1: 1 Kings xxvii. 2.; Year of the World 2948, Year before
Christ 1056.
19: 1 Kings xxix. 4.
20: Year of the World 2949.
23: 2 Kings v.; Year of the World 2956.