The chapter lists the warriors from Benjamin, Gad, Judah and other tribes who joined David before he became king, some even while he was hiding from Saul. A great army comes to Hebron to make him king, with one heart.
1 Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag , while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish : and they were among the mighty men , helpers of the war .
2 They were armed with bows , and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow , even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin .
3 The chief was Ahiezer , then Joash , the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite ; and Jeziel , and Pelet , the sons of Azmaveth ; and Berachah , and Jehu the Antothite ,
4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite , a mighty man among the thirty , and over the thirty ; and Jeremiah , and Jahaziel , and Johanan , and Josabad the Gederathite ,
5 Eluzai , and Jerimoth , and Bealiah , and Shemariah , and Shephatiah the Haruphite ,
6 Elkanah , and Jesiah , and Azareel , and Joezer , and Jashobeam , the Korhites ,
7 And Joelah , and Zebadiah , the sons of Jeroham of Gedor .
8 And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might , and men of war fit for the battle , that could handle shield and buckler , whose faces were like the faces of lions , and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains ;
9 Ezer the first , 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 , Machbanai the eleventh .
14 These were of the sons of Gad , captains of the host : one of the least was over an hundred , and the greatest over a thousand .
15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month , when it had overflown all his banks ; and they put to flight all them of the valleys , both toward the east , and toward the west .
16 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David .
17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies , seeing there is no wrong in mine hands , the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai , who was chief of the captains , and he said, Thine are we, David , and on thy side, thou son of Jesse : peace , peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers ; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band .
19 And there fell some of Manasseh to David , when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle : but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying , He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads .
20 As he went to Ziklag , there fell to him of Manasseh , Adnah , and Jozabad , and Jediael , and Michael , and Jozabad , and Elihu , and Zilthai , captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh .
21 And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour , and were captains in the host .
22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host , like the host of God .
23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war , and came to David to Hebron , to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD .
24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred , ready armed to the war .
25 Of the children of Simeon , mighty men of valour for the war , seven thousand and one hundred .
26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred .
27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites , and with him were three thousand and seven hundred ;
28 And Zadok , a young man mighty of valour , and of his father's house twenty and two captains .
29 And of the children of Benjamin , the kindred of Saul , three thousand : for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul .
30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred , mighty men of valour , famous throughout the house of their fathers .
31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand , which were expressed by name , to come and make David king .
32 And of the children of Issachar , which were men that had understanding of the times , to know what Israel ought to do ; the heads of them were two hundred ; and all their brethren were at their commandment .
33 Of Zebulun , such as went forth to battle , expert in war , with all instruments of war , fifty thousand , which could keep rank : they were not of double heart .
34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains , and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand .
35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred .
36 And of Asher , such as went forth to battle , expert in war , forty thousand .
37 And on the other side of Jordan , of the Reubenites , and the Gadites , and of the half tribe of Manasseh , with all manner of instruments of war for the battle , an hundred and twenty thousand .
38 All these men of war , that could keep rank , 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 there they were with David three days , eating and drinking : for their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali , brought bread on asses , and on camels , and on mules , and on oxen , and meat , meal , cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins , and wine , and oil , and oxen , and sheep abundantly : for there was joy in Israel .