1
Following are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was still being kept away from Sha'ul the son of Kish; they were among the warriors who helped him fight his battles.
2
They were archers who could use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow; they were Sha'ul's kinsmen from Binyamin.
3
Their leader was Achi'ezer, then Yo'ash, the sons of Sh'ma'ah the Giv'ati, Y'zi'el, Pelet, the sons of 'Azmavet, B'rakhah, Yehu from 'Anatot,
4
Yishma'yah the Giv'oni, one of the strongest of the thirty and commander of the thirty,
5
(4b) Yirmeyah, Yachzi'el, Yochanan, Yozavad from G'derah,5 El'uzai, Yerimot, B'alyah, Sh'maryah, Sh'fatyah the Harufi,
6
Elkanah, Yishiyahu, 'Azar'el, Yo'ezer, Yashov'am the Korchi,
7
and Yo'elah and Z'vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G'dor.
8
From the Gadi a number of strong, brave, trained fighting men defected to David at the fortress in the desert. They could handle shield and spear, they were as fierce as lions, and they were as fast as deer on the hills:
9
'Ezer was the leader, 'Ovadyah was second, Eli'av third,
10
Mishmanah fourth, Yirmeyah fifth,
11
'Atai sixth, Eli'el seventh,
12
Yochanan eighth, Elzavad ninth,
13
Yirmeyah tenth, and Makhbanai eleventh.
14
These descendants of Gad were army commanders; the least of them was worth a hundred, and the greatest worth a thousand.
15
These are the men who crossed the Yarden during the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and drove out all those who lived in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
16
From the descendants of Binyamin and Y'hudah a number came to David at the fortress.
17
When David went out to meet them, he said, "If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge."
18
Then the Spirit covered 'Amasai the chief commander, and he said: "We are yours, David; on your side, son of Yishai! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers; for your God helps you." David welcomed them and made them senior officers.
19
From M'nasheh some defected to David when he was about to go with the P'lishtim to fight against Sha'ul; but they ended up not helping them; because the rulers of the P'lishtim, after consultation, sent David away, saying, "He will defect to his master Sha'ul at the cost of our heads."
20
As he was on his way to Ziklag, those who defected to him from M'nasheh included 'Adnach, Yozavad, Y'dia'el, Mikha'el, Yozavad, Elihu and Tziltai, commanders of thousands from M'nasheh.
21
They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.
22
Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God.