So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. ] Which belonged to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; here the Israelites that were with Absalom encamped, in order to give battle to David and his men.
24
David had reached Mahanaim by the time Absalom and all the Israelites who were with him crossed the Jordan River.
25
Absalom had put Amasa in charge of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, an Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, who was Nahash's daughter and the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.
26
Israel and Absalom camped in the territory of Gilead.
27
When David arrived in Mahanaim, Nahash's son Shobi, who was from Rabbah of the Ammonites; Ammiel's son Machir, who was from Lo-debar; and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
28
brought couches, basins, and pottery, along with wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,