Other Fighting Men Join David at Hebron
23 Large numbers of men came to David at Hebron. They were prepared for battle. They came to hand Saul's kingdom over to him, just as the LORD had said. Here are the numbers of the men who came.
24
The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was %"6,800.
25
The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was %"7,100.
26
The total number of men from Levi was %"4,600.
27
They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with %"3,700 men.
28
They also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.
29
The men from Benjamin were Saul's relatives. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul's family until that time. The total number of them was %"3,000.
30
The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.
31
The men from half of the tribe of Manasseh had been chosen by name to come and make David king. The total number of them was 18,000.
32
The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all of their relatives who were under their command.
33
The men from Zebulun knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. They had every kind of weapon. They came to help David with their whole heart. The total number of them was 50,000.
34
The total number of officers from Naphtali was %"1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.
35
The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.
36
The men from Asher knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 40,000.
37
The men from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh were armed with every kind of weapon. The men came from the east side of the Jordan River. The total number of them was 120,000.
38
All of those fighting men offered to serve in the army. Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all of the people of Israel. All of the rest of the people also agreed to make David king.
39
The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them.
40
Their neighbors also brought food. They brought it on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. They came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep. The people of Israel brought all of those things because they were so happy.