New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle;
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Some fighting men came to David at Ziklag. They were among those who helped him in battle. David had been forced to hide from Saul, the son of Kish.
2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):
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The men were armed with bows. They were able to shoot arrows or throw stones from a sling with either hand. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Here is a list of them.
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite,
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Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth Beracah Jehu from Anathoth
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
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Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader of the Thirty Jeremiah Jahaziel Johanan Jozabad from Gederah
5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite;
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Eluzai Jerimoth Bealiah Shemariah Shephatiah, the Haruphite
6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites;
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the Korahites Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
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Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor
8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
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Some men of Gad went over to David's side at his usual place of safety in the desert. They were brave fighting men. They were ready for battle. They were able to use shields and spears. Their faces were like the faces of lions. They could run as fast as antelopes in the mountains.
9 Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,
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Ezer was their chief. Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
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Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.
11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
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Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
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Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.
13 Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.
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Jeremiah was tenth. And Macbannai was eleventh.
14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
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All of those men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000.
15 It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
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They went across the Jordan River when it was flowing over its banks. That happened in the first month of spring. They chased away everyone who lived in the valleys. They chased them away from the east and west sides of the river.
16 Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
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Some men from the territories of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his usual place of safety.
17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”
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David went out to meet them. He said to them, "Have you come to me in peace? Have you come to help me? If you have, I'm ready to have you join me. But suppose you have come to hand me over to my enemies when I haven't even harmed anyone. Then may the God of our people see it and judge you."
18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
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The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was chief of the Thirty. He said, "David, we belong to you! Son of Jesse, we're on your side! May you have great success. May those who help you also have success. Your God will help you." So David welcomed them. He made them leaders in his army.
19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”)
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Some men of Manasseh went over to David's side when he marched out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But David and his men didn't help the Philistines. That's because after all of the Philistine rulers had discussed the matter, they sent him away. They said, "Suppose he deserts to his master Saul. Then our heads will be cut off!"
20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh.
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So David went to Ziklag. Here are the men of Manasseh who went over to his side. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai. They were leaders of companies of 1,000 men in Manasseh.
21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army.
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They helped David fight against enemy armies. All of the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David's army.
22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
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Day after day men came to help him. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.
23 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the LORD had said:
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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 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
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The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was %"6,800.
25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
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The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was %"7,100.
26 from Levi—4,600,
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The total number of men from Levi was %"4,600.
27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men,
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They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with %"3,700 men.
28 and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
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They also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
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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 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
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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 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
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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 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
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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 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
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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 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
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The total number of officers from Naphtali was %"1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.
35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
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The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.
36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
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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 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
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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 these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king.
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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, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them.
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The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them.
40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
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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.
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