18
Just then Amasai chief of the Thirty, moved by God's Spirit, said, We're on your side, O David, We're committed, O son of Jesse; All is well, yes, all is well with you, And all's well with whoever helps you. Yes, for your God has helped and does help you. So David took them on and assigned them a place under the chiefs of the raiders.
19
Some from the tribe of Manasseh also defected to David when he started out with the Philistines to go to war against Saul. In the end, they didn't actually fight because the Philistine leaders, after talking it over, sent them home, saying, "We can't trust them with our lives - they'll betray us to their master Saul."
20
The men from Manasseh who defected to David at Ziklag were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, all leaders among the families of Manasseh.
21
They helped David in his raids against the desert bandits; they were all stalwart fighters and good leaders among his raiders.
22
Hardly a day went by without men showing up to help - it wasn't long before his band seemed as large as God's own army!
23
Here are the statistics on the battle-seasoned warriors who came down from the north to David at Hebron to hand over Saul's kingdom, in accord with God's word:
24
from Judah, carrying shield and spear, 6,800 battle-ready;
25
from Simeon, 7,100 stalwart fighters;
27
which included Jehoiada leader of the family of Aaron, bringing 3,700 men
28
and the young and stalwart Zadok with twenty-two leaders from his family;