1 Estes são os que se juntaram a Davi em Ziclague, onde se escondia de Saul, filho de Quis. Eles estavam entre os combatentes que o ajudaram na guerra;2 utilizavam arco e flecha e a funda para atirar pedras tanto com a mão direita como com a esquerda; pertenciam à tribo de Benjamim e eram parentes de Saul:3 Aiezer, o chefe deles, e Joás, filhos de Semaá, de Gibeate; Jeziel e Pelete, filhos de Azmavete; Beraca, Jeú, de Anatote,4 e Ismaías, de Gibeom, um grande guerreiro do pelotão dos trinta, e chefe deles; Jeremias, Jaaziel, Joanã, Jozabade, de Gederate,5 Eluzai, Jeremote, Bealías, Semarias e Sefatias, de Harufe;6 os coreítas Elcana, Issias, Azareel, Joezer e Jasobeão;7 e Joela e Zebadias, filhos de Jeroão de Gedor.8 Da tribo de Gade alguns aliaram-se a Davi em sua fortaleza no deserto. Eram guerreiros corajosos, prontos para o combate, e sabiam lutar com escudo e com lança. Tinham a bravura de um leão, e eram ágeis como gazelas nos montes.9 Ézer era o primeiro; Obadias, o segundo; Eliabe, o terceiro;10 Mismana, o quarto; Jeremias, o quinto;11 Atai, o sexto; Eliel, o sétimo;12 Joanã, o oitavo; Elzabade, o nono;13 Jeremias, o décimo; e Macbanai era o décimo primeiro.14 Todos esses de Gade eram chefes de exército; o menor valia por cem, e o maior enfrentava mil.15 Foram eles que atravessaram o Jordão no primeiro mês do ano, quando o rio transborda em todas as suas margens, e puseram em fuga todos os que moravam nos vales, a leste e a oeste.16 Alguns outros benjamitas e certos homens de Judá também vieram a Davi em sua fortaleza.17 Davi saiu ao encontro deles e lhes disse: "Se vocês vieram em paz, para me ajudarem, estou pronto para recebê-los. Mas, se querem trair-me e entregar-me aos meus inimigos quando minhas mãos não cometeram violência, que o Deus de nossos antepassados veja isso e julgue vocês".18 Então o Espírito veio sobre Amasai, chefe do pelotão dos trinta, e ele disse: "Somos teus, ó Davi! Estamos contigo, ó filho de Jessé! Paz, paz seja contigo, e aos teus aliados, pois o teu Deus te ajudará". Davi os recebeu e os nomeou chefes de seus grupos de ataque.19 Alguns soldados de Manassés desertaram para Davi quando ele foi com os filisteus guerrear contra Saul. Mas eles não ajudaram os filisteus, porque os seus chefes os aconselharam e os mandaram embora, dizendo: "Pagaremos com a vida, caso Davi deserte e passe para Saul, seu senhor".20 Estes foram os homens de Manassés que desertaram para Davi quando ele foi a Ziclague: Adna, Jozabade, Jediael, Micael, Jozabade, Eliú e Ziletai, chefes de batalhões de mil em Manassés.21 Eles ajudaram Davi contra grupos de ataque, pois todos eles eram guerreiros valentes, e eram líderes no exército dele.22 De fato, diariamente chegavam soldados para ajudar Davi, até que seu exército tornou-se tão grande como o exército de Deus.23 Este é o número dos soldados armados para a guerra que vieram a Davi em Hebrom para entregar a ele o reino de Saul, conforme o Senhor tinha dito:24 Da tribo de Judá, 6. 800 armados para a guerra, com escudo e lança;25 Da tribo de Simeão, 7. 100 guerreiros prontos para o combate;26 Da tribo de Levi, 4. 600,27 inclusive Joiada, líder da família de Arão, com 3. 700 homens,28 e Zadoque, um jovem e valente guerreiro, com 22 oficiais de sua família;29 Da tribo de Benjamim, parentes de Saul, 3. 000, a maioria dos quais era até então fiel à família de Saul;30 Da tribo de Efraim, 20. 800 soldados valentes, famosos em seus próprios clãs;31 Da metade da tribo de Manassés, 18. 000, indicados por nome para fazerem Davi rei;32 Da tribo de Issacar, 200 chefes que sabiam como Israel devia agir em qualquer circunstância. Comandavam todos os seus parentes;33 Da tribo de Zebulom, 50. 000 soldados experientes, preparados para guerrear com qualquer tipo de arma, totalmente decididos a ajudar Davi;34 Da tribo de Naftali, 1. 000 líderes com 37. 000 homens armados de escudos e lanças;35 Da tribo de Dã, 28. 600 prontos para o combate;36 Da tribo de Aser, 40. 000 soldados experientes, preparados para o combate;37 e do leste do Jordão, das tribos de Rúben e de Gade, e da metade da tribo de Manassés, 120. 000 completamente armados.38 Todos esses eram homens de combate que se apresentaram voluntariamente para servirem nas fileiras. Foram a Hebrom totalmente decididos a fazerem de Davi rei sobre todo o Israel. E todos os outros israelitas tinham esse mesmo propósito.39 Ficaram com Davi três dias, comendo e bebendo, pois as suas famílias haviam fornecido provisões para eles.40 Os habitantes das tribos vizinhas e também de lugares distantes como Issacar, Zebulom e Naftali, trouxeram-lhes muitas provisões em jumentos, camelos, mulas e bois: farinha, bolos de figo, bolos de uvas passas, vinho, azeite, bois e ovelhas, pois havia grande alegria em Israel.

1 The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle.2 All of them were expert archers who could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.3 Their leader was Ahiezer son of Shemaah from Gibeah; his brother Joash was second-in-command. These were the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth;4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph;6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;7 Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.8 Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.9 Ezer was their leader. Obadiah was second. Eliab was third.10 Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.11 Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.12 Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.13 Jeremiah was tenth. Macbannai was eleventh.14 These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!15 They crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.16 Others from Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.17 David went out to meet them and said: »If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see and judge you.«18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who later became a leader among the Thirty, and he said: »We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.« So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.19 Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine leaders refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said: »It will cost us our lives if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.«20 Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded a thousand troops from the tribe of Manasseh.21 They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army.22 Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God.23 These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as Jehovah had promised.24 From the tribe of Judah, there were six thousand eight hundred warriors armed with shields and spears.25 From the tribe of Simeon, there were seven thousand one hundred warriors.26 From the tribe of Levi, there were four thousand six hundred troops.27 This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had three thousand seven hundred under his command.28 This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers.29 From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were three thousand warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.30 From the tribe of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred warriors, each famous in his own clan.31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, eighteen thousand men were sent for the express purpose of helping David become king.32 From the tribe of Issachar, there were two hundred leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.33 From the tribe of Zebulun, there were fifty thousand skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.34 From the tribe of Naphtali, there were one thousand officers and thirty-seven thousand warriors armed with shields and spears.35 From the tribe of Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred warriors, all prepared for battle.36 From the tribe of Asher, there were forty thousand trained warriors, all prepared for battle.37 From the east side of the Jordan River—where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived—there were one hundred twenty thousand troops armed with every kind of weapon.38 All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king.39 They feasted and drank with David for three days. Their relatives had made preparations for their arrival.40 People from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine; olive oil, cattle, and sheep were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel