The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag
The chapter opens by naming Benjamite warriors who come to David at Ziklag while he is still shut out by Saul. Their unusual skill with bow and sling, even with either hand, marks them as valuable fighters from Saul’s own kin.
N1ow these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; 2they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin): 3Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; 4Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites; 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
Gadite commanders then join David in the wilderness, and their strength is described in vivid, martial terms. Their crossing of the flooded Jordan and their victories in the valleys show the courage behind their allegiance.
8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains: 9Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh. 14These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. 15These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
More men from Benjamin and Judah arrive, but David first tests their intent. Amasai, seized by the Spirit, answers with a pledge of peace and declares that David’s help comes from God.
16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.” 18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said:
Men from Manasseh defect to David during the episode with the Philistines and later help him at Ziklag against raiders. Their arrival joins a daily stream of reinforcements until David’s camp becomes a vast army.
19Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) 20When David went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh defected to him: 21They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders in the army. 22For at that time men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.