Some Gadites(A) 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,(B) and they were as swift as gazelles(C) in the mountains.

Ezer was the chief,

Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.

14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred,(D) and the greatest for a thousand.(E) 15 It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks,(F) and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 Other Benjamites(G) and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 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.”

18 Then the Spirit(H) came on Amasai,(I) chief of the Thirty, and he said:

“We are yours, David!
    We are with you, son of Jesse!
Success,(J) 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.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends