David’s Supporters in Ziklag

12 ^(A)Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. ² They were equipped with bows, ^(B)using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; ^(C)they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin. ³ The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite, ⁴ and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. ^[a]Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, ^5 [b]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, ⁶ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites, ⁷ and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸ From the Gadites there ^[c]came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and ^(D)they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains. ⁹ Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, 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, Machbannai the eleventh. ¹⁴ These of the sons of Gad were ^[d]captains of the army; ^(E)he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. ^15 (F)These 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.

¹⁶ Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no ^[e]wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide.” ¹⁸ Then ^(G)the Spirit ^[f]came upon ^(H)Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said,

Then David received them and made them ^[g]captains of the band.

^19 (J)From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.” ²⁰ As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, ^[h]captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. ²¹ They helped David against ^(K)the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army. ²² For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army ^(L)like the army of God.

Supporters Gathered at Hebron

²³ Now these are the numbers of the ^[i]divisions equipped for war, ^(M)who came to David at Hebron, ^(N)to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, ^(O)according to the ^[j]word of the Lord. ²⁴ The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800, equipped for war. ²⁵ Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. ²⁶ Of the sons of Levi 4,600. ²⁷ Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were 3,700, ²⁸ also ^(P)Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. ²⁹ Of the sons of Benjamin, ^(Q)Saul’s kinsmen, 3,000; for until now ^(R)the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³⁰ Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ households. ³¹ Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king. ³² Of the sons of Issachar, ^(S)men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. ³³ Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David ^[k]with ^(T)an undivided heart. ³⁴ Of Naphtali there were 1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 with shield and spear. ³⁵ Of the Danites who could draw up in battle formation, there were 28,600. ³⁶ Of Asher there were 40,000 who went out in the army to draw up in battle formation. ³⁷ From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.

³⁸ All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with ^(U)a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king. ³⁹ They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. ⁴⁰ Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, ^(V)brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and on oxen, great quantities of flour cakes, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. There was joy indeed in Israel.

Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.

A Song of Ascents.

Honor Widows

5 ^(A)Do not sharply rebuke an ^(B)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to ^(C)the younger men as brothers, ² the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are ^(D)widows indeed; ⁴ but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^(E)they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to ^[a]make some return to their parents; for this is ^(F)acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is a ^(G)widow indeed and who has been left alone, ^(H)has fixed her hope on God and continues in ^(I)entreaties and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who ^(J)gives herself to wanton pleasure is ^(K)dead even while she lives. ^7 [b](L)Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^(M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ A widow is to be ^(N)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(O)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(P)good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has ^(Q)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(R)has washed the ^[c]saints’ feet, if she has ^(S)assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel ^(T)sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous ^[d]pledge. ¹³ At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also ^(U)gossips and ^(V)busybodies, talking about ^(W)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(X)married, bear children, ^(Y)keep house, and ^(Z)give the enemy no occasion for reproach; ¹⁵ for some ^(AA)have already turned aside to follow ^(AB)Satan. ¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer ^(AC)has dependent widows, she must ^(AD)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are ^(AE)widows indeed.

Concerning Elders

^17 (AF)The elders who ^(AG)rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(AH)work hard ^[e]at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(AI)You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “^(AJ)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an ^(AK)elder except on the basis of ^(AL)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(AM)rebuke in the presence of all, ^(AN)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. ^21 (AO)I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ^22 (AP)Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and ^[f]thereby share ^(AQ)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ^[g]free from sin.

²³ No longer drink water exclusively, but ^(AR)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴ The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^(AS)follow after. ²⁵ Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and ^(AT)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.