וְאֵלֶּה הַבָּאִים אֶל־דָּוִיד לְצִיקְלָג עוֹד עָצוּר מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל בֶּן־קִישׁ וְהֵמָּה בַּגִּבּוֹרִים עֹזְרֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה

The following list of names, consisting of some names clear and obvious and some obscure, details David’s followers before he rose to power, as well as those who rallied around him after he was crowned. These are those who came to David, to Tziklag.Tziklag was a city in the Land of Israel conquered by the Philistines. They gave it to David, and it remained part of the inheritance of the royal house of David for generations. These men joined David while he was still constrained and detained there due to Saul son of Kish. While David resided in Tziklag he was not a free man. Saul, who considered him a traitor, pursued him, and might well have killed him. During his time of need, various men came to David’s side; and they were considered among the mighty men, supporters in war.

נֹשְׁקֵי קֶשֶׁת מַיְמִינִים וּמַשְׂמִאלִים בָּאֲבָנִים וּבַחִצִּים בַּקָּשֶׁת מֵאֲחֵי שָׁאוּל מִבִּנְיָמִן

They included some who were armed with bows, both right and left-handed, who could attack with stones, and with arrows with the bow. These men were ambidextrous fighters, which provided a great advantage on the battlefield. They also included some who were from Saul’s brethren from Benjamin. It has been suggested that left-handedness was a hereditary trait of the tribe of Benjamin, as left-handed individuals are mentioned more than once in connection with this tribe. It has been common throughout time for many left-handed people to learn to use their right hand as well to perform various tasks, whether for convenience or social conformity. Whatever the reasons, they were effectively ambidextrous.

הָרֹאשׁ אֲחִיעֶזֶר וְיוֹאָשׁ בְּנֵי הַשְּׁמָעָה הַגִּבְעָתִי וִיזִיאֵל וָפֶלֶט בְּנֵי עַזְמָוֶת וּבְרָכָה וְיֵהוּא הָעַנְּתֹתִי

The leader of them was Ahiezer, and with him was Yo’ash; both were sons of Shemaa the Givatite, of Givat Binyamin; and Yeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmavet, and Berakha, and Yehu the Anatotite, from Anatot,

וְיִשְׁמַעְיָה הַגִּבְעוֹנִי גִּבּוֹר בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁים וְעַל־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים

and Yishmaya the Givonite, from Givon, who was mighty among the thirty, one of the thirty mighty men who formed a separate fighting unit, and was even appointed in charge of the thirty;

וְיִרְמְיָה וְיַחֲזִיאֵל וְיוֹחָנָן וְיוֹזָבָד הַגְּדֵרָתִי

and Yirmeya, Yahaziyel, Yohanan, Yozabad the Gederatite,

אֶלְעוּזַי וִירִימוֹת וּבְעַלְיָה וּשְׁמַרְיָהוּ וּשְׁפַטְיָהוּ הַחֲרוּפִי

Eluzai, Yerimot, Be’alya, Shemaryahu, Shefatyahu the Harifite,

אֶלְקָנָה וְיִשִּׁיָּהוּ וַעֲזַרְאֵל וְיוֹעֶזֶר וְיָשָׁבְעָם הַקָּרְחִים

Elkana, Yishiyahu, Azarel, Yoezer, and Yoshovam, the Korahites, possibly descendants of Korah the Levite;

וְיוֹעֵאלָה וּזְבַדְיָה בְּנֵי יְרֹחָם מִן־הַגְּדוֹר

and Yoela and Zevadya, sons of Yeroham from Gedor.

וּמִן־הַגָּדִי נִבְדְּלוּ אֶל־דָּוִיד לַמְצַד מִדְבָּרָה גִּבֹּרֵי הַחַיִל אַנְשֵׁי צָבָא לַמִּלְחָמָה עֹרְכֵי צִנָּה וָרֹמַח וּפְנֵי אַרְיֵה פְּנֵיהֶם וְכִצְבָאיִם עַל־הֶהָרִים לְמַהֵר

Some of the Gadites, men from the tribe of Gad, went over to David, to the stronghold in the wilderness; mighty warriors, soldiers of war, who engaged in hand-to-hand combat and were skilled wielders of shield and spear; their faces were fearsome in appearance, like the faces of the lion, and they were fast like gazelles on the mountains. These men of Gad came all the way from east of the Jordan, despite the fact that they had no personal stake in the wars. It seems that the legion of soldiers who initially gathered to David’s side were men who came from different places, some of them fleeing local persecution for various reasons, e.g., debt. Presumably, they were also joined by men who simply sought adventure and excitement.

עֵזֶר הָרֹאשׁ עֹבַדְיָה הַשֵּׁנִי אֱלִיאָב הַשְּׁלִשִׁי

Ezer was the head, Ovadya the second, Eliav the third,

מִשְׁמַנָּה הָרְבִיעִי יִרְמְיָה הַחֲמִשִׁי

Mishmana the fourth, Yirmeya the fifth,

עַתַּי הַשִּׁשִּׁי אֱלִיאֵל הַשְּׁבִעִי

Atai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

יוֹחָנָן הַשְּׁמִינִי אֶלְזָבָד הַתְּשִׁיעִי

Yohanan the eighth, Elzavad the ninth,

יִרְמְיָהוּ הָעֲשִׂירִי מַכְבַּנַּי עַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר

Yirmeyau the tenth, Makhbenai the eleventh.

אֵלֶּה מִבְּנֵי־גָד רָאשֵׁי הַצָּבָא אֶחָד לְמֵאָה הַקָּטָן וְהַגָּדוֹל לְאָלֶף

These of the sons of Gad were heads of the army in their places; the smallest among them was one commander over one hundred, and the greatest was one commander over one thousand.

אֵלֶּה הֵם אֲשֶׁר עָבְרוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהוּא מְמַלֵּא עַל־כָּל־גְּדוֹתָיו וַיַּבְרִיחוּ אֶת־כָּל הָעֲמָקִים למִּזְרָח ולמַּעֲרָב

A short episode to demonstrate the great power and determination of these captains is now related: These are those who crossed the Jordan in the first month, Nisan, after the rainy season, when it had filled all its banks. Crossing the river then was both difficult and dangerous. One could easily drown in the Jordan at high tide, especially in the areas in the middle of the river where the current was strongest at that time of year. And they caused all who dwelled in the valleys, who had harassed them and perhaps sought to prevent them from joining David, to flee eastward and westward of the Jordan.

וַיָּבֹאוּ מִן־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן וִיהוּדָה עַד־לַמְצָד לְדָוִיד

They also came from the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.

וַיֵּצֵא דָוִיד לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אִם־לְשָׁלוֹם בָּאתֶם אֵלַי לְעָזְרֵנִי יִהְיֶה־לִּי עֲלֵיכֶם לֵבָב ליָחַד וְאִם־לְרַמּוֹתַנִי לְצָרַי בְּלֹא חָמָס בְּכַפַּי יֵרֶא אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְיוֹכַח

David emerged to meet them and he proclaimed and said to them: If you have come to me in peace to support me, my heart will be with you in togetherness, we will be fully united as though we share the same heart; but if you come to betray me by delivering me to my enemies for no villainy in my hand, let the God of our fathers look and let Him chastise. God will judge and determine which of us has justice on his side. David repeatedly claimed, and rightly so, that he had neither rebelled against the previous king nor committed any evil, and that he had been undeservedly persecuted.

וְרוּחַ לָבְשָׁה אֶת־עֲמָשַׂי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁלִישִׁים לְךָ דָוִיד וְעִמְּךָ בֶן־יִשַׁי שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לְךָ וְשָׁלוֹם לְעֹזְרֶךָ כִּי עֲזָרְךָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וַיְקַבְּלֵם דָּוִיד וַיִּתְּנֵם בְּרָאשֵׁי הַגְּדוּד

An animated spirit, divine inspiration, clothed Amasai, probably Amasa, the son of David’s sister, head of the officers of the group of mighty men. Through this spirit he spoke almost poetically, unlike the style of a typical professional soldier: To you, David, and with you, son of Yishai; peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your supporters, for your God supports you. Since David had turned to them in his time of trouble, and had essentially requested their support, Amasai declared on their behalf that their loyalty was fully with David. David accepted them and set them as the heads of the troop.

וּמִ מְּנַשֶּׁה נָפְלוּ עַל דָּוִיד בְּבֹאוֹ עִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּים עַל־שָׁאוּל לַמִּלְחָמָה ולֹא עֲזָרֻם כִּי בְעֵצָה שִׁלְּחֻהוּ סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים לֵאמֹר בְּרָאשֵׁינוּ יִפּוֹל אֶל־אֲדֹנָיו שָׁאוּל

From the tribe of Manasseh some fell in with David, that is, they joined David’s side, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to war. David was still serving the Philistines when they came to wage war against Saul, as related in the book of Samuel. This put David in a difficult situation. He could not fight in the Israelite army, as Saul continued pursuing him, but he also did not wish to wage war against his own people. But ultimately, they, David and his men, did not help them, the Philistines in waging war, for the lords, the leaders of the Philistines in the battlefield, took counsel, sending him away, as they did not trust him and were worried that he might betray them, saying: He will fall upon our heads for reconciliation with his master Saul.

בְּלֶכְתּוֹ אֶל־צִיקְלַג נָפְלוּ עָלָיו מִמְּנַשֶּׁה עַדְנַח וְיוֹזָבָד וִידִיעֲאֵל וּמִיכָאֵל וְיוֹזָבָד וֶאֱלִיהוּא וְצִלְּתָי רָאשֵׁי הָאֲלָפִים אֲשֶׁר לִמְנַשֶּׁה

Then, upon his return from the battlefield and going to Tziklag, some men from Manasseh fell in with him: Adnah, Yozabad, Yediael, Mikhael, Yozabad, Elihu, and Tziletai, who were heads of thousands that were of Manasseh.

וְהֵמָּה עָזְרוּ עִם־דָּוִיד עַל־הַגְּדוּד כִּי־גִבּוֹרֵי חַיִל כֻּלָּם וַיִּהְיוּ שָׂרִים בַּצָּבָא

They assisted David in his attack against the troop of Amalekites who had razed Tziklag, and captured David’s family and the families of his men who had emerged from the city, for they were all mighty warriors, and they were commanders in the army.

כִּי לְעֶת־יוֹם בְּיוֹם יָבֹאוּ עַל־דָּוִיד לְעָזְרוֹ עַד לְמַחֲנֶה גָדוֹל כְּמַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים

For from day to day, every day more men came to David to support him, until there was with him a great camp, like the camp of God, a massive camp. This marks the end of the list of the mighty men who supported David before he became king.

וְאֵלֶּה מִסְפְּרֵי רָאשֵׁי הֶחָלוּץ לַצָּבָא בָּאוּ עַל דָּוִיד חֶבְרוֹנָה לְהָסֵב מַלְכוּת שָׁאוּל אֵלָיו כְּפִי ה'

The following list of names refers to a later period. These are the numbers of the heads of the vanguard of the army, who came to David, to Hebron, in order to transfer the kingdom of Saul to him, in accordance with the word of the Lord.

בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה נֹשְׂאֵי צִנָּה וָרֹמַח שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא

The children of Judah, bearers of shield and spear, were six thousand eight hundred mobilized soldiers. This was the unit of warriors sent by the tribe of Judah.

מִן־בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל לַצָּבָא שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וּמֵאָה

From the children of Simeon, the mighty warriors who came for the army were seven thousand one hundred;

מִן־בְּנֵי הַלֵּוִי אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת

from the children of Levi, four thousand six hundred.

וִיהוֹיָדָע הַנָּגִיד לְאַהֲרֹן וְעִמּוֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת

Yehoyada was the chief official for Aaron, the priests, and with him were three thousand seven hundred men;

וְצָדוֹק נַעַר גִּבּוֹר חָיִל וּבֵית־אָבִיו שָׂרִים עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנָיִם

and Tzadok the priest was a lad, a mighty warrior, and his patrilineal house of princes were twenty-two.

וּמִן־בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן אֲחֵי שָׁאוּל שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וְעַד־הֵנָּה מַרְבִּיתָם שֹׁמְרִים מִשְׁמֶרֶת בֵּית שָׁאוּל

From the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, there came three thousand; until then most of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul as they were his supporters, but now they moved to David’s camp to crown him.

וּמִן־בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם עֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף וּשְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁמוֹת לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם

From the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand eight hundred; mighty warriors, men of renown in their patrilineal houses.

וּמֵחֲצִי מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר אָלֶף אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמוֹת לָבוֹא לְהַמְלִיךְ אֶת־דָּוִיד

From half the tribe of Manasseh there were eighteen thousand, who were designated specifically by name to come and crown David king.

וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לָעִתִּים לָדַעַת מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל רָאשֵׁיהֶם מָאתַיִם וְכָל־אֲחֵיהֶם עַל־פִּיהֶם

From the children of Issachar there came men who were possessors of understanding of the times, who possessed great insight and would give good advice, suitable for the time and place, who were able to know what Israel should do both in civilian life and in the military; their leaders were two hundred, and all their brethren were acting at their command. This group of chief advisors later evolved into the leaders of the Sanhedrin, who were experts in determining the months and the intercalation of years.

מִזְּבֻלוּן יוֹצְאֵי צָבָא עֹרְכֵי מִלְחָמָה בְּכָל־כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה חֲמִשִּׁים אָלֶף וְלַעֲדֹר בְּלֹא־לֵב וָלֵב

From Zebulun, there came men who were fit for military service, wagers of war with all instruments of war, were fifty thousand, and to wage war, or perform work in other areas, wholeheartedly. They were fully devoted to their tasks.

וּמִנַּפְתָּלִי שָׂרִים אָלֶף וְעִמָּהֶם בְּצִנָּה וַחֲנִית שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁבְעָה אָלֶף

From Naphtali there came one thousand captains, and with them warriors with shield and spear were thirty-seven thousand.

וּמִן־הַדָּנִי עֹרְכֵי מִלְחָמָה עֶשְׂרִים־וּשְׁמוֹנָה אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת

From the Danites came men who were wagers of war, they were twenty-eight thousand six hundred.

וּמֵאָשֵׁר יוֹצְאֵי צָבָא לַעֲרֹךְ מִלְחָמָה אַרְבָּעִים אָלֶף

From Asher, there came men who were fit for military service, to wage war, forty thousand.

וּמֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן מִן־הָראוּבֵנִי וְהַגָּדִי וַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה בְּכֹל כְּלֵי צְבָא מִלְחָמָה מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אָלֶף

From the other side of the Jordan, there came from the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, soldiers armed with all military instruments of war, they were one hundred and twenty thousand.

כָּל־אֵלֶּה אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחָמָה עֹדְרֵי מַעֲרָכָה בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם בָּאוּ חֶבְרוֹנָה לְהַמְלִיךְ אֶת־דָּוִיד עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגַם כָּל־שׁ רִית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵב אֶחָד לְהַמְלִיךְ אֶת־דָּוִיד

All these, men of war, wagers of campaigns, came wholeheartedly to Hebron, to crown David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel too were wholehearted to crown David king. These representatives expressed the collective national desire that David should be king over all Israel.

וַיִּהְיוּ־שָׁם עִם־דָּוִיד יָמִים שְׁלוֹשָׁה אֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים כִּי־הֵכִינוּ לָהֶם אֲחֵיהֶם

They, all those guests, both military and civilian, who were sent by all the tribes, were there with David three days, eating and drinking to celebrate the coronation of the king; for their brethren, probably the local population, had prepared foods for them.

וְגַם הַקְּרוֹבִים־אֲלֵיהֶם עַד־יִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבֻלוּן וְנַפְתָּלִי מְבִיאִים לֶחֶם בַּחֲמוֹרִים וּבַגְּמַלִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים וּבַבָּקָר מַאֲכָל קֶמַח דְּבֵלִים וְצִמּוּקִים וְיַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן וּבָקָר וְצֹאן לָרֹב כִּי שִׂמְחָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

Also those tribes who were close to them, David’s men, plus those who were as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on cattle; provisions of flour, dried figs, raisins, wine and oil, and cattle and sheep, in abundance, for there was rejoicing in Israel.