Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 37
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C hronicles – E Z R A – N E H E M I A H
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! These were the men who 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.
Others from Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. Da
vid 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 it and punish you.”
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of 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.
Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined
David when he set out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it
turned out, the Philistine rulers 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 heads if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.”
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 1,000 troops from the tribe of Manasseh.
They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave
and able warriors who became commanders in his army. Day after day
more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God.
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 the
Lord had promised.
From the tribe of Judah, there were 6,800 warriors armed with shields
and spears.
From the tribe of Simeon, there were 7,100 brave warriors.
From the tribe of Levi, there were 4,600 warriors. This included
Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had 3,700 under his
command. This also included Zadok, a brave young warrior, with
22 members of his family who were all officers.
From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 warriors.
Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until
this time.
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