I Chronicles12 (NIV)

Summary:

Warriors Join David
Verses 1-22

This is a recording of the men that went to David at Ziklag, during his banishment from Saul son of Kish.  These men helped David in battle, armed with bows and arrows.  Some could sling stones with their right or left hands.  They were also Saul's kinsmen, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Ahiezer their chief and Joash - the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite
Jeziel and Pelet - the sons of Azmaveth
Beracah - the leader and one of the Thirty
Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite
Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite
Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam - the Korahites
Joelah and Zebadiah - the sons of Jeroham from Gedor

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert.  They were brave warriors, ready for battle, able to handle the shield and spear.  They had faces like lions and were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.

Chief: Ezer
2nd in Command: Obadiah
3rd: Eliab
4th: Mishmannah
5th: Jeremiah
6th: Attai
7th: Eliel
8th: Johanan
9th: Elzabad
10th: Jeremiah
11th: Macbannai

They were army commanders.  The least of them was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.  They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing, scattering everyone living in the valleys to the east and west.

Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also went to David in his stronghold.  David went to meet them and ask if they came in peace or betrayal.  He would unite with them or ask God to punish them, since he had committed no violence, accordingly.  The Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he claimed that they were David's and that David would have success because God would help them.  David accepted them and they became the leaders of his raiding bands.

Some men of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight Saul.  They did not help the Philistines, because after they consulted, the rulers sent David away.  They feared death if David decided to abandon them during the fight to return to his master, Saul. 

When David went to Ziklag, these are the men of Manasseh who defected to him:  Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai.  They were leaders of units of 1,000.  They helped David against raiding bands.  They were brave warriors, commanders in his army.

Every day, men joined David until he had a great and mighty army.

Others Join David at Hebron
Verses 23-40

These are the numbers of men armed for battle who went to David to turn Saul's kingdom over to him, as God had said:

6,800 men of Judah - with shield & spear
7,100 men of Simeon
4,600 men of Levi - with Jehoiada, leader of Aaron's family with 3,700, & Zadok, a brave young warrior with 22 officers from his family
3,000 men of Benjamin (Saul's kinsmen) - most had remained loyal to Saul's house until then
20,800 men of Ephraim - famous in their own clans, brave warriors
18,000 men of the half-tribe of Manasseh - designated by name to come and make David king
200 chiefs of Issachar, with all their relatives under their command, "...who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." (Verse 32a)  (Oh, that I were as wise and brave...)
50,000 men of Zebulun - with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty
1,000 officers with 37,000 men, with shield & spear - of Naphtali
28,600 men of Dan
40,000 men of Asher - experienced soldiers
120,00 men from east of the Jordan - men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon

(Total: 340,822)  They all volunteered to serve in the ranks.  They went to Hebron fully determined to make David king of Israel.  The rest of Israel was of one mind to make him king.  The men listed spent three days with David in the desert.  They were eating and drinking from the provisions that their families had sent.  Their neighbors, from as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, came with food, donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen.  They had plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep.

There was joy in Israel.  (It would be awesome if they could experience this in the present.)

Lori's Thoughts:

A nation knew that their ruler was no longer good.  They banded together and stood for a better nation.  (Sounds a bit like Egypt.)  They wanted a new ruler, one that would protect them and help them thrive.  Look at how they flourished in the desert while banished!  Imagine what life would be like for them in their new kingdom.

As followers of Christ, we are outcasts in the world.  We believe in a Higher Power that will lead us in a world without poverty or injustice or illnesses.  We need to come together, take care of each other, and trust that our Creator will sustain us until His kingdom is established forever.