David's Men at Ziklag
1 Some time earlier, David had gone to live in the town of Ziklag to escape from King Saul. While David was there, several brave warriors joined him to help fight his battles.
Warriors from the Benjamin tribe
2 Several of these warriors were from King Saul's own tribe of Benjamin. They were experts at using a bow and arrows, and they could shoot an arrow or sling a stone with either hand. 3-7 Their leaders were Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah. Here is a list of those men from Benjamin: Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth; Ishmaiah from Gibeon, who was the leader of the Thirty Warriors; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah; Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph; Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam from the Korah clan; Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
Warriors from the Gad tribe
8 Men from the tribe of Gad also joined David at his fortress in the desert and served as his warriors. They were also brave soldiers—fierce as lions and quick as gazelles. They were always prepared to fight with shields and spears. 9-13 There were eleven of them, ranked in the following order: Ezer the leader, then Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Machbannai.
14 All these men were army officers; some were high-ranking officers over a thousand troops, and others were officers over a hundred troops. 15 Earlier, they had crossed the Jordan River when it flooded, and they chased out the people who lived in the valleys on each side of the river.
Warriors from the Benjamin and Judah tribes
16 One time a group of men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah went to the fortress where David was staying. 17 David met them outside and said, “If you are coming as friends to fight on my side, then stay and join us. But if you try to turn me over to my enemies, the God our ancestors worshiped will punish you, because I have done nothing wrong.”
18 Amasai, who later became the leader of the Thirty Warriors, was one of these men who went to David. God's Spirit took control of him, and he said, “We will join you, David son of Jesse! You and your followers will always be successful, because God fights on your side.”
So David agreed to let them stay, and he even put them in charge of his soldiers who raided enemy villages.
Warriors from the Manasseh tribe
19 Some of the warriors who joined David were from the tribe of Manasseh. They had earlier gone with David when he agreed to fight on the side of the Philistines against King Saul. But as soon as the Philistine rulers realized that David might turn against them and rejoin Saul, they sent David away to the town of Ziklag. 20 That's when the following men from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. They had all been commanders in Saul's army 21 and brave soldiers, and so David made them officers in his army. They fought on his side when enemy troops attacked.
22 Day after day, new men came to join David, and soon he had a large, powerful army.
David's Men at Hebron
23-37 The kingdom of Israel had been taken away from Saul, and it now belonged to David. He was ruling from Hebron, and thousands of well-trained soldiers from each tribe went there to crown David king of all Israel, just as the Lord had promised. These soldiers, who were always prepared for battle, included: 6,800 from Judah, who were armed with shields and spears; 7,100 from Simeon; 4,600 from Levi, including Jehoiada, who was a leader from Aaron's descendants, and his 3,700 men, as well as Zadok, who was a brave soldier, and 22 of his relatives, who were also officers; 3,000 from Benjamin, because this was Saul's own tribe and most of the men had remained loyal to him; 20,800 from Ephraim, who were not only brave, but also famous in their clans; 18,000 from West Manasseh, who had been chosen to help make David king; 200 leaders from Issachar, along with troops under their command—these leaders knew the right time to do what needed to be done; 50,000 from Zebulun, who were not only loyal, but also trained to use any weapon; 1,000 officers from Naphtali and 37,000 soldiers armed with shields and spears; 28,600 from Dan; 40,000 from Asher; and 120,000 from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh, who were armed with all kinds of weapons.
38 All of these soldiers voluntarily came to Hebron because they wanted David to become king of Israel. In fact, everyone in Israel wanted the same thing. 39 The soldiers stayed in Hebron three days, eating and drinking what their relatives had prepared for them. 40 Other Israelites from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought cattle and sheep to slaughter for food. They also brought donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen that were loaded down with flour, dried figs and raisins, wine, and olive oil.
Everyone in Israel was very happy.
Batobeli bekutanga ba Dafite
1 Aba ndibo balume bakazha kuna Dafite ku Zikilagi, mu tjibaka itjetjo Dafite wakabe asakasunonguka kuyenda yenda ngobe wakabe etja Saulo nkololo wa Kishi, ibaba bakabe bali bamwe be balume bakasima bakambhatsha mu ngwa. 2 Bakabe bali balume be dati ne nsebe betubula kuposa misebe ne mabgwe nge maboko wose gwe lumeshwe kene gwe luji, balume ibaba bakabe bali be ludzi gwa Bhenjamini. 3 Ntungamili wakabe ali Ahiezeri na Joashi bubili bali bakololo ba Shema we ku Gibiya na Jeziyele na Peleti bali bakololo ba Azimaveti Bheraka na Jehu bedwa ku Anatoti 4 na Ishimaiya kudwa ku N'gibiyoni iye wakabe ali mbhayani nkulu kakale ali mmwe we bali makumi matatu (30) kakale ali ntungamili we bali makumi matatu (30) na Jeremiya na Jahaziele na Johanani na Jozabadi kudwa ku Gedera 5 na Eluzayi na Jerimoti na Bhealiya ne Shemariya na Shefatiya kudwa ku Harifi na 6 Elikana na Isihiya na Azareli na Joeza na Jashobimu we ludzi gwa Kora 7 na Joela na Zebadiya bali bakololo ba Jerohamu bedwa ku Gedori.
Batobeli ba Dafite bakabe bedwa mu ludzi gwa Gadi
8 Kudwa mu ludzi Gadi ibaba ndibo balume bakayenda kuna Dafite ku matizhilo amu tjilambanyika, bakabe bali babhayani bana luzibo, bazibi bekushingisa dati ne thumo, njiso dzabo dzakabe dzinga dze shumba, bali lubilo benga ngululu pezhugwi kwe matombo. 9 Ezeri ali ntungamili we bubili ali Obadiya we butatu ali Eliyabu, 10 Eliyabu etobegwa ndi Mishamana, Mishamana etobegwa ndi Jeremiya, 11 Jeremiya etobegwa ndi Atayi, Atayi etobegwa ndi Elieli ali we butendeka, 12 Elieli ali we butendeka etobegwa ndi Johanani ali we buzhanakadzi, etobegwa ndi Elizabadi we buzhanalume, 13 Elizabadi we buzhanalume etobegwa ndi Jeremiya ali we bugumi, Jeremiya we bugumi etobegwa ndi Makibanayi ali we bugumi lina nng'ompela. 14 Balume ibaba bakabe bedwa mu ludzi gwa Gadi bakabe bali batungamili be babhayani bali tjiwulu (1 000) bamwe bali batungamili be mamo apasi bali batungamili be babhayani bali zana (100). 15 Ndibo bakatjuluka gwizi gwe Jorodani mu mwedzi we kutanga, pagwakabe gulizhele gututa matanda ngono bakakunda na ibabo bose bakabe bali mu mikuku iku Bhezhuba neku Golombedzo.
Batobeli kudwa mu Bhenjamini ne Juda
16 Ngono bamwe be balume be ludzi gwa Bhenjamini ne be ludzi gwa Juda bakazha ku matizhilo a Dafite. 17 Dafite wakayenda kanobashangamidza ngono kabadwa kati, “Ha mazha kundili nge buzwalani kowondibhatsha, ndowozwishanganya namwi nge moyo wangu wose koga ha mazha kuwondiwonga neku ndilonga mu maboko e zwita nenguba ndisina nlandu mmwe wandathama nge maboko angu, ipapo Ndzimu wa bobatategulu unowomubona uka mu loba shamu.” 18 Ngono meya ikadelukila muna Amasai ntungamili we bali makumi matatu ngono kati,
“Tibabo, Dafite, tinawe, nkololo wa Jesi!
Kunyalala, kunyalala ngakube ku kuli, ne babhatshi babo!
Ngobe Ndzimu unokubhatsha.”
Dafite wakabaamutjila ngono kabathama batungamili be babhayani babe.
Batobeli ba Manase
19 Bamwe be balume be ludzi gwa Manase bakafupatila be ludzi gwabo bakabe ba Dafite, Dafite pa akayenda ne Bafilisitiya kunogwa na Saulo. Nenguba iye ne babhayani babe basakabhatsha Bafilisitiya ngoti kwakati shule kwekukumbuludzana balauli babo bakantata beti, “Tingadwa tithubugwa misholo ha angayenda kuna Saulo tetshi uwe.” 20 Ngono kayenda ku Zikilagi balume ibaba be ludzi gwa Manase bakatizhila kunli: Adina na Jozabadi na Jediale na Mikaele na Jozabadi na Elihu na Zilethayi ibaba bali batungamili be bali tjiwulu (1 000) be ludzi gwa Manase. 21 Ibo bakabhatsha Dafite kugwisa gupo le zwita ngobe bose bakabe bakasima bali balume bana tjilopa bali batungamili be ngwa. 22 Zhuba ne zhuba balume bakabe begala bezha kuwobhatsha Dafite kudza kube ne balume be ngwa banjinji be fanana ne be ngwa ye Ndzimu.
23 Edzi ndidzo mbalo dze gupo le babhayani sekwa bakabe bathubukanyiwa, ibo bakazha kuna Dafite ku Heburoni kuwotola mbuso wa Saulo kuupa Dafite sekwa kwakaleba dama la Yahwe. 24 Balume be ludzi gwa Juda bakabe bebhata zwivikili ne mathumo bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili tathatu zwina mazana ali zhanakadzi (6 800) bakazwilulwamisila ngwa. 25 Balume bakasima bana tjilopa mu ngwa be ludzi gwa Simiyoni bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili kutendeka zwina zana ling'ompela (7 100). 26 Be Balevi bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna zwina mazana ali tathatu (4 600). 27 Ntungamili Johoida we nsha wa Aroni wakabe ana bali zwiwulu zwili zwitatu zwina mazana ali kutendeka (3 700). 28 Zadoki nzhuzha wakasima una tjilopa wakabe akatungamila bali makumi mabili ana babili (22) kudwa mu nsha wa tate babe. 29 Babhejamini bakanyi kwa Saulo bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili zwitatu (3 000) bunji gwabo gwakabe gwakabhata gukweba ne be nsha wa Saulo. 30 Be Baifureimi bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili makumi mabili ne mazana ali zhanakadzi (20 800) e balume bakasima bana tjilopa bakabe bezibgwa mu nsha wa tate babo. 31 Gwamu le ludzi gwa Manase bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili gumi lina bali zhanakadzi (18 000) bakabe bashalugwa nge mazina kuti banobiga Dafite mambo. 32 Baisakari bakabe behwisisa zwimo zwe tjibaka bakabe beziba kuti Baiziraela bakafanila thamani bakabe bali batungamili bali mazana mabili (200) bana bakanyi kwabo. 33 Be Zebuluni bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili makumi mashanu (50 000) bakathubukanyiwa bakashakatila mathumo wose e ngwa kubhatsha Dafite nge moyo ung'ompela. 34 Be Nafutali bakabe bali tjiwulu (1 000) tje balauli bana balume bali zwiwulu zwili makumi matatu ana kutendeka (37 000) bakazwilulwamisa nge zwivikili ne mathumo. 35 Badani bakabe bali makumi mabili ana bali zhanakadzi ana mazana ali tathatu (28 600) bakazwilulwamisila ngwa. 36 Baasheri bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili makumi manna (40 000) bakazwilulwamisila ngwa. 37 Barubheni ne Bagadi ne gwamu le Manase baseli kwe Jorodani bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili zana lina makumi mabili (120 000) e balume bakashakatila mathumo wose e ngwa. 38 Bose babhayani ibaba bakabe bakazwilulwamisila ngwa bakayenda ku Heburoni bakasunga nkumbulo kubiga Dafite mambo we Iziraela yose, saikoku koga Iziraela yose yakabe ina nkumbulo nng'ompela wekubiga Dafite mambo. 39 Bakabe na Dafite ikoko mazhuba ali matatu beja beng'wa ngobe zwikamu zwabo zwakabe zwabalulwamisila zojiwa. 40 Babakidzani nabo bakabe bedwa bukule gungapa Isakari na Zebuluni ne Nafutali bakazha bakazhisa zojiwa bakasenga ne madonki ne dzikamela ne dzimoulo ne mangabe ne zojiwa zwinjinji ne mitjelo yakaswabisiwa ne nkumbi we zhambi ne mafuta ne mangabe ne pkhwizi kulakidza shatho mu Iziraela.