1 David was living in Ziklag, where he had gone to escape from King Saul. There he was joined by many experienced, reliable soldiers,
2 members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged. They could shoot arrows and sling stones either right-handed or left-handed.
3-7 They were under the command of Ahiezer and Joash, sons of Shemaah, from Gibeah.These were the soldiers:Jeziel and Pelet, sons of AzmavethBeracah and Jehu from AnathothIshmaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of “The Thirty”Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johannan, and Jozabad, from GederahEluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah, from HariphElkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, of the clan of KorahJoelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor
8 These are the names of the famous, experienced soldiers from the tribe of Gad who joined David's troops when he was at the desert fort. They were experts with shields and spears, as fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.
9-13 They were ranked in the following order: Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Machbannai.
14 Some of these men from the tribe of Gad were senior officers in command of a thousand men, and others were junior officers in command of a hundred.
15 In the first month of one year, the time when the River Jordan overflowed its banks, they crossed the river, scattering the people who lived in the valleys both east and west of the river.