Study Desk

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty warriors, trained for battle, experts with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God will help you." So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

They helped David against the raiders, for they were all mighty warriors and commanders in the army.

For at that time, men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul's kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:

From the Simeonites: 7,100 mighty warriors, ready for battle.

From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.

From the Danites: 28,600 prepared for battle.

From Asher: 40,000 fit for service, prepared for battle.

All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

They spent three days there eating and drinking with David, for their relatives had provided for them.

Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul."

Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

Now King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

So David inquired of God, "Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" "Go," replied the LORD, "for I will deliver them into your hand."

David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

And he said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.