Study Desk

SO all Israel and Judah were considered wicked, for they were carried captive to Babylon because of their wickedness.

And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, one thousand seven hundred and sixty; very able men for the work of the service of the house of the LORD.

For they appointed them and their sons to keep the gates of the house of the LORD and the house of the tabernacle of the congregation, as guards.

For these Levites were in their set office, and were in charge of the four gates in the four directions; and stood on guard, and were over the work and over the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

And some of the sons of the priests prepared the incense for the censers, and the gifts were given by the Levites.

Then Saul said to his armourbearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, before these uncircumcised come and slay me and torment me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

And said, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing in the presence of my God; for these men went forth with the jeopardy of their lives. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three valiant men.

And Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of thirty; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and he was highly honored, promoted to be over thirty men.

And he was honorable among the three valiant men, for he fought like three mighty men; and David set him over his bodyguard and over the chiefs of the army;

NOW these are all the mighty men of David, who stood by him in the battle, and they came with David to the city of Zinklag, when he fled from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who stood before David. If David had wished, they would have slain Saul the son of Kish, for they were mighty men of war, but David would not permit them to slay Saul.

And those of the tribe of the Gadites separated themselves to David to go out with him to the stronghold in the wilderness; mighty men and men of stature and fit for battle, who could handle sword and shield, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift for war upon the mountains:

Then the spirit of might came upon Amasa, the son of Jatar, chief of the thirty, and he answered and said to David, Come on, David, come on, O son of Jesse! I am also with you, peace be to you, be not afraid, and peace will be given to you from your helpers; for your God is your helper in every hour. Then David received them, and made them captains of the army.

And some of the men of the tribe of Manasseh went over to David when he went to war with the Philistines against Saul to battle; but they would not go with Saul to war to help him, because they hated him, for they had gone and made a secret treaty with the princes of the Philistines, saying, Let us go first and fall on Saul our master;

And they helped David when he went against the band of raiders; for they were all mighty men of valor and commanders over all the army, and they did as they pleased through him.

For every day they went into the presence of David to eat food before him, for he loved them exceedingly.

And of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, eight thousand and seven hundred.

And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand; for until the day in which Saul was slain, they guarded the house of Saul.

And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had prepared for them.

The tribes of Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali brought bread on asses and on camels and on mules, also flour and raisins and baskets of grapes and wine and oil and sheep and oxen in abundance; for there was great joy in Israel.

So that they may gather themselves and come to us, and pray before the LORD our God and beseech him because of our sins; for we did not pray before him in the days of Saul.