From the Death of Saul to the Death of David - Flavius Josephus

of Ephraim were twenty thousand and eight hundred, and these mighty men
of valor, and eminent for their strength. Out of the half tribe of Manasseh
came eighteen thousand, of the most potent men. Out of the tribe of Issachar
came two hundred, who foreknew what was to come hereafter, (2) but of
armed men twenty thousand. Of the tribe of Zebulon fifty thousand chosen
men. This was the only tribe that came universally in to David, and all these
had the same weapons with the tribe of Gad. Out of the tribe of Naphtali the
eminent men and rulers were one thousand, whose weapons were shields and
spears, and the tribe itself followed after, being (in a manner) innumerable
[thirty-seven thousand]. Out of the tribe of Dan there were of chosen men
twenty-seven thousand and six hundred. Out of the tribe of Asher were forty
thousand. Out of the two tribes that were beyond Jordan, and the rest of the
tribe of Manasseh, such as used shields, and spears, and head-pieces, and
swords, were a hundred and twenty thousand. The rest of the tribes also
made use of swords. This multitude came together to Hebron to David, with
a great quantity of corn, and wine, and all other sorts of food, and established
David in his kingdom with one consent. And when the people had rejoiced
for three days in Hebron, David and all the people removed and came to
Jerusalem.
Footnotes:
1. This may be a true observation of Josephus's, that Samuel by command
from God entailed the crown on David and his posteerity; for no further
did that entail ever reach, Solomon himself having never had any
promise made him that his posterity should always have the right to it.
2. These words of Josephus concerning the tribe of Issachar, who foreknew
what was to come hereafter," are best paraphrased by the parallel text. 1
Chronicles 12:32, "Who had understanding of the times to know what
Israel ought to do;" that is, who had so much knowledge in astronomy as
to make calendars for the Israelites, that they might keep their festivals,
and plough and sow, and gather in their harvests and vintage, in due
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