David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
"Everyone ... in distress ... in debt ... discontented"  (1 Samuel 22:2).  Along with members of his family, David's supporters at this time were, in a word, every outlaw in the kingdom.  And yet, it was during this period that some of his Mighty Men adhered to his cause.  "These were brave and reckless persons who ripened into heroic men under the command of David during the long years of his struggle."[4]