1 Chronicles 11

1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all of Israel was gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “We are your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”

Also, yesterday and the day before, when Saul still reigned, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. For the Lord your God said to you: ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over them.’”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, according to the LORD’s word by Samuel.

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel went to the king at Hebron. And David formed a pact with them before the Lord. And they anointed him king over Israel, in accord with the word of the Lord, which he spoke by the hand of Samuel.

4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

Then David and all of Israel went to Jerusalem. The same is Jebus, where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were.

5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.

And those who were living in Jebus said to David: “You shall not enter here.” But David seized the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David.

6 David had said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.

And he said, “Whoever shall strike the Jebusites first, shall be ruler and commander.” And so Joab, the son of Zeruiah, ascended first, and he was made the leader.

7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city.

Then David lived in the stronghold, and for this reason it was called the City of David.

8 He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

And he built up the city all around, from Millo even to every side. But Joab built the rest of the city.

9 David grew greater and greater, for the LORD of Armies was with him.

And David continued advancing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him.

10 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the LORD’s word concerning Israel.

These are the leaders of the strong men of David, who assisted him, so that he would become king over all of Israel, in accord with the word of the Lord, which he spoke to Israel.

11 This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.

And this is the number of the robust of David: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, leader among the thirty. He lifted up his spear over three hundred, who were wounded at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

And after him, there was Eleazar, the son of his uncle, an Ahohite, who was among the three powerful ones.

13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

He was with David in Pasdammim, when the Philistines were gathered to that place for battle. Now the field of that region was full of barley, but the people had fled from the face of the Philistines.

14 They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory.

These men stood in the midst of the field, and they defended it. And when they had struck down the Philistines, the Lord gave a great salvation to his people.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

Then three from the thirty leaders descended to the rock where David was, to the cave of Adullam, when the Philistines had made camp in the Valley of the Rephaim.

16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.

Now David was in a stronghold, and a garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem.

17 David longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

And then David desired and said, “O if only someone would give me water from the well of Bethlehem, which is at the gate!”

18 The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to the LORD,

Therefore, these three broke through to the midst of the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem, which was at the gate. And they took it to David, so that he might drink. But he was not willing; and instead, he offered it as a libation to the Lord,

19 and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

saying: “Far be it from me, that I would do this in the sight of my God, and that I would drink the blood of these men. For at the peril of their own lives, they brought the water to me.” And for this reason, he was not willing to drink. The three most powerful accomplished these things.

20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.

Also, Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, who were wounded. And he was most renowned among the three,

21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he was not included in the three.

and he was famous among the second three and their leader. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as the first three.

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.

Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel, was a very mature man, who had accomplished many deeds. He struck down the two lions of God from Moab. And he descended and killed a lion in the middle of a pit, in the time of snow.

23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

And he struck down an Egyptian man, whose stature was five cubits, and who had a spear like a weaver’s beam. And yet he descended to him with a staff. And he seized the spear that he was holding in his hand. And he killed him with his own spear.

24 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.

These things were done by Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who was most renowned among the three robust ones,

25 Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.

the first among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as the three. Then David placed him beside his ear.

26 The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

Moreover, the strongest men of the army were Asahel, the brother of Joab; and Elhanan, the son of his uncle, from Bethlehem;

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth, a Harorite; Helez, a Pelonite;

28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

Ira, the son of Ikkesh, a Tekoite; Abiezer, an Anathothite;

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai, a Hushathite; Ilai, an Ahohite;

30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Maharai, a Netophathite; Heled, the son of Baanah, a Netophathite;

31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin; Benaiah, a Pirathonite;

32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai, from the torrent Gaash; Abiel, an Arbathite; Azmaveth, a Baharumite; Eliahba, a Shaalbonite.

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

The sons of Hashem, a Gizonite: Jonathan, the son of Shagee, a Hararite;

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

Ahiam, the son of Sachar, a Hararite;

35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

Eliphal, the son of Ur;

36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher, a Mecherathite; Ahijah, a Pelonite;

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

Hezro, a Carmelite; Naharai, the son of Ezbai;

38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

Joel, the brother of Nathan; Mibhar, the son of Hagri;

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),

Zelek, an Ammonite; Naarai, a Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite;

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

Uriah, a Hittite; Zabad, the son of Ahlai;

42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites), and thirty with him,

Adina, the son of Shiza, a Reubenite, the leader of the Reubenites, and thirty who were with him;

43 Hanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Hanan, the son of Maacah; and Joshaphat, a Mithnite;

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

Uzzia, an Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham, an Aroerite;

45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

Jediael, the son of Shimri; and Joha, his brother, a Tizite;

46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

Eliel, a Mahavite; and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; and Ithmah, a Moabite;

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobaite.