1 Chronicles 11

1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

In the past, when Saul was king, it was you who went at the head of Israel when they went out or came in; and the Lord your God said to you, You are to be the keeper of my people Israel, and their ruler.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

So all the responsible men of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they put the holy oil on David and made him king over Israel, as the Lord had said by Samuel.

4 Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (which is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the people of the land, were there.

5 The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

And the people of Jebus said to David, You will not come in here. But still, David took the strong place of Zion, which is the town of David.

6 Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

And David said, The first to overcome the Jebusites will be chief and captain. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became chief.

7 So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.

And David took the strong tower for his living-place, so it was named the town of David.

8 He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

And he took in hand the building of the town all round, starting from the Millo; and Joab put the rest of the town in order.

9 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

And David became greater and greater in power, because the Lord of armies was with him.

10 Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

Now these are the chief of David's men of war who were his strong supporters in the kingdom, and, with all Israel, made him king, as the Lord had said about Israel.

11 This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

This is the list of David's men of war: Ishbaal, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the three: he put to death three hundred at one time with his spear.

12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.

And after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, who was one of the three great fighters.

13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At the place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.

He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had come together for the fight, near a bit of land full of barley; and the people went in flight before the Philistines.

14 But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

And he took up his position in the middle of the bit of land, and kept back their attack, and overcame the Philistines; and the Lord gave a great salvation.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

And three of the thirty went down to David, to the rock, into the strong place of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines had taken up their position in the valley of Rephaim.

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

At that time David had taken cover in the strong place, and an armed force of the Philistines was in Beth-lehem.

17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

And David, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of the water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem by the doorway into the town!

18 So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,

So the three, forcing a way through the Philistine army, got water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town, and took it back to David; but David would not take it, but made an offering of it, draining it out to the Lord,

19 saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

Saying, By my God, far be it from me to do this! How may I take as drink the life-blood of these men who have put their lives in danger? so he did not take it. These things did the three great men of war.

20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty, for he put to death three hundred with his spear, but he had not a name among the three.

21 He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

Of the thirty, he was the noblest, and was made their captain, but he was not equal to the first three.

22 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a fighting-man of Kabzeel, had done great acts; he put to death two young lions going into their secret place; and he went down into a hole and put a lion to death in time of snow.

23 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

And he made an attack on an Egyptian, a very tall man about five cubits high, armed with a spear like a cloth-worker's rod; he went down to him with a stick, and pulling his spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.

24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men.

These were the acts of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who had a great name among the thirty men of war.

25 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

He was honoured over the thirty, but he was not equal to the first three: and David put him over his servants.

26 Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

And these were the great men of war: Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite,

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

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

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

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

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

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

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

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

Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

Azmaveth of Bahurim, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

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

The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan, the son of Shage the Hararite,

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

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

36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai, the son of Ezbai,

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

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

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

Zelek the Ammonite, and Naharai the Berothite, the servant who had the care of the arms of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad, the son of Ahlai,

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

Adina, the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him;

43 Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.