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 of Israel was gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “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.’”

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 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.

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

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

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

Then David lived in the stronghold, and for this reason it was called the City 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 built up the city all around, from Millo even to every side. But Joab built the rest of the city.

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

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

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 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.

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 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, 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 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 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 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.

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 David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was 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 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

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

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

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,

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 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: “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 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.

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 He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among 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 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, 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 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 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 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men.

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

25 He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed 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 Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan 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 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 son of Baanah the Netophathite,

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

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

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

32 Hurai from 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 son of Shagee the Hararite,

Ahiam, the son of Sachar, a Hararite;

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

Hezro, a Carmelite; Naharai, 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, 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 son of Ahlai,

Uriah, a 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, a Reubenite, the leader of the Reubenites, and thirty who were with him;

43 Hanan 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 son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

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

46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, 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.