< 1 Chronicles 11 >

1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
All the Israelites gathered to meet with David in Hebron. They told him, “We are your flesh and blood.
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 recent times, even though Saul was king, you were the real leader of Israel. The Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people, and you will be the leader of my people Israel.’”
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.
All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a solemn agreement with them before the Lord. There they anointed David as king of Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
4 Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.
Then David and all the Israelites went to Jerusalem (formerly known as Jebus) where the Jebusites lived.
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).
The Jebusites told David, “You will not enter here!” But David did capture the fortress of Zion, now known as 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.
David had said, “Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will be my commander-in-chief.” Since Joab, son of Zeruiah, was the first, he became commander-in-chief.
7 So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.
David decided to love in the fortress, which is why they named it after him 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.
He built up the city all around it, from the Millo in a circuit all around, while Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
David became more and more powerful, for the Lord Almighty 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 were the leaders of David's powerful warriors who, along with all the Israelites, gave him strong support in becoming king, just as the Lord had promised would happen 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.
This is the list of the leading warriors who supported David: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, leader of the Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men in a single battle.
12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.
After him came Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three leading warriors.
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-dammin when the Philistines gathered for battle that took place in a field full of barley. The Israelite army ran away when the Philistines attacked,
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.
but David and Eleazar took a stand in the middle of the field, defending their ground and killing the Philistines. The Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.
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.
Another time, the Three, who were part of the Thirty leading warriors, went down to meet David when he was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim.
16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.
At the time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison 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!”
David was feeling really thirsty, and he said, “If only someone could bring me a drink of water from the well beside the entrance gate to Bethlehem!”
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,
The Three broke through the Philistine defenses, took some water from the well at Bethelehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, and poured it out as an offering 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.
“God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives! They risked their lives to bring me a drink.” So he did not drink it. This is just some of the things the Three leading warriors did.
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.
Abishai, Joab's brother, was leader of the second Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men, and became famous 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.
He was the most highly regarded of the Three and was their commander, though he was not one of 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, son of Jehoiada, a strong warrior from Kabzeel, did many amazing things. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went after a lion into a pit in the snow and killed it.
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.
Another time he killed an Egyptian—a huge man who stood seven foot six inches tall. The Egyptian had a spear whose shaft was as thick as a weaver's rod. Benaiah attacked him with just a club, but he was able to grab the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and 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 were the kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.
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 the most highly regarded of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his personal bodyguard.
26 Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Other leading warriors were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
Ira, son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth;
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai the Ahohite;
30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Maharai of Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah of Netophah;
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Ithai, son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites; Benaiah the Pirathonite;
32 Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
Hurai from the valleys of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite; Jonathan, son of Shagee the Hararite;
35 Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
Ahiam, son of Sachar the Hararite; Eliphal, 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, son of Ezbai;
38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
Joel the Nathan's brother; Mibhar, son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite; Joab's armor-bearer, 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 son of Ahlai;
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,
Adina, son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites, and the thirty who were with him;
43 Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Hanan, son of Maacah; 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, son of Shimri, and his brother, Joha the Tizite;
46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,
Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

< 1 Chronicles 11 >