1 Chronicles 11

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

All the Israelites gathered to meet with David in Hebron. They told him, “We are your flesh and blood.

2 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.

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 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.

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

Then David and all the Israelites went to Jerusalem (formerly known as Jebus) where the Jebusites lived.

5 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.

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 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.

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

David decided to love in the fortress, which is why they named it after him the City of David.

8 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.

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 in power, because the Lord of armies was with him.

David became more and more powerful, for the Lord Almighty was with him.

10 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.

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 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.

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

After him came Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three leading warriors.

13 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

At the time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.

17 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!

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, 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,

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, 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.

“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 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.

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

He was the most highly regarded of the Three and was their commander, though he was not one of the first Three.

22 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.

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 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.

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

These were the kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.

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

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

Other leading warriors were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;

27 Shammoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

28 Ira, the 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, the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Maharai of Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah of Netophah;

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

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

32 Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai from the valleys of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;

33 Azmaveth of Bahurim, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

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

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

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

Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai;

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

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

39 Zelek the Ammonite, and Naharai the Berothite, the servant who had the care of the arms of Joab, the 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, the son of Ahlai,

Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;

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

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

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

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

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

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

47 Eliel and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.