1 Chronicles 11

1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David in Hebron, saying: We are thy bone, and thy flesh.

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

2 Yesterday also, and the day before when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: for the Lord thy God said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt; 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 ancients of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and David made a covenant with them before the Lord: and they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke in the hand of 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 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land.

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

5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: Thou shalt not come in here. But David took the castle of Sion, which 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 And he said: Whosoever shall first strike the Jebusites, shall be the head and chief captain. And Joab the son of Sarvia went up first, and was made the general.

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 dwelt in the castle, and therefore 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 And he built the city round about from Mello all round, and Joab built 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 went on growing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him.

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

10 These are the chief of the valiant men of David, who helped him to be made king over all Israel, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke to 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 And this is the number of the heroes of David: Jesbaam the son of Hachamoni the chief among the thirty: he lifted up his spear against three hundred wounded by him 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 And after him was Eleazar his uncle’s son the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.

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

13 He was with David in Phesdomim, when the Philistines were gathered to that place to battle: and the field of that country was full of barley, and the people fled from 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 But these men stood in the midst of the field, and defended it: and they slew the Philistines, and the Lord gave a great deliverance to his people.

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 captains went down to the rock, wherein David was, to the cave of Odollam, when the Philistines encamped in the valley of Raphaim.

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 And David was in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines in Bethlehem.

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

17 And David longed, and said: O that some man would give me water of the cistern of Bethlehem, which is in the gate.

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 And these three broke through the midst of the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, which was in the gate, and brought it to David to drink: and he would not drink of it, but rather offered it 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: God forbid that I should do this in the sight of my God, and should drink the blood of these men: for with the danger of their lives they have brought me the water. And therefore he would not drink. These things did the three most valiant.

“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 Abisai the brother of Joab, he was chief of three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned 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 And illustrious among the second three, and their captain: but yet he attained not 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 Banaias the son of Joiada, a most valiant man, of Cabseel, who had done many acts: he slew the two ariels of Moab: and he went down, and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in the 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 slew an Egyptian, whose stature was of five cubits, and who had a spear like a weaver’s beam: and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked away the spear, that he held in his hand, and slew him 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 things did Banaias the son of Joiada, who was renowned among the three valiant ones,

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

25 And the first among the thirty, but yet to the three he attained not: and David made him of his council.

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 Moreover the most valiant men of the army, were Asahel brother of Joab, and Elchanan the son of his uncle of Bethlehem,

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

27 Sammoth an Arorite, Helles a Phalonite,

Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

28 Ira the son of Acces a Thecuite, Abiezer an Anathothite,

Ira, son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth;

29 Sobbochai a Husathite, Ilai an Ahohite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai the Ahohite;

30 Maharai a Netophathite, Heled the son of Baana a Netophathite,

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

31 Ethai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the sons of Benjamin, Banal a Pharathonite,

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

32 Hurai of the torrent Gaas, Abiel an Arbathite, Azmoth a Bauramite, Eliaba a Salabonite,

Hurai from the valleys of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;

33 The sons of Assem a, Gezonite, Jonathan the son of Sage an Ararite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

34 Ahiam the son of Sachar an Ararite,

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

35 Eliphal the son of Ur,

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

36 Hepher a Mecherathite, Ahia a Phelonite,

Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;

37 Hesro a Carmelite, Naarai the son of Azbai,

Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai;

38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibahar the son of Agarai.

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

39 Selec an Ammonite, Naharai a Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia.

Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite; Joab's armor-bearer, son of Zeruiah;

40 Ira a Jethrite, Gareb a Jethrite,

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

41 Urias a Hethite, Zabad the son of Oholi,

Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;

42 Adina the son of Siza a Rubenite the prince of the Rubenites, 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 Maacha, and Josaphat a Mathanite,

Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44 Ozia an Astarothite, Samma, and Jehiel the sons of Hotham an Arorite,

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

45 Jedihel the son of Zamri, and Jobs his brother a Thosaite,

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

46 Eliel a Mithumite, and Jeribai, and Josaia the sons of Elnaim, and Jethma a Moabite,

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

47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel of Masobia.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.