Chronicles I 11

1 And all Israel came to David in Chebron, saying, Behold, we [are] your bones and your flesh.

Then all of Israel was gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “We are your bone and your flesh.

2 And heretofore when Saul was king, you were he that led Israel in and out, and the Lord of Israel said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be for a ruler over Israel.

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 And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Chebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Chebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by 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 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem, this [is] Jebus; and there the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land said to David,

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

5 You shall not enter in hither. But he took the strong hold of Sion: this [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 And David said, Whoever first smites the Jebusite, even he shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Saruia went up first, and became 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 And David lived in the strong hold; therefore he called it the city of David.

Then David lived in the stronghold, and for this reason it was called the City of David.

8 And he fortified the city round about.

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 continued to increase, and the Lord Almighty [was] with him.

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

10 And these [are] the chiefs of the mighty men, whom David had, who strengthened [themselves] with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, 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 And this [is] the list of the mighty [men] of David; Jesebada, son of Achaman, first of the thirty: he drew his sword once against three hundred 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 And after him Eleazar son of Dodai, the Achochite: he was among 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 in Phasodamin, and the Philistines were gathered there to battle, and [there was] a portion of the field full of barley; and the people fled before 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 And he stood in the midst of the portion, and rescued it, and struck the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great deliverance.

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 And three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Odollam, and the camp of the Philistines [was] in the giants' valley.

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 And David [was] then in the hold, and the garrison of the Philistines [was] then in Bethleem.

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

17 And David longed, and said, Who will give me water to drink of the well of Bethleem, that is in the gate?

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 And the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water out of the well that was in Bethleem, which was in the gate, and they took it, and came to David: but David would not drink it, and poured it out to the Lord, and said,

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 God forbid that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men with their lives? for with [the peril of] their lives they brought it. So he would not drink it. These things did 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 And Abisa the brother of Joab, he was chief of three: he drew his sword against three hundred slain at one time, and he had a name among the [second] 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 more famous than the two [others] of the three, and he was chief [over] them; yet he reached not to the [first] 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 Banaia the son of Jodae was the son of a mighty man: many [were] his acts for Cabasael: he struck two lion-like men of Moab, and he went down and struck a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

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 And he struck an Egyptian, a wonderful man five cubits [high]; and in the hand of the Egyptian [there was] a spear like a weavers' beam; and Banaia went down to him with a staff, and took the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him 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 things did Banaia son of Jodae, and his name [was] among the three mighties.

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

25 He was distinguished beyond the thirty, yet he reached not to the [first] three: and David set him over his family.

the first among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as the three. Then David placed him beside his ear.

26 And the mighty [men] of the forces [were], Asael the brother of Joab, Eleanan the son of Dodoe of Bethleem,

Moreover, the strongest men of the army were Asahel, the brother of Joab; and Elhanan, the son of his uncle, from Bethlehem;

27 Samaoth the Arorite, Chelles the Phelonite,

Shammoth, a Harorite; Helez, a Pelonite;

28 Ora the son of Ekkis the Thecoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

Ira, the son of Ikkesh, a Tekoite; Abiezer, an Anathothite;

29 Sobochai the Usathite, Eli the Achonite,

Sibbecai, a Hushathite; Ilai, an Ahohite;

30 Marai the Netophathite, Chthaod the son of Nooza the Netophathite,

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

31 Airi the son of Rebie of the hill of Benjamin, Banaias the Pharathonite,

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

32 Uri of Nachali Gaas, Abiel the Garabaethite,

Hurai, from the torrent Gaash; Abiel, an Arbathite; Azmaveth, a Baharumite; Eliahba, a Shaalbonite.

33 Azbon the Baromite, Eliaba the Salabonite,

The sons of Hashem, a Gizonite: Jonathan, the son of Shagee, a Hararite;

34 the son of Asam the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Sola the Ararite,

Ahiam, the son of Sachar, a Hararite;

35 Achim the son of Achar the Ararite, Elphat the son of Thyrophar

Eliphal, the son of Ur;

36 the Mechorathrite, Achia the Phellonite,

Hepher, a Mecherathite; Ahijah, a Pelonite;

37 Esere the Charmadaite, Naarai the son of Azobai,

Hezro, a Carmelite; Naharai, the son of Ezbai;

38 Joel the son of Nathan, Mebaal son of Agari,

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

39 Sele the son of Ammoni, Nachor the Berothite, armor-bearer to the son of Saruia,

Zelek, an Ammonite; Naarai, a Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;

40 Ira the Jethrite, Gaber the Jethrite,

Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite;

41 Uria the Chettite, Zabet son of Achaia,

Uriah, a Hittite; Zabad, the son of Ahlai;

42 Adina son of Saeza, a chief of Ruben, and thirty with him,

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

43 Anan the son of Moocha, and Josaphat the Matthanite,

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

44 Ozia the Astarothite, Samatha and Jeiel sons of Chotham the Ararite,

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

45 Jediel the son of Sameri, and Jozae his brother the Thosaite,

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

46 Eliel the Maoite, and Jaribi, and Josia his son, Ellaam, and Jethama the Moabite,

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

47 Daliel, and Obeth, and Jessiel of Mesobia.

Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobaite.