1 Chronicles 11

1 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron, saying, "Look, 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 times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. YHWH your God said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall rule over my people Israel.'"

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 to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of YHWH 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 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

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

5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold 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 David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made 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 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it 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 the city all around, from the Millo even around; and Joab repaired 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 David grew greater and greater; for YHWH of hosts was with him.

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

10 Now these are the chief of the warriors whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of YHWH 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 number of the warriors whom David had: Jeshbaal the son of Hachmoni, leader of the Three. And he wielded his spear against eight hundred and killed them 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 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the Three warriors.

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

13 He was with David at Pas Dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground 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 And he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and YHWH saved them by 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 And three of the Thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were camped 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 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

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

17 And David had a craving and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by 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 The Three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to YHWH,

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 and said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The Three warriors did these things.

“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 leader of the Thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name beside 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 the most illustrious of the Thirty, and he became their leader. However, he did not attain to 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 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, who performed great deeds. He killed the two of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit 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 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, seven feet five inches tall; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed 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 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the Three warriors.

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

25 Look, he was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David set 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 Also the warriors of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

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

27 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite,

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 Sibbekai the Hushathite, Zalmon 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 people of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

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

32 Hiddai of Nahale Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai from the valleys of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;

33 Azmaveth the Bahurimite, Eliahba the Shaalbinite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

34 Jashen the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shamma the Hararite,

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

35 Ahiam the son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the Maacathite,

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

36 Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;

37 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Archite,

Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai;

38 Igal the son of Nathan, from the elite troops of the Hagrites,

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

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

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

40 Ira the Jattirite, Gareb the Jattirite,

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

41 Uriah the Hethite, 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 Mezobaiah.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.