1 Chronicles 11

1 Then did all Israel gather themselves together to David, unto Hebron, saying, —Lo! thy bone and thy flesh, are we.

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

2 Moreover also, in time past even when Saul was king, thou, wast he that led out and brought in Israel, —and Yahweh thy God said unto thee, Thou, shalt shepherd my people Israel, Yea, thou, shalt be chief ruler, 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 Thus came all the elders of Israel unto the king, to Hebron, and David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, —and they anointed David to be king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh, 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 went David and all Israel to Jerusalem, the same, was Jebus, —where were the Jebusites, 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 unto David, Thou shalt not come in hither, —But David captured the citadel of Zion, the same, 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 David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, first, shall become a chief, and a ruler, —So then Joab son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became a 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 dwelt in the citadel, —for this cause, did they call 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 And he built the city round about, from Millo even as far as the circuit, —but, Joab, suffered the remainder of the city to live.

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 Thus did David wax greater and yet greater, —and, Yahweh of Hosts, was with him.

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

10 Now, these, are the chiefs of the heroes, that pertained to David, who held strongly with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, —according to the word of Yahweh, 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 And, this, is the number of the heroes who pertained to David, —Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite, chief of the thirty, the same, brandished his spear over three hundred—slain 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 son of Dodai, the Ahohite, —he, was among the three heroes;

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

13 he, was with David in Pas-dammim, where, the Philistines, were gathered together to battle, and there was a field-plot 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 so they took their stand in the midst of the plot and rescued it, and smote the Philistines, —and Yahweh wrought 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 chiefs went down upon the rock, unto David, into the cave of Adullam, —a host of Philistines, being encamped in the vale 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 Now, David, then was in the stronghold, —and, a garrison of Philistines, then was in Bethlehem.

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

17 And David longed, and said—Who will give me to drink of the water, out of the well of Bethlehem, that is within 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 the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was within the gate, and bare it, and brought it in unto David, —yet would not David drink it, but poured it out unto Yahweh;

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—Far be it from me, of my God, that I should do this! The blood of these men, shall I drink, with their lives? For, with their lives, have they brought it! So he would not drink it. These things, did the three heroes.

“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 brother of Joab—he, was the chief of three, he, having brandished his spear against three hundred—who were slain, —and so, he, had a name among 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 three in the second rank, was he honourable, therefore became he their captain, —though, unto the [first] three, did he not attain.

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

22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, son of a man of valour, hero of many a deed, from Kabziel—he, smote the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab, he, also went down and smote 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, also smote an Egyptian, a man of [great] stature, five cubits, and, in the hand of the Egyptian, was a spear like a weaver’s beam, so he went down unto him with a staff, —and wrested the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his 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 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, so, he, had a name among three heroes.

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

25 Among the thirty, lo! honourable, was he, but, unto the [first] three, did he not attain, —howbeit David set him over 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 Now, the heroes of the forces, were, —Asahel, 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 Paltite;

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, of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, —Benaiah, the Pirathonite;

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

32 Hurai, of the torrents 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 Shageh, the Hararite;

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

35 Ahiam, son of Sacar, 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, brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri;

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

39 Zelek, the Ammonite, —Naharai, the Berothite, the armour-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, a chief of the Reubenites and over the thirty;

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

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

Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;

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

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

45 Jediael, 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, 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, of Zobah.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.