1 Chronicles 11

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

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

2 In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become a ruler over my people Israel.'”

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.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel. In this way, the word of Yahweh that had been declared by Samuel came true.

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.

4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). Now the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

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

5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

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.

6 David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become chief and commander.” So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, so he was made the chief.

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.

7 Then David began to live in the stronghold. So they called it the city of David.

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

8 He built the city all around from the Millo and back to the surrounding wall. Joab restored the rest of the city.

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.

9 David became greater and greater because Yahweh of hosts was with him.

And David became greater and greater in power, because the Lord of armies was with him.

10 These were the leaders David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, obeying the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.

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.

11 This is a list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, was commander of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear on one occasion.

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.

12 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

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

13 He was with David at Pas Dammim, and there the Philistines assembled together for battle, where there was a barley field and the army fled from the Philistines.

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.

14 They stood in the middle of the field. They defended it and cut down the Philistines and Yahweh rescued them with a great victory.

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.

15 Then three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

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.

16 At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established their camp at Bethlehem.

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

17 David was longing for water and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!”

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!

18 So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.

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,

19 Then he said, “May it be that I should never do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who have risked their lives?” Because they had put their lives at risk, David refused to drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty men.

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.

20 Abishai brother of Joab was captain over the Three. He once used his spear against three hundred and killed them. He is mentioned along with the Three.

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.

21 Of the Three, he was given double honor and became their captain, even though he was not one of them.

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

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel, who did great deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a day when the snow was falling.

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.

23 He even killed an Egyptian, a man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's beam, but he went down to him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

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.

24 Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

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

25 He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

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

26 The mighty men were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

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

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

29 Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

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

31 Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of Benjamin's descendants, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

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

32 Hurai of the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

Azmaveth of Bahurim, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

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

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

35 Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,

Ahiam, the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal, the son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai, the son of Ezbai,

38 Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,

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

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah),

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

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

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

43 Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Hanan, the son of Maacah, and 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, Joha (his brother the Tizite),

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

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

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

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.