1 Chronicles 11

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

Then all of Israel was gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “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.'”

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 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.

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

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

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

Then David lived in the stronghold, and for this reason it was called the City 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 built up the city all around, from Millo even to every side. But Joab built the rest of the city.

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

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

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 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.

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 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of 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 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 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 They stood in the middle of the field. They defended it and cut down the Philistines and Yahweh rescued them with a great victory.

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 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.

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

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

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 then David desired and said, “O if only someone would give me water from the well of Bethlehem, which is at the gate!”

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.

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 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: “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 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.

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

and he was famous among the second three and their leader. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as 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, 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 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 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 Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

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

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.

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

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

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

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth, a Harorite; Helez, a Pelonite;

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

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

29 Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai, a Hushathite; Ilai, an Ahohite;

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

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

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

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

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

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

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

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

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

Ahiam, the son of Sachar, a Hararite;

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

Eliphal, the son of Ur;

36 Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher, a Mecherathite; Ahijah, a Pelonite;

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,

Hezro, a Carmelite; Naharai, 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, an Ammonite; Naarai, a Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite;

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

Uriah, a 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, a Reubenite, the leader of the Reubenites, and thirty who were with him;

43 Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

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

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

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

45 Jediael son of Shimri, Joha (his brother the Tizite),

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

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

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

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobaite.