1 Chronicles 11

1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.

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

2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou [wast] he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be 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 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD 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 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which [is] Jebus; where the Jebusites [were], 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 to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which [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, Whoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was 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 castle; 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 And he built the city around, even from Millo 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 So David became greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts [was] with him.

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

10 These also [are] the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, [and] with all Israel, to make him king according to the word of the LORD 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 mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted his spear against three hundred slain [by him] 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 the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who [was one] of the three mighties.

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 to battle, where was a parcel 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 they set themselves in the midst of [that] parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved [them] by a great deliverance.

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 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped 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 And David [was] then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison [was] then at Beth-lehem.

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

17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that [is] at 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 broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, 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 the LORD,

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 thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with [the jeopardy of] their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

“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, he was chief of the three: for lifting his spear against three hundred, he slew [them], and had a name among 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 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two; for he was their captain: but he attained not to the [first] 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, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lion-like men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.

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 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of [great] stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand [was] a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew 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 These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.

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

25 Behold, he was honorable among the thirty, but attained not to the [first] 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 valiant men of the armies [were], Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,

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

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

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

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 the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Maharai of Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah of Netophah;

31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, [that pertained] to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

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

32 Hurai of the brooks 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 the son of Shage the Hararite,

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

35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphel the 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 the son of Ezbai,

Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai;

38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,

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

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, 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 Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;

42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain 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 Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan 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 Mehavite, 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 Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.