David Made King over All Israel(A)

11 Then (B)all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your (C)God said to you, ‘You shall (D)shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ” Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And (E)they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord [a]by (F)Samuel.

The City of David(G)

And David and all Israel (H)went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, (I)where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. But 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). Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be [b]chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it [c]the City of David. And he built the city around it, from [d]the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab [e]repaired the rest of the city. So David (J)went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with (K)him.

The Mighty Men of David(L)

10 Now (M)these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to (N)the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: (O)Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, (P)chief of [f]the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of (Q)Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at [g]Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they [h]stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men (R)went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped (S)in the Valley of [i]Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

20 (T)Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another [j]three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 21 (U)Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who [k]had done many deeds. (V)He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, [l]five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

26 Also the mighty warriors were (W)Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 [m]Shammoth the Harorite, (X)Helez the [n]Pelonite, 28 (Y)Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, (Z)Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 [o]Sibbechai the Hushathite, [p]Ilai the Ahohite, 30 (AA)Maharai the Netophathite, [q]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 [r]Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, (AB)Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 [s]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, [t]Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the [u]Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of [v]Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of [w]Sacar the Hararite, [x]Eliphal the son of [y]Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 [z]Hezro the Carmelite, [aa]Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the [ab]Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 (AC)Uriah the Hittite, [ac]Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:3 Lit. by the hand of Samuel
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:6 Lit. head
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:7 Zion, 2 Sam. 5:7
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:8 Lit. The Landfill
  5. 1 Chronicles 11:8 Lit. revived
  6. 1 Chronicles 11:11 So with Qr.; Kt., LXX, Vg. the thirty (cf. 2 Sam. 23:8)
  7. 1 Chronicles 11:13 Ephes Dammim, 1 Sam. 17:1
  8. 1 Chronicles 11:14 Lit. took their stand
  9. 1 Chronicles 11:15 Lit. Giants
  10. 1 Chronicles 11:20 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Syr. thirty
  11. 1 Chronicles 11:22 was great in deeds
  12. 1 Chronicles 11:23 About 7 1⁄2 feet
  13. 1 Chronicles 11:27 Shammah the Harodite, 2 Sam. 23:25
  14. 1 Chronicles 11:27 Paltite, 2 Sam. 23:26
  15. 1 Chronicles 11:29 Mebunnai, 2 Sam. 23:27
  16. 1 Chronicles 11:29 Zalmon, 2 Sam. 23:28
  17. 1 Chronicles 11:30 Heleb, 2 Sam. 23:29, or Heldai, 1 Chr. 27:15
  18. 1 Chronicles 11:31 Ittai, 2 Sam. 23:29
  19. 1 Chronicles 11:32 Hiddai, 2 Sam. 23:30
  20. 1 Chronicles 11:32 Abi-Albon, 2 Sam. 23:31
  21. 1 Chronicles 11:33 Barhumite, 2 Sam. 23:31
  22. 1 Chronicles 11:34 Jashen, 2 Sam. 23:32
  23. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Sharar, 2 Sam. 23:33
  24. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Eliphelet, 2 Sam. 23:34
  25. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Ahasbai, 2 Sam. 23:34
  26. 1 Chronicles 11:37 Hezrai, 2 Sam. 23:38
  27. 1 Chronicles 11:37 Paarai the Arbite, 2 Sam. 23:35
  28. 1 Chronicles 11:39 Beerothite, 2 Sam. 23:37
  29. 1 Chronicles 11:41 The last sixteen are not added in 2 Sam. 23.

David Becomes King Over Israel(A)

11 All Israel(B) came together to David at Hebron(C) and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.(D) And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd(E) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.(F)’”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed(G) David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

David Conquers Jerusalem(H)

David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites(I) who lived there said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab(J) son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the terraces[a](K) to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. And David became more and more powerful,(L) because the Lord Almighty was with him.

David’s Mighty Warriors(M)

10 These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel,(N) gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised(O) 11 this is the list of David’s mighty warriors:(P)

Jashobeam,[b] a Hakmonite, was chief of the officers[c]; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

12 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.(Q)

15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley(R) of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold,(S) and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured(T) it out to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

20 Abishai(U) the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 21 He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,(V) performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.(W) 23 And he struck down an Egyptian who was five cubits[d] tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s rod(X) in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 25 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26 The mighty warriors were:

Asahel(Y) the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth(Z) the Harorite,

Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

Abiezer(AA) from Anathoth,

29 Sibbekai(AB) the Hushathite,

Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

Benaiah(AC) the Pirathonite,(AD)

32 Hurai from the ravines of Gaash,

Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

35 Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mekerathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan,

Mibhar son of Hagri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

40 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah(AE) the Hittite,

Zabad(AF) son of Ahlai,

42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,

43 Hanan son of Maakah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,(AG)

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45 Jediael son of Shimri,

his brother Joha the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam,

Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:8 Or the Millo
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:11 Possibly a variant of Jashob-Baal
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:11 Or Thirty; some Septuagint manuscripts Three (see also 2 Samuel 23:8)
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:23 That is, about 7 feet 6 inches or about 2.3 meters