1 Chronicles 11

¹1 Chronicles 11:1. Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.²1 Chronicles 11:2. Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”³1 Chronicles 11:3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

⁴1 Chronicles 11:4. Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.⁵1 Chronicles 11:5. The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).⁶1 Chronicles 11:6. Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.⁷1 Chronicles 11:7. So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.⁸1 Chronicles 11:8. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.⁹1 Chronicles 11:9. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

¹⁰1 Chronicles 11:10. Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.¹¹1 Chronicles 11:11. This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.¹²1 Chronicles 11:12. Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.¹³1 Chronicles 11:13. He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.¹⁴1 Chronicles 11:14. But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.¹⁵1 Chronicles 11:15. Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.¹⁶1 Chronicles 11:16. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.¹⁷1 Chronicles 11:17. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”¹⁸1 Chronicles 11:18. So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,¹⁹1 Chronicles 11:19. saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.²⁰1 Chronicles 11:20. Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.²¹1 Chronicles 11:21. He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.²²1 Chronicles 11:22. And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.²³1 Chronicles 11:23. He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.²⁴1 Chronicles 11:24. These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men.²⁵1 Chronicles 11:25. He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.²⁶1 Chronicles 11:26. Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,²⁷1 Chronicles 11:27. Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,²⁸1 Chronicles 11:28. Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,²⁹1 Chronicles 11:29. Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,³⁰1 Chronicles 11:30. Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,³¹1 Chronicles 11:31. Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,³²1 Chronicles 11:32. Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,³³1 Chronicles 11:33. Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,³⁴1 Chronicles 11:34. the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,³⁵1 Chronicles 11:35. Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,³⁶1 Chronicles 11:36. Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,³⁷1 Chronicles 11:37. Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,³⁸1 Chronicles 11:38. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,³⁹1 Chronicles 11:39. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,⁴⁰1 Chronicles 11:40. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,⁴¹1 Chronicles 11:41. Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,⁴²1 Chronicles 11:42. Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,⁴³1 Chronicles 11:43. Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,⁴⁴1 Chronicles 11:44. Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,⁴⁵1 Chronicles 11:45. Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,⁴⁶1 Chronicles 11:46. Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,⁴⁷1 Chronicles 11:47. Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.