1 Chronicles 11

1Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh.”

2Even in times past, even before, when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel.’

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before Yahweh. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.

4Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem—that is, Jebus—where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were.

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

6And David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall become chief and commander.” So Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became chief.

7David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.

8He built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area, and Joab restored the rest of the city.

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

10These were the chiefs of the mighty men who belonged to David, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.

11And these are the number of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni, the chief of the Thirty; he wielded his spear against three hundred slain in one encounter.

12After him was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite; he was among the three mighty men.

13He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had gathered for battle. Now the plot of the field was full of barley, and the people fled from before the Philistines.

14And they took their stand in the middle of the plot and delivered it, and they struck down the Philistines, and Yahweh saved by a great victory.

15Then three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, at the cave of Adullam, while the camp of the Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

16David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

17And David longed and said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate?”

18So the three broke through into the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. But David was not willing to drink it; instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.

19And he said, “Far be it from me, by my God, to do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men at the cost of their lives? For they brought it at the cost of their lives.” So he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

20And Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three. He brandished his spear against three hundred slain, and had a name among the Three.

21He was more honored than the two among the three, and he became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.

22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a mighty man, a man of many deeds, from Kabzeel—he struck down the two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down the lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

23And he struck down the Egyptian, a man five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, and he went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

24These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty men.

25Among the Thirty, he was indeed honored, but he did not attain to the Three; and David appointed him over his bodyguard.

26And the mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem.

27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite;

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

29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite.

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

31Ittai son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin; Benaiah the Pirathonite;

32Hurai from the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite.

33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliyahba the Shaalbonite.

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

35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur.

36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai;

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

39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite.

41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai.

42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and with him were thirty.

43Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite;

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

45Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite;

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

47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.