The First Book of the Chronicles

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- Chapter 11 -

(2 Samuel 5:1–5)

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

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.’”

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.

David Conquers Jerusalem

(2 Samuel 5:6–11)

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

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.

David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become a commander.” So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, so he was made a commander.

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

He fortified the city around from the Millo and back to the surrounding wall. Joab fortified the rest of the city.

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

David’s Mighty Men

(2 Samuel 23:8–39)

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.

This is a list of David’s elite soldiers: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, was commander of the thirty. He killed three hundred men with his spear on one occasion.

After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines assembled together for battle, where there was a barley field and the army fled from the Philistines.

They stood in the middle of the field. They defended it and cut down the Philistines and Yahweh rescued them with a great victory.

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.

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

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!”

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.

Then he said, “Far be it from me, Yahweh, that I should drink this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?” Because they had put their lives at risk, he refused to drink it. These are things the three mighty men did.

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.

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

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing.

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.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.

He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three most elite soldiers. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

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

Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi Ezer the Anathothite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of Benjamin’s descendants, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hurai of the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

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

Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,

Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Uriah the Hethite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

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

Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

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

Jediael son of Shimri, Joha, his brother the Tizite,

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

Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

(2 Samuel 5:1–5)

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, according to the LORD’s word by Samuel.

David Conquers Jerusalem

(2 Samuel 5:6–11)

David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.

David had said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.

David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city.

He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

David grew greater and greater, for the LORD of Armies was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

(2 Samuel 23:8–39)

Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the LORD’s word concerning Israel.

This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.

After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory.

Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.

David longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to the LORD,

and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.

Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.

He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits (a) high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.

Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.

The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

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

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

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

Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

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

Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

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

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites), and thirty with him,

Hanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,

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

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

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

Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

(a)11:23 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. Therefore this Egyptian was about 7 feet and 6 inches or 2.28 meters tall.