Chapter 11

David Is Made King. ^1 (A)Then all Israel gathered around David in Hebron, and they said: “Look! We are your bone and your flesh. ² In days past, when Saul was still the king, it was you who led Israel in all its battles. And now the Lord, your God, has said to you: You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over my people Israel.”^{(B) 3} Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and at Hebron David made a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the Lord given through Samuel.^(C)

Jerusalem Captured. ⁴ Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the inhabitants of the land were called Jebusites.^{(D) 5} The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” David nevertheless captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David. ⁶ David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be made chief and captain.” Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first to attack; and so he became chief.^{(E) 7} David took up residence in the fortress, which therefore was called the City of David. ⁸ He built up the city on all sides, from the Millo all the way around, while Joab restored the rest of the city.^{(F) 9} David became ever more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David’s Warriors. ^10 (G)These were David’s chief warriors who, together with all Israel, supported him in his reign in order to make him king, according to the Lord’s word concerning Israel.

¹¹ Here is the list of David’s warriors:

Ishbaal, the son of Hachamoni, chief of the Three.^[a] He brandished his spear over three hundred, whom he had slain in a single encounter.

¹² Next to him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three warriors.^{(H) 13} He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had massed for battle. There was a plot of land full of barley. The people were fleeing before the Philistines,^{(I) 14} but he took his stand in the middle of the plot, kept it safe, and cut down the Philistines. Thus the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the Thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, who was in the cave of Adullam while the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.^{(J) 16} David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David had a strong craving, and said, “If only someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁸ Thereupon the Three broke through the encampment of the Philistines, drew water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out^[b] to the Lord, ¹⁹ saying, “God forbid that I should do such a thing! Could I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” So he refused to drink it. Such deeds as these the Three warriors performed.

^20 (K)Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the chief of the Thirty;^[c] he brandished his spear over three hundred, whom he had slain. He made a name beside the Three,^{(L) 21} but was twice as famous as any of the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.

²² Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of mighty deeds, from Kabzeel, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. Also, he went down and killed the lion in the cistern on a snowy day. ²³ He likewise slew the Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. The Egyptian carried a spear that was like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah came against him with a staff; he wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with that spear. ²⁴ Such deeds as these Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, performed, and he made a name beside the Three warriors, ²⁵ but was more famous than any of the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.^(M)

²⁶ Also these warriors: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;^{(N) 27} Shammoth, from En-harod; Helez, from Beth-pelet; ²⁸ Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa; Abiezer, from Anathoth; ²⁹ Sibbecai, from Husha; Ilai, from Ahoh;^{(O) 30} Maharai, from Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah;^{(P) 31} Ithai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Benjamin; Benaiah, from Pirathon;^{(Q) 32} Hurai, from Nahale-gaash; Abiel, from Beth-arabah; ³³ Azmaveth, from Bahurim; Eliahba, from Shaalbon; ³⁴ Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan, son of Shagee the Hararite; ³⁵ Ahiam, son of Sachar the Hararite; Elipheleth, son of ³⁶ Ahasbai, from Beth-maacah; Ahijah, from Gilo; ³⁷ Hezro, from Carmel; Naarai, the son of Ezbai; ³⁸ Joel, brother of Nathan, from Rehob, the Gadite; ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai, from Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah; ⁴⁰ Ira, from Jattir; Gareb, from Jattir; ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite; Zabad, son of Ahlai, ⁴² and, in addition to the Thirty, Adina, son of Shiza, the Reubenite, chief of the tribe of Reuben; ⁴³ Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite; ⁴⁴ Uzzia, the Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham, from Aroer; ⁴⁵ Jediael, son of Shimri, and Joha, his brother, the Tizite; ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; Ithmah, from Moab; ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobian.

Chapter 12

David’s Early Followers. ¹ The following men came to David in Ziklag while he was still under banishment from Saul, son of Kish; they, too, were among the warriors who helped him in his battles.^{(R) 2} They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow. They were some of Saul’s kinsmen, from Benjamin. ³ Ahiezer was their chief, along with Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu, from Anathoth;^{(S) 4} Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a warrior among the Thirty, and over the Thirty; ⁵ Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad from Gederah; ⁶ Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁷ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites; ⁸ Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor.

⁹ Some of the Gadites also went over to David when he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were valiant warriors, experienced soldiers equipped with shield and spear, fearsome as lions, swift as gazelles on the mountains.^{(T) 10} Ezer was their chief, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, ¹¹ Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹² Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, ¹³ Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, ¹⁴ Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. ¹⁵ These Gadites were army commanders, the lesser over hundreds and the greater over thousands. ¹⁶ It was they who crossed over the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing both its banks, and chased away all who were in the valleys to the east and to the west.

¹⁷ Some Benjaminites and Judahites also came to David at the stronghold. ¹⁸ David went out to meet them and addressed them in these words: “If you come peacefully, to help me, I am of a mind to have you join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors see and punish you.”

¹⁹ Then a spirit clothed Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he answered David:

So David received them and placed them among the leaders of his troops.

²⁰ Men from Manasseh also deserted to David when he came with the Philistines to battle against Saul. However, he did not help the Philistines, for their lords took counsel and sent him home, saying, “At the cost of our heads he will desert to his master Saul.” ²¹ As he was returning to Ziklag, therefore, these deserted to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands of Manasseh.^{[d] 22} They helped David by taking charge of his troops, for they were all warriors and became commanders of his army. ²³ And from day to day men kept coming to David’s help until there was a vast encampment, like God’s own encampment.

The Assembly at Hebron. ²⁴ This is the muster of the detachments of armed troops that came to David at Hebron to bring Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had ordained. ^25 [e]Judahites bearing shields and spears: six thousand eight hundred armed troops. ²⁶ Of the Simeonites, warriors fit for battle: seven thousand one hundred. ²⁷ Of the Levites: four thousand six hundred, ²⁸ along with Jehoiada, leader of the line of Aaron, with another three thousand seven hundred, ²⁹ and Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two princes of his father’s house. ³⁰ Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul: three thousand—until this time, most of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³¹ Of the Ephraimites: twenty thousand eight hundred warriors, men renowned in their ancestral houses. ³² Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, designated by name to come and make David king. ³³ Of the Issacharites, their chiefs who were endowed with an understanding of the times and who knew what Israel had to do: two hundred chiefs, together with all their kinsmen under their command. ³⁴ From Zebulun, men fit for military service, set in battle array with every kind of weapon for war: fifty thousand men rallying with a single purpose. ³⁵ From Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them, armed with shield and lance, thirty-seven thousand men. ³⁶ Of the Danites, set in battle array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred. ³⁷ From Asher, fit for military service and set in battle array: forty thousand. ³⁸ From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, men equipped with every kind of weapon of war: one hundred and twenty thousand.

³⁹ All these soldiers, drawn up in battle order, came to Hebron with the resolute intention of making David king over all Israel. The rest of Israel was likewise of one mind to make David king. ⁴⁰ They remained with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them. ⁴¹ Moreover, their neighbors from as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—provisions in great quantity of meal, pressed figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep. For there was rejoicing in Israel.

Chapter 11

Preaching Without Charge.^{[a] 1} If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me!^[b] Please put up with me.^{(A) 2 [c]}For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God, since I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.^{(B) 3} But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve^[d] by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere [and pure] commitment to Christ.^{(C) 4} For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus^[e] than the one we preached,^(D) or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough. ^5 [f](E)For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these “superapostles.” ⁶ Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge;^(F) in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.^[g]

^7 [h]Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?^{(G) 8} I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.^{(H) 10} By the truth of Christ in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.^{(I) 11 [i]}And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!^(J)

¹² And what I do I will continue to do, in order to end this pretext of those who seek a pretext for being regarded as we are in the mission of which they boast. ^13 [j]For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Paul’s Boast: His Labors. ^16 [k]I repeat, no one should consider me foolish;^[l] but if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.^{[m] 17} What I am saying I am not saying according to the Lord but as in foolishness, in this boastful state. ¹⁸ Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. ¹⁹ For you gladly put up with fools, since you are wise yourselves. ^20 [n]For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, or devours you, or gets the better of you, or puts on airs, or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I say that we were too weak!^[o]

But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare. ^22 [p]Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.^{(K) 23 [q]}Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.)^(L) I am still more,^[r] with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. ²⁴ Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one.^{(M) 25} Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep;^{(N) 26} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; ²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure.^{(O) 28} And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?^(P)

Paul’s Boast: His Weakness.^{[s] 30} If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ^31 [t]The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows, he who is blessed forever, that I do not lie. ³² At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus, in order to seize me, ³³ but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^(Q)