David blir kung över hela Israel

11 Hela Israel samlades till David i Hebron och sade: "Vi är ju ditt eget kött och blod. Redan för länge sedan, ännu medan Saul var kung, var det du som var ledare och anförare för Israel. Och till dig har Herren, din Gud, sagt: Du skall vara herde för mitt folk Israel, ja, du skall vara en furste över mitt folk Israel." När alla de äldste i Israel kom till kungen i Hebron, slöt David ett förbund med dem i Hebron inför Herren. Sedan smorde de David till kung över Israel, enligt Herrens ord genom Samuel.

David begav sig med hela Israel till Jerusalem, det vill säga Jebus, och där bodde jebusiterna. Invånarna i Jebus sade till David: "Här kommer du inte in." Men David intog Sions borg, det är nu Davids stad. David sade: "Den som först slår jebusiterna, han skall bli överbefälhavare och överste." Joab, Serujas son, kom först upp, och han blev överbefälhavare. David bosatte sig sedan i borgen och därför kallade man den Davids stad. Han byggde staden runt om den, från Millo och vidare runt omkring, och Joab återställde det övriga av staden. David blev allt mäktigare, och Herren Sebaot var med honom.

Davids hjältar

10 Dessa är de främsta bland Davids hjältar, som starkt stödde honom i hans rike tillsammans med hela Israel, så att man gjorde honom till kung över Israel enligt Herrens ord.

11 Detta är förteckningen på Davids hjältar: Jasobeam, son till en hakmonit, den främste bland kämparna, han som svängde sitt spjut över trehundra slagna på en gång. 12 Efter honom kom ahoaiten Eleasar, son till Dodo. Han var en av de tre hjältarna. 13 Han var med David vid Pas-Dammim, när filisteerna hade samlats där till strid. Där fanns en åker, full med korn, och folket flydde för filisteerna. 14 Då ställde de sig mitt på åkern och försvarade den och slog filisteerna, och Herren lät dem vinna en stor seger.

15 Tre av de trettio främsta männen gick ner över klippan till David vid Adullams grotta, medan en avdelning filisteer hade slagit läger i Refaimdalen. 16 David var då på borgen, och en filisteisk utpost fanns i Betlehem. 17 David sade längtansfullt: "Om ändå någon ville ge mig vatten att dricka från brunnen vid Betlehems stadsport!" 18 Då bröt de tre sig igenom filisteernas läger och hämtade vatten ur brunnen vid Betlehems stadsport och tog det och bar det till David. Men David ville inte dricka det utan hällde ut det som ett drickoffer åt Herren. 19 Han sade: "Må Gud låta det vara fjärran från mig att jag skulle göra detta! Skulle jag dricka dessa mäns blod? De har ju vågat sina liv, ja, med fara för sina liv har de burit hit det." Och han ville inte dricka det. Sådana bragder hade de tre hjältarna utfört.

20 Absaj, Joabs bror, var den främ- ste av tre andra. Han svängde en gång sitt spjut över trehundra slagna. Han hade ett stort namn bland de tre. 21 Han var dubbelt så mycket ansedd som någon annan i detta tretal, och han var deras befälhavare. Men upp till de tre första nådde han inte.

22 Vidare Benaja, son till Jojada, från Kabseel, var en tapper man och gjorde många stordåd. Han slog ner de två arielerna i Moab, och det var han som en snövädersdag steg ner och slog ihjäl lejonet i brunnen. 23 Han slog också ner den egyptiske mannen som var så storväxt: fem alnar lång. Fastän egyptiern i handen hade ett spjut som liknade en vävbom, gick han emot honom beväpnad endast med sin stav. Han ryckte spjutet ur egyptierns hand och dödade honom med hans eget spjut. 24 Sådana bragder hade Benaja, Jojadas son, utfört, och han hade ett stort namn bland de tre hjältarna. 25 Ja, han var mer ansedd än någon av de trettio, men upp till de tre första nådde han inte. David satte honom till anförare för sin livvakt.

26 De tappra hjältarna var: Asael, Joabs bror; Elhanan, Dodos son, från Betlehem; 27 haroriten Sammot; peloniten Heles; 28 tekoaiten Ira, Ickes son; anatotiten Abieser; 29 husatiten Sibbekaj; ahoaiten Ilaj; 30 netofatiten Mahraj; netofatiten Heled, Baanas son; 31 Itaj, Ribajs son, från Gibea i Benjamins barns stam; pirgatoniten Benaja; 32 Huraj från Gaas dalar; arabatiten Abiel; 33 baharumiten Asmavet; saalboniten Eljaba; 34 gisoniten Bene-Hasem; harariten Jonatan, Sages son; 35 harariten Ahiam, Sakars son; Elifal, Urs son; 36 mekeratiten Hefer; peloniten Ahia; 37 Hesro från Karmel; Naaraj, Esbais son; 38 Joel, bror till Natan; Mibhar, Hagris son; 39 ammoniten Selek; berotiten Nahraj, vapendragare åt Joab, Serujas son; 40 jeteriten Ira; jeteriten Gareb; 41 hetiten Uria; Sabad, Alajs son; 42 rubeniten Adina, Sisas son, en huvudman bland rubeniterna, och med honom trettio andra; 43 Hanan, Maakas son, och mitniten Josafat; 44 astarotiten Ussia; Sama och Jeguel, aroeriten Hotams söner; 45 Jediael, Simris son, och hans bror Joha, tisiten; 46 Eliel mahaviten samt Jeribaj och Josauja, Elnaams söner, och moabiten Jitma; 47 slutligen Eliel, Obed och Jaasiel mesobajiten.

All Israel makes David king

11 All the Israelites gathered around David at Hebron. “We’re your own flesh and blood,” they said. “In the past, even when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel. The Lord your God told you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become a leader over my people Israel.’” So all of Israel’s elders came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them before the Lord. They anointed David to make him king over Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

David captures Jerusalem

Then David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites lived. The people who lived in Jebus told David, “You’ll never get in here!”

But David captured the mountain fortress of Zion, which became David’s City. David had said, “The first one to kill a Jebusite will become commander in chief!” Joab, Zeruiah’s son, was the first to attack and so became commander in chief. David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David’s City. He also built up the city on all sides, including its own foundations and the surrounding areas, while Joab restored the rest of the city. David grew increasingly powerful, and the Lord of heavenly forces was with him.

David and his warriors

10 These are the commanders of David’s warriors who continued to support him while he was king. Together with all Israel, they made him king, as the Lord had promised Israel. 11 This is the list of David’s warriors:

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was commander of the Thirty. He raised his spear against eight hundred, killing them on a single occasion.

12 Next in command came Eleazar, Dodo’s son the Ahohite, who was one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim. The Philistines were gathered there for battle, where part of a field was full of barley. When the people ran away from the Philistines, 14 he and David stood in the middle of the field, held their ground, and defeated the Philistines. So the Lord achieved a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty commanders went down from the rock to David at the fortress[a] of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines camped in the Rephaim Valley. 16 At that time David was in the fortress, and a Philistine fort was in Bethlehem. 17 David had a craving and said, “If only someone could give me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 18 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it and poured it out to the Lord.

19 “God forbid that I should do that,” he said. “Isn’t this the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Since they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it.

These were the kinds of things the three warriors did.

20 Abishai, Joab’s brother, was chief of the Thirty.[b] He raised his spear against the three hundred men he had slain, but he wasn’t considered one of the Three. 21 He was the most famous of the Thirty. He became their commander, but he wasn’t among the Three.

22 Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son from Kabzeel, was a hero who performed great deeds. He killed two of Moab’s leaders,[c] and on a snowy day went down into a pit where he killed a lion. 23 He also killed an Egyptian seven and a half feet tall, who was holding a spear like a weaver’s beam. Benaiah went down to him with a club, grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with it. 24 These were the exploits of Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son; he wasn’t considered one of the three warriors. 25 He was famous among the Thirty, but didn’t become one of the Three. David placed him in command of his own bodyguard.

26 The mighty warriors:

Asahel, Joab’s brother;

Elhanan, Dodo’s son from Bethlehem;

27 Shammoth from Haror;

Helez from Pelon;

28 Ira, Ikkesh’s son from Tekoa;

Abiezer from Anathoth;

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite;

Ilai from Ahoh;

30 Maharai from Netophah;

Heled, Baanah’s son from Netophah;

31 Ithai, Ribai’s son from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;

Benaiah from Pirathon;

32 Hurai from the Gaash ravines;

Abiel the Arbathite;

33 Azmaveth from Baharum;

Eliahba from Shaalbon;

34 Hashem[d] the Gizonite;

Jonathan, Shagee’s son from Harar;

35 Ahiam, Sachar’s son from Harar;

Eliphal, Ur’s son;

36 Hepher the Mecherathite;

Ahijah the Pelonite;

37 Hezro from Carmel;

Naarai, Ezbai’s son;

38 Joel, Nathan’s brother;

Mibhar, Hagri’s son;

39 Zelek the Ammonite;

Naharai from Beeroth, Zeruiah’s son and the armor-bearer for Joab;

40 Ira from Ither;

Gareb from Ither;

41 Uriah the Hittite;

Zabad, Ahlai’s son;

42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him;

43 Hanan, Maacah’s son;

Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite;

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite;

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

46 Eliel the Mahavite;

Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;

Ithmah the Moabite;

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:15 Or cave; cf 2 Sam 23:14
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:20 Syr; MT three
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:22 Heb Ariel
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:34 MT the family of Hashem

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