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David Becomes King(A)

11 Then the people of Israel ·came to [gathered before; joined] David at the town of Hebron and said, “Look, we are your own ·family [L bone and flesh]. In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel ·in battle [L out and brought it in]. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their leader.’”

So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them in Hebron ·in the presence of [before] the Lord. Then they ·poured oil on [anointed] David to make him king over Israel. ·The Lord had promised through Samuel that this would happen [This was according to the word of the Lord through Samuel].

David Captures Jerusalem(B)

David and all the Israelites went to the city of Jerusalem. ·At that time Jerusalem was called [L …that is,] Jebus, and the people living there were named Jebusites. They said to David, “You can’t ·get inside our city [L enter here].” But David ·did take the city of Jerusalem with its strong walls [L captured the stronghold/fortress of Zion], and it became the City of David.

David had said, “The person who ·leads the [or is the first to] ·attack against [kill one of] the Jebusites will become ·the commander over all my army [commander-in-chief].” Joab son of Zeruiah ·led the attack [went up first], so he became ·the commander of the army [chief].

Then David made his home in the ·strong, walled city [stronghold; fortress], which is why it ·was named [is called] the City of David. David rebuilt the city, beginning ·where the land was filled in [with the terraces; L the Millo] and going to the ·wall that was around the city [surrounding area/walls]. Joab ·repaired [restored; rebuilt] the other parts of the city. David became ·stronger and stronger [L greater and greater], and the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] was with him.

David’s Mighty Warriors(C)

10 ·This is a list of the leaders [These are the chiefs/heads] over David’s ·warriors [T mighty men] who ·helped make David’s kingdom strong [or strongly supported his kingdom]. All the people of Israel also supported David’s kingdom, ·just as the Lord had promised [L according to the word of the Lord].

11 This is a ·list [record; account; roll] of David’s ·warriors [T mighty men]:

Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people. He was the head of the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; C David’s most elite soldiers; 11:26–47; 2 Sam. 23:8–39]. He used his spear to fight three hundred men at one time, and he killed them all.

12 Next was Eleazar, one of the Three. Eleazar was Dodai’s son from the Ahohite people. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines came there to fight. There was a field of barley at that place. The Israelites ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 14 but they ·stopped [took a stand; held their ground] in the middle of that field and ·fought for [defended] it and killed the Philistines. The Lord ·gave them [rescued/saved them with] a great victory.

15 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the ·rock [cliff face] by the cave near Adullam. At the same time the Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

16 At that time David was in a stronghold, and ·some of the Philistines [a Philistine detachment/garrison] were in Bethlehem. 17 David had a ·strong desire [craving; longing] for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine ·army [camp; lines] and took water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ·before [as an offering to] the Lord, 19 saying, “·May God keep me from drinking [God forbid that I drink] this water! ·It would be like drinking [L Should I drink…?] the blood of the men who risked their lives to bring it to me!” So David refused to drink it.

These were the ·brave things [kind of things] that the three warriors did.

20 Abishai brother of Joab was the ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [L had a name as did] the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; v. 11] 21 and was more honored than the ·Three [or Thirty]. He became their commander even though he was not ·one of [or equal to] them.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed ·two of the best warriors [or the two sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 Benaiah killed an Egyptian who was ·about seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] tall and had a spear ·as large as [L like] a weaver’s ·rod [beam]. Benaiah had a ·club [staff], but he ·grabbed [wrenched] the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 ·These [Such] were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name as well as] the Three. 25 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David ·made [appointed] him ·leader [captain] of his bodyguards.

The Thirty Chief Soldiers

26 These were also mighty warriors:

Asahel brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
27 ·Shammoth [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:25] the Harorite;
Helez the ·Pelonite [or Paltite; 2 Sam. 23:26];
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer the Anathothite;
29 ·Sibbecai [or Mebunnai; 2 Sam. 23:27] the Hushathite;
·Ilai [or Zalmon; 2 Sam. 23:28] the Ahohite;
30 Maharai the Netophathite;
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
Benaiah the Pirathonite;
32 ·Hurai [or Hiddai; 2 Sam. 23:30] from the ·ravines [valleys; or brooks] of Gaash;
·Abiel [or Abi-Albon; 2 Sam. 23:31] the Arbathite;
33 Azmaveth the ·Baharumite [or Barhumite; 2 Sam. 23:31];
Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34 the sons of ·Hashem [or Jashen; cf. 2 Sam. 23:32] the Gizonite;
Jonathan son of ·Shagee [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
35 Ahiam son of ·Sacar [or Sharar; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
·Eliphal son of Ur [or Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; 2 Sam. 23:34];
36 Hepher the Mekerathite;
Ahijah the Pelonite;
37 ·Hezro [or Hezrai; 2 Sam. 23:35] the Carmelite;
Naarai son of Ezbai;
38 Joel brother of ·Nathan [or Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, 2 Sam. 23:36];
Mibhar son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Berothite, the ·officer who carried the armor [armor bearer] for Joab son of Zeruiah;
40 Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite;
41 Uriah the Hittite;
Zabad son of Ahlai;
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was the ·leader [chief] of the Reubenites, and his thirty soldiers;
43 Hanan son of Maacah;
Joshaphat the Mithnite;
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite;
Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite;
45 Jediael son of Shimri;
Joha, Jediael’s brother, the Tizite;
46 Eliel the Mahavite;
Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;
Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaites.

David Made King over All Israel(A)

11 Then (B)all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your (C)God said to you, ‘You shall (D)shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ” Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And (E)they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord [a]by (F)Samuel.

The City of David(G)

And David and all Israel (H)went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, (I)where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be [b]chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it [c]the City of David. And he built the city around it, from [d]the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab [e]repaired the rest of the city. So David (J)went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with (K)him.

The Mighty Men of David(L)

10 Now (M)these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to (N)the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: (O)Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, (P)chief of [f]the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of (Q)Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at [g]Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they [h]stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men (R)went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped (S)in the Valley of [i]Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

20 (T)Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another [j]three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 21 (U)Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who [k]had done many deeds. (V)He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, [l]five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

26 Also the mighty warriors were (W)Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 [m]Shammoth the Harorite, (X)Helez the [n]Pelonite, 28 (Y)Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, (Z)Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 [o]Sibbechai the Hushathite, [p]Ilai the Ahohite, 30 (AA)Maharai the Netophathite, [q]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 [r]Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, (AB)Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 [s]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, [t]Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the [u]Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of [v]Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of [w]Sacar the Hararite, [x]Eliphal the son of [y]Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 [z]Hezro the Carmelite, [aa]Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the [ab]Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 (AC)Uriah the Hittite, [ac]Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, 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 11:3 Lit. by the hand of Samuel
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:6 Lit. head
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:7 Zion, 2 Sam. 5:7
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:8 Lit. The Landfill
  5. 1 Chronicles 11:8 Lit. revived
  6. 1 Chronicles 11:11 So with Qr.; Kt., LXX, Vg. the thirty (cf. 2 Sam. 23:8)
  7. 1 Chronicles 11:13 Ephes Dammim, 1 Sam. 17:1
  8. 1 Chronicles 11:14 Lit. took their stand
  9. 1 Chronicles 11:15 Lit. Giants
  10. 1 Chronicles 11:20 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Syr. thirty
  11. 1 Chronicles 11:22 was great in deeds
  12. 1 Chronicles 11:23 About 7 1⁄2 feet
  13. 1 Chronicles 11:27 Shammah the Harodite, 2 Sam. 23:25
  14. 1 Chronicles 11:27 Paltite, 2 Sam. 23:26
  15. 1 Chronicles 11:29 Mebunnai, 2 Sam. 23:27
  16. 1 Chronicles 11:29 Zalmon, 2 Sam. 23:28
  17. 1 Chronicles 11:30 Heleb, 2 Sam. 23:29, or Heldai, 1 Chr. 27:15
  18. 1 Chronicles 11:31 Ittai, 2 Sam. 23:29
  19. 1 Chronicles 11:32 Hiddai, 2 Sam. 23:30
  20. 1 Chronicles 11:32 Abi-Albon, 2 Sam. 23:31
  21. 1 Chronicles 11:33 Barhumite, 2 Sam. 23:31
  22. 1 Chronicles 11:34 Jashen, 2 Sam. 23:32
  23. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Sharar, 2 Sam. 23:33
  24. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Eliphelet, 2 Sam. 23:34
  25. 1 Chronicles 11:35 Ahasbai, 2 Sam. 23:34
  26. 1 Chronicles 11:37 Hezrai, 2 Sam. 23:38
  27. 1 Chronicles 11:37 Paarai the Arbite, 2 Sam. 23:35
  28. 1 Chronicles 11:39 Beerothite, 2 Sam. 23:37
  29. 1 Chronicles 11:41 The last sixteen are not added in 2 Sam. 23.