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David Becomes King

11 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood![a] In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general.[b] The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’” When all the leaders[c] of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s message that came through Samuel.[d]

David Conquers Jerusalem

David and the whole Israelite army[e] advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus).[f] (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.)[g] The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). [h] David said, “Whoever attacks[i] the Jebusites first will become commanding general!”[j] So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked[k] first and became commander.[l] David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls;[m] Joab restored the rest of the city. David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.[n]

David’s Warriors

10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, stood courageously with him in his kingdom by installing him as king, in keeping with the Lord’s message concerning Israel. 11 This is the list of David’s warriors:[o]

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers.[p] He killed 300 men with his spear in a single battle.[q]

12 Next in command[r] was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 13 He was with David in Pas Dammim[s] when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it[t] and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.[u]

15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink[v] from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 18 So the three elite warriors[w] broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this![x] Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?”[y] Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.[z]

20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three[aa] elite warriors. He killed 300 men with his spear[ab] and gained fame along with the three elite warriors.[ac] 21 From[ad] the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.[ae]

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab;[af] he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 23 He even killed an Egyptian who was 7½ feet[ag] tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked[ah] him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 25 He received honor from[ai] the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26 The mighty warriors were:

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite,[aj]

Helez the Pelonite,[ak]

28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Abiezer the Anathothite,

29 Sibbekai[al] the Hushathite,

Ilai[am] the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai[an] son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai[ao] from the valleys of Gaash,

Abiel[ap] the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,[aq]

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of Hashem[ar] the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shageh[as] the Hararite,

35 Ahiam son of Sakar[at] the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,[au]

36 Hepher the Mekerathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro[av] the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan,[aw]

Mibhar son of Hagri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

40 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad son of Achli,

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

43 Hanan son of Maacah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45 Jediael son of Shimri,

and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

and Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel,

and Obed,

and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:1 tn Heb “look, your bone and your flesh [are] we.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:2 tn Heb “you were the one who led out and the one who brought in Israel.”
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:3 tn Heb “elders.”
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:3 tn Heb “by the hand of Samuel.”
  5. 1 Chronicles 11:4 tn Heb “all Israel.”
  6. 1 Chronicles 11:4 sn Jebus was an older name for the city of Jerusalem (cf. Josh 15:8; Judg 1:21).
  7. 1 Chronicles 11:4 tn Heb “and there [were] the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.”
  8. 1 Chronicles 11:6 sn Verse 6 inserts into the narrative parenthetical information about Joab’s role in the conquest of the city. Verse 7 then picks up where v. 5 left off.
  9. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Or perhaps “strikes down.”
  10. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “head and officer.”
  11. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “went up.”
  12. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “head.”
  13. 1 Chronicles 11:8 tn Heb “to that which surrounds.” On the referent here as “the surrounding walls,” see HALOT 740 s.v. סָבִיב.
  14. 1 Chronicles 11:9 tn Heb “and David went, going and becoming great, and the Lord of Heaven’s Armies [traditionally, Lord of hosts] was with him.”
  15. 1 Chronicles 11:11 tn Heb “and these are the number of the warriors who were David’s.”
  16. 1 Chronicles 11:11 tc The marginal reading (Qere) has “officers;” the consonantal text (Kethib) has “the Thirty” (see v. 15).
  17. 1 Chronicles 11:11 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against 300, [who were] slain at one time.”
  18. 1 Chronicles 11:12 tn Heb “after him.”
  19. 1 Chronicles 11:13 tc Some read here “Ephes Dammim.” See 1 Sam 17:1.
  20. 1 Chronicles 11:14 tn Heb “delivered it.”
  21. 1 Chronicles 11:14 tn Heb “and the Lord delivered [with] a great deliverance.”
  22. 1 Chronicles 11:17 tn Heb “Who will give me water to drink?” On the rhetorical use of מִי (mi) here, see BDB 566 s.v. f.
  23. 1 Chronicles 11:18 tn Heb “the three,” referring to the three elite warriors mentioned in v. 12.
  24. 1 Chronicles 11:19 tn Heb “Far be it to me from my God from doing this.”
  25. 1 Chronicles 11:19 tn Heb “with their lives.” The same expression occurs later in this verse.
  26. 1 Chronicles 11:19 tn Heb “These things the three warriors did.”
  27. 1 Chronicles 11:20 tc The Syriac reads “thirty” here and at the beginning of v. 21; this reading is followed by some English translations (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT).
  28. 1 Chronicles 11:20 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against three hundred, [who were] slain.”
  29. 1 Chronicles 11:20 tn Heb “and to him [reading with the Qere] there was a name among the three.”
  30. 1 Chronicles 11:21 tn Or “more than.”
  31. 1 Chronicles 11:21 tn Heb “of the three.”
  32. 1 Chronicles 11:22 tc Heb “the two of Ariel, Moab.” The precise meaning of אֲרִיאֵל (ʾariʾel) is uncertain; some read “warrior.” The present translation assumes that the word is a proper name and that בְּנֵי (bene, “sons of”) has accidentally dropped from the text by homoioarcton (note the preceding שְׁנֵי, shene).
  33. 1 Chronicles 11:23 tn Heb “5 cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 inches for the standard cubit, this individual would be 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall.
  34. 1 Chronicles 11:23 tn Heb “went down to.”
  35. 1 Chronicles 11:25 tn Or “more than.”
  36. 1 Chronicles 11:27 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:25 has the variant spelling of “Shammah.”
  37. 1 Chronicles 11:27 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:26 has the variant spelling of “Paltite.”
  38. 1 Chronicles 11:29 tn In 2 Sam 23:27 this individual’s name is given as “Mebunnai.”
  39. 1 Chronicles 11:29 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant “Zalmon.”
  40. 1 Chronicles 11:31 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:29 has the variant spelling “Ittai.”
  41. 1 Chronicles 11:32 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant spelling “Hiddai.”
  42. 1 Chronicles 11:32 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Abi-Albon.”
  43. 1 Chronicles 11:33 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Barhumite.”
  44. 1 Chronicles 11:34 tn In 2 Sam 23:32 this individual’s name is given as “Jashen.”
  45. 1 Chronicles 11:34 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:33 has the variant spelling “Shammah.”
  46. 1 Chronicles 11:35 tn In 2 Sam 23:33 this individual’s name is given as “Sharar.”
  47. 1 Chronicles 11:35 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:34 has the variant “Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite.”
  48. 1 Chronicles 11:37 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:35 has the variant spelling “Hezrai.”
  49. 1 Chronicles 11:38 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:36 has the variant “Igal son of Nathan from Zobah.”

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.

David Anointed King

11 (A)Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, (B)‘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 at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, (C)according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

David Takes Jerusalem

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, (D)that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, (E)the inhabitants of the land. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first (F)shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. And David (G)became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David's Mighty Men

10 (H)Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, (I)according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11 This is an account of David's mighty men: (J)Jashobeam, a (K)Hachmonite, was (L)chief of the three.[a] He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

12 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of (M)Dodo, the Ahohite. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim (N)when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. 14 But he took his[b] stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the (O)Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the (P)garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty.[c] And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 21 He was the most renowned[d] of the thirty[e] and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

22 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man[f] of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits[g] tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear (Q)like a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. 25 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

26 The mighty men were (R)Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth of Harod,[h] Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 Hashem[i] the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of (S)Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, (T)Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and 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, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:11 Compare 2 Samuel 23:8; Hebrew thirty, or captains
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:14 Compare 2 Samuel 23:12; Hebrew they… their
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:20 Syriac; Hebrew three
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:21 Compare 2 Samuel 23:19; Hebrew more renowned among the two
  5. 1 Chronicles 11:21 Syriac; Hebrew three
  6. 1 Chronicles 11:22 Syriac; Hebrew the son of a valiant man
  7. 1 Chronicles 11:23 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  8. 1 Chronicles 11:27 Compare 2 Samuel 23:25; Hebrew the Harorite
  9. 1 Chronicles 11:34 Compare Septuagint and 2 Samuel 23:32; Hebrew the sons of Hashem