1 Chronicles 11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
David’s Anointing as King
11 All Israel(A) came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.[a] 2 Even when Saul was king, you led us out to battle and brought us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over My people Israel.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.(B)
David’s Capture of Jerusalem
4 David(C) and all Israel marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus(D)); the Jebusites who inhabited the land were there. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
6 David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander.” Joab(E) son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.
7 Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David. 8 He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city. 9 David steadily grew more powerful,(F) and the Lord of Hosts was with him.
Exploits of David’s Warriors
10 The following were the chiefs of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, strongly supported him in his reign to make him king according to the Lord’s word about Israel.(G) 11 This(H) is the list of David’s warriors:
Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief(I) of the Thirty;[b] he wielded his spear against 300 and killed them at one time.
12 After him, Eleazar son of Dodo(J) the Ahohite was one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines.(K) 14 But Eleazar and David[c] took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.
15 Three of the 30 chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam,(L) while the Philistine army was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.(M) 16 At that time David was in the stronghold,(N) and a Philistine garrison(O) was at Bethlehem. 17 David was extremely thirsty[d] and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19 David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
20 Abishai,(P) Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three.[e] He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 21 He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(Q) was the son of a brave man[f] from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab,[g] and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall.[h] Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam,(R) Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 25 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26 The fighting men(S) were:
Joab’s brother Asahel,(T)
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai from the wadis of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of[i](U) Hashem the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite,
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 Beerothite, the 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, chief of the Reubenites, and 30 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 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 Chronicles 11:1 Lit your bone and flesh
- 1 Chronicles 11:11 Alt Hb tradition reads Three
- 1 Chronicles 11:14 Lit But they
- 1 Chronicles 11:17 Lit And David craved
- 1 Chronicles 11:20 Syr reads Thirty
- 1 Chronicles 11:22 Or was a valiant man
- 1 Chronicles 11:22 Or He killed two Moabite warriors
- 1 Chronicles 11:23 Lit who measured five cubits
- 1 Chronicles 11:34 LXX omits the sons of; 2Sm 23:32
1 Chronicles 11
Complete Jewish Bible
11 Then all Isra’el gathered themselves to David in Hevron and said, “Here, we are your own flesh and bone. 2 In the past, even when Sha’ul was king, it was you who led Isra’el’s military campaigns; and Adonai your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isra’el, and you will be chief over my people Isra’el.’” 3 So all the leaders of Isra’el came to the king in Hevron; and David made a covenant with them in Hevron in the presence of Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Isra’el, as Adonai had said through Sh’mu’el.
4 David and all Isra’el went to Yerushalayim, also known as Y’vus; and the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Y’vus taunted David by saying, “You won’t get in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Tziyon, also known now as the City of David. 6 David said, “Whoever attacks the Y’vusi first will be commander-in-chief.” Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah attacked first and was made commander.
7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. 8 David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and going on around; while Yo’av repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, because Adonai-Tzva’ot was with him.
10 These are David’s chief warriors, who, under his rulership, joined forces with him and with all Isra’el to make him king, as Adonai had said concerning Isra’el; 11 here is the list of David’s warrior-heroes:
Yashov‘am son of a Hakhmoni, the chief officer; he is the one who raised his spear against 300 men and killed them in a single encounter.
12 After him was El‘azar the son of Dodo the Achochi, one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-Damim, where the P’lishtim had assembled for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley; and when the people fled from the P’lishtim, 14 they stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P’lishtim; and Adonai saved them with a great victory.
15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock and came to David during harvest season at the cave of ‘Adulam when the army of the P’lishtim had set up camp in the Refa’im Valley. 16 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P’lishtim was in Beit-Lechem. 17 David had a craving and said, “I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!” 18 The three broke through the army of the P’lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; instead, he poured it out to Adonai 19 and said, “My God forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of these men who went and put their lives in jeopardy? They risked their lives to bring it!” — and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.
20 Avishai the brother of Yo’av was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three. 21 Of the three in the second rank he had the most honor and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.
22 B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el, was a man of many exploits. He struck down two lion-hearted men of Mo’av. One day when it was snowing, he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 23 Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man who was very tall, seven-and-a-half feet: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand the size of a weaver’s beam; he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These are things that B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada did that earned him a name among the three warrior-heroes. 25 He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.
26 There were also these warrior-heroes:
‘Asah’el the brother of Yo’av,
Elchanan the son of Dodo, from Beit-Lechem,
27 Shammah the Harori,
Heletz the P’loni,
28 ‘Ira son of ‘Ikesh from T’koa,
Avi‘ezer from ‘Anatot,
29 Sibkhai the Hushati,
‘Ilai the Achochi,
30 Mahrai the N’tofati,
Heled the son of Ba‘anah the N’tofati,
31 Ittai the son of Rivai from Giv‘ah, from the descendants of Binyamin,
B’nayahu from Pir‘aton,
32 Hurai from the vadis of Ga‘ash,
Avi’el the ‘Arvati,
33 ‘Azmavet the Bacharumi
Elyachba the Sha‘alvoni,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizoni,
Y’honatan the son of Shageh the Harari,
35 Achi’am the son of Sakhar the Harari,
Elifal the son of Ur,
36 Hefer the M’kherati,
Achiyah the P’loni,
37 Hetzro the Karmeli,
Na‘arai the son of Ezbai
38 Yo’el the brother of Natan,
Mivchar the son of Hagri,
39 Tzelek the ‘Amoni,
Nachrai the Be’eroti, armor-bearer of Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah,
40 ‘Ira the Yitri,
Garev the Yitri,
41 Uriyah the Hitti,
Zavad the son of Achlai,
42 ‘Adina the son of Shiza the Re’uveni, a leader among the Re’uveni,
and thirty with him,
43 Hanan the son of Ma‘akhah,
Yoshafat the Mitni,
44 ‘Uziyah the ‘Asht’rati
Shama and Ye‘i’el the sons of Hotam the ‘Aro‘eri,
45 Y’dia‘el the son of Shimri,
Yocha his brother, the Titzi,
46 Eli’el from Machavim,
Yerivai and Yoshavyah the sons of Elna‘am,
Yitmah the Mo’avi,
47 Eli’el,
‘Oved,
and Ya‘asi’el from M’tzovayah.
1 Chronicles 11
New Century Version
David Becomes King
11 Then the people of Israel came to David at the town of Hebron and said, “Look, we are your own family. 2 Even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel in battle. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their leader.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made an agreement with them in Hebron in the presence of the Lord. Then they poured oil on David to make him king over Israel. The Lord had promised through Samuel that this would happen.
David Captures Jerusalem
4 David and all the Israelites went to the city of Jerusalem. At that time Jerusalem was called Jebus, and the people living there were named Jebusites. 5 They said to David, “You can’t get inside our city.” But David did take the city of Jerusalem with its strong walls, and it became the City of David.
6 David had said, “The person who leads the attack against the Jebusites will become the commander over all my army.” Joab son of Zeruiah led the attack, so he became the commander of the army.
7 Then David made his home in the strong, walled city, which is why it was named the City of David. 8 David rebuilt the city, beginning where the land was filled in and going to the wall that was around the city. Joab repaired the other parts of the city. 9 David became stronger and stronger, and the Lord All-Powerful was with him.
David’s Mighty Warriors
10 This is a list of the leaders over David’s warriors who helped make David’s kingdom strong. All the people of Israel also supported David’s kingdom. These heroes and all the people of Israel made David king, just as the Lord had promised.
11 This is a list of David’s warriors:
Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people. He was the head of the Three,[a] David’s most powerful soldiers. 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 from the Philistines, 14 but they stopped in the middle of that field and fought for it and killed the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory.
15 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the rock 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 were in Bethlehem. 17 David had a strong desire 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 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 the Lord, 19 saying, “May God keep me from drinking this water! It would be like drinking 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 that the three warriors did.
20 Abishai brother of Joab was the captain of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He became as famous as the Three 21 and was more honored than the Three. He became their commander even though he was not one of them.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed two of the best warriors 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 tall and had a spear as large as a weaver’s rod. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the Three. 25 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader 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 the Harorite;
Helez the Pelonite;
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer the Anathothite;
29 Sibbecai 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 the Pirathonite;
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 Sacar the Hararite;
Eliphal son of Ur;
36 Hepher the Mekerathite;
Ahijah the Pelonite;
37 Hezro the Carmelite;
Naarai son of Ezbai;
38 Joel brother of Nathan;
Mibhar son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Berothite, the officer who carried the armor 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 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.
Footnotes
- 11:11 Three Or maybe “Thirty.” These were David’s most powerful soldiers. See 2 Samuel 23:8.
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Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
