1Chronicles 11

1 Later on, all of Israel gathered together at Hebron in order to tell David, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood! ^{a11:1 Lit. bone}ISV — 1Chronicles 11:1

2 Even back when Saul was ruling as king, you kept on leading the army of Israel out to battle ^{b11:2 The Heb. lacks out to battle} and bringing them in again. ^{c11:2 The Heb. lacks in again} The LORD your God told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and will be Commander-in-Chief ^{d11:2 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and management authority} over my people Israel.’”ISV — 1Chronicles 11:2

3 So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where David entered into a covenant in ^{e11:3 Lit. covenant—that is, at Hebron—in} the presence of the LORD. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel, just as the LORD had sent word through ^{f11:3 Lit. word by the hand of} Samuel.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:3

4 Later, David and all of Israel marched to Jerusalem (then known as Jebus, where the Jebusites lived when they inhabited the land).ISV — 1Chronicles 11:4

5 The inhabitants of Jebus told David, “You’re not coming in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:5

6 David had announced, “Whoever first attacks the Jebusites will be appointed chief and commander.” When Zeruiah’s son Joab went up first, he became chief.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:6

7 David occupied ^{g11:7 Or lived in} the fortress, so it was named the City of David after him.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:7

8 He built up the walls surrounding the city in a complete circle from the terrace ramparts, ^{h11:8 Lit. the Millo, fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls} and Joab repaired the rest of the city.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:8

9 David became more and more prestigious because the LORD of the Heavenly Armies was with him. ( )ISV — 1Chronicles 11:9

10 These are the leaders of the elite warriors who were strong supporters of David in his kingdom, along with all of Israel, in keeping with the message from the LORD concerning Israel.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:10

11 This record of the warriors who were for David included ^{i11:11 The Heb. lacks included} Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam, ^{j11:11 Or Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite; cf. 2Sam 23:8, where this individual is named Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite} leader of the platoons, ^{k11:11 Lit. thirties; i.e. a military unit roughly analogous to two or more squads; and so throughout the chapter; or a group of distinguished officers who served David; cf. 2Sam 23:8} who killed 300 with his spear in a single encounter.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:11

12 Next to him among the Three Warriors ^{l11:12 Lit. the three valiant ones; i.e. a group of three distinguished officers who served David, and so throughout the chapter; cf. 2Sam 23:8} was Dodo ^{m11:12 Cf. 2Sam 23:9, where this individual is named Dodai} the Ahohite’s son Eleazar.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:12

13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were there to engage them in battle. There was a field planted with barley, and the army had run away from the Philistines,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:13

14 but they took a defensive stand in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines while the LORD saved them by means of a great victory. ^{n11:14 Or deliverance}ISV — 1Chronicles 11:14

15 Later, the Three Warriors went down to David’s hideout ^{o11:15 Lit. rock} at the cave of Adullam when the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants. ^{p11:15 Or the Rephaim Valley}ISV — 1Chronicles 11:15

16 David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:16

17 David expressed a longing, “Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that’s by the city gate!”ISV — 1Chronicles 11:17

18 So the Three Warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, poured it out in the LORD’s presence, andISV — 1Chronicles 11:18

19 said in response, “May God forbid me to do this! I won’t drink the blood of these men, will I? After all, they risked their lives to bring it to me.” ^{q11:19 The Heb. lacks to me} That’s why he wouldn’t drink it. The Three Warriors did these things. ( )ISV — 1Chronicles 11:19

20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the lieutenant ^{r11:20 Lit. chief} in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:20

21 He was more well-known than the Three, ^{s11:21 So MT; the Syr reads thirty} but he never attained the stature of the Three.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:21

22 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named ^{t11:22 The Heb. lacks men named} Ariel from Moab ^{u11:22 The Heb. name Ariel means lion} and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:22

23 He also killed a soldier ^{v11:23 Lit. man} from Egypt of enormous height—five cubits ^{w11:23 i.e. about seven and a half feet; a cubit was about eighteen inches} tall. The Egyptian carried a spear comparable in size to a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:23

24 Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three Warriors.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:24

25 He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to ^{x11:25 Or never attained the stature of} the Three Warriors. David placed him in charge of his security detail.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:25

26 The elite forces included Asahel (Joab’s brother), Dodo’s son Elhanan from Bethlehem,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:26

27 Shammoth from Haror, ^{y11:27 Or Shammoth from Haror; also cf. 2Sam 23:25, where he is named Shammah from Harod} Helez the Pelonite, ^{z11:27 Cf. 2Sam 23:26, where he is named Helez the Paltite}ISV — 1Chronicles 11:27

28 Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:28

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:29

30 Maharai from Netophah, Baanah’s son Heled from Netophah,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:30

31 Ribai’s son Ithai from Gibeah, controlled by ^{aa11:31 The Heb. lacks controlled by} the descendants of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:31

32 Hurai from the wadis ^{bb11:32 i.e. seasonal streams or rivers that channel water during rain seasons but are dry at other times} of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:32

33 Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:33

34 Hashem the Gizonite, Shagee the Hararite’s son Jonathan,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:34

35 Sachar the Hararite’s son Ahiam, Ur’s son Eliphal,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:35

36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:36

37 Hezro from Carmel, Ezbai’s son Naarai,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:37

38 Joel (Nathan’s brother), Hagri’s son Mibhar,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:38

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth, who was the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:39

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:40

41 Uriah the Hittite, Ahlai’s son Zabad,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:41

42 Shiza the Reubenite’s son Adina, a leader of the descendants of Reuben, along with thirty others with him,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:42

43 Maacah’s son Hanan, Joshaphat the Mithnite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:43

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Hotham the Aroerite’s sons Shama and Jeiel,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:44

45 Shimri’s son Jediael and his brother Joha the Tizite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:45

46 Eliel the Mahavite, Elnaam’s sons Jeribai and Joshaviah, Ithmah the Moabite,ISV — 1Chronicles 11:46

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.ISV — 1Chronicles 11:47