1 Chronicles 11

1Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh.

2In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one leading Israel out and bringing them in. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over my people Israel.’”

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

4David and all Israel went to Jerusalem—that is, Jebus—where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were.

5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” But David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David.

6David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first will become chief and commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became chief.

7David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.

8He built up the city all around, from the Millo and all around it; and Joab restored the rest of the city.

9David became greater and greater, for LORD of Hosts was with him.

10These are the chiefs of David’s warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

11This is the number of David’s warriors: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni, chief of the Thirty. He raised his spear against three hundred slain at one time.

12After him was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite; he was among the three warriors.

13He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had gathered for battle. There was a portion of the field full of barley, and the people fled from before the Philistines.

14But they took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it, and struck down the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great deliverance.

15Three of the thirty chiefs went down to David at the rock, at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine camp was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

16David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was then in Bethlehem.

17David longed and said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate?”

18So the three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate, carried it, and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; he poured it out to the LORD.

19He said, “Far be it from me, before my God, that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men—their lives? For they brought it at the risk of their lives.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three warriors did.

20Abishai, Joab’s brother, was chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred slain, and he had a name among the three.

21Among the three, he was more honored than the two, and he became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.

22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, a man of many deeds—he struck down the two Ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the middle of a pit on a day of snow.

23He struck down an Egyptian, a man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

24These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three warriors.

25He was honored among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the three. David put him over his guard.

26The warriors of the armies were Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

27Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

28Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; Abiezer the Anathothite;

29Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai the Ahohite;

30Maharai the Netophathite; Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;

31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites; Benaiah the Pirathonite;

32Hurai from the wadis of Gaash; Abiel the Arabathite;

33Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite; Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite;

35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite; Eliphal son of Ur;

36Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;

37Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai son of Ezbai;

38Joel brother of Nathan; Mibhar son of Hagri;

39Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

40Ira the Jetherite; Gareb the Jetherite;

41Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;

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

43Hanan son of Maakah; and Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44Uzzia the Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite;

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

46Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; and Ithmah the Moabite;

47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.