1 Chronicles 11 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

David Anointed King of Israel(A)

11 All Israel gathered around David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. 2 “Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. The Lord your God has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’ ”

3 All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of the Lord. So they anointed David king of Israel, as the Lord had spoken through Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem(B)

4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that region. 5 They told David, “You will never get in here.” But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David).

6 Now, David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will be made a general and a prince.” Zeruiah’s son Joab was the first to go ⌞into Jerusalem⌟, so he became the general.

7 David lived in the fortress, so it was called the City of David. 8 He built the city ⌞of Jerusalem⌟ around it, starting from the Millo [a] and making a complete circuit. Joab rebuilt the rest of the city. 9 David continued to grow more powerful because the Lord of Armies was with him.

David’s Three Fighting Men(C)

10 Now, these were the commanders of David’s fighting men, who exercised power with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel they made him king according to the Lord’s word to Israel. 11 The first of David’s fighting men was Jashobeam, son of Hachmon, the leader of the three.[b] He used his spear to kill 300 men on one occasion. 12 Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field of ripe barley. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 14 they stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So the Lord saved ⌞them⌟ with an impressive victory. 15 Once three of the thirty leading men went down to David’s rock at the cave of Adullam when the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were in Bethlehem.

17 David was thirsty and said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the cistern at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 18 So the three burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ⌞as an offering⌟ to the Lord 19 and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, God. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it.

These are the things which the three fighting men did.

David’s Thirty Fighting Men(D)

20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men, but he was not one of the three, 21 although he was honored more than they were. So he became their captain but didn’t become a member of the three.

22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a cistern and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 23 He killed an eight-foot-tall Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. But Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear away from him, and killed him with it. 24 These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 25 He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.

26 The distinguished fighting men were

Joab’s brother Asahel,

Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth from Harod,

Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,

Abiezer from Anathoth,

29 Sibbecai (son of Hushai),

Ilai (descendant of Ahohi),

30 Maharai from Netophah,

Heled (son of Baanah) from Netophah,

31 Ithai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,

Benaiah from Pirathon,

32 Hurai from the Gaash ravines,

Abiel from Beth Arabah,

33 Azmaveth from Bahurim,

Eliahba from Shaalbon,

34 Bene Hashem from Gizon,

Jonathan (son of Shage the Hararite),

35 Ahiam (son of Sachar the Hararite),

Eliphal (son of Ur),

36 Hepher the Mecherathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro from Carmel,

Naari (son of Ezbai),

38 Joel (son of Nathan),

Mibhar (son of Hagri),

39 Zelek from Ammon,

Naharai from Beroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,

40 Ira (descendant of Ithra),

Gareb (descendant of Ithra),

41 Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad (son of Ahlai),

42 Adina (son of Shiza) from the tribe of Reuben (who was leader of the tribe of Reuben and had his own group of thirty soldiers),

43 Hanan (son of Maacah),

and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia from Ashteroth,

Shama and Jeiel (sons of Hotham from Aroer),

45 Jediael (son of Shimri) and

his brother Joha the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah (sons of Elnaam),

Ithmah from Moab,

47 Eliel,

Obed, and

Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Footnotes

  1. 11:8 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.
  2. 11:11 2 Samuel 23:8, Greek; Masoretic Text “thirty.”

Cross references

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:1 : 2 Samuel 5:1–3
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:4 : 2 Samuel 5:6–10
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:10 : 2 Samuel 23:8–17
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:20 : 2 Samuel 23:18–39

You Might Also Like:

1 Chronicles 11 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

11 And gathered are all Israel unto David to Hebron, saying, `Lo, thy bone and thy flesh [are] we; 2 even in time past, even in Saul's being king, it is thou who art taking out and bringing in Israel, and Jehovah thy God saith to thee: Thou dost feed My people Israel, and thou art leader over My peo...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

11 Therefore all Israel was gathered to David in Hebron, and said, We be thy bone and thy flesh; (And so all Israel was gathered unto David in Hebron, and said, We be thy flesh and blood;) 2 also yesterday and the third day ago, when Saul reigned yet upon Israel, thou it was that leddest out and led...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - World English Bible (WEB)

11 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over ...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - The Voice (VOICE)

11 Then the Israelites found David at Hebron and acknowledged him as their king.Israelites: Certainly we are your family, your flesh and blood. 2 You have always guided and protected Israel, even when Saul was our king and it was not your responsibility, because the Eternal your God decided, “You w...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David’s Rise and Capture of Zion11 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one that led out and brought in Israel. Adonai your God also said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and y...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David Anointed King of All Israel11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron, and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Is...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David Anointed King of All Israel11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh.(A)2 For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you, ‘It is you who shall be shepherd of my pe...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David Becomes King of All Israel11 Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past,[a] even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people I...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Becomes King of Israel and Judah11 Then all Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “See, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of My people Israe...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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. 2 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)shep...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David becomes king over Israel11 All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and ...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New International Version (NIV)

David Becomes King Over Israel(A)11 All Israel(B) came together to David at Hebron(C) and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.(D) And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd(E) my peopl...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Becomes King Over Israel11 The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, Saul was our king. But you led the men of Israel in battle. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd over my people Israel...
Read More

1 Chronicles 11 - New English Translation (NET)

David Becomes King11 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood![a] 2 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.’” 3...
Read More