1 T hen all Israel gathered at Hebron and said to David, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 I n 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, You shall be shepherd of My people Israel, and you shall be prince and leader over.

In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘ You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’”

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

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel. Jerusalem, Capital City

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

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem ( that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

5 T hen the Jebusites said to David, You shall not come in here! But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David).

6 A nd David said, Whoever smites the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander. Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he was made chief.

Now David had said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.

7 D avid dwelt in the stronghold; so it was called the City of David.

Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.

8 H e built the city from the Millo on around; and Joab repaired and revived the rest of the city.

He built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

9 A nd David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. David’s Mighty Men

10 N ow these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, 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.

11 A nd this is the number of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the Thirty. He lifted up his spear against 300, whom he slew at one time.

These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

12 N ext to him in rank was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.

After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

13 H e was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered for battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley or lentils; and the men fled before the Philistines.

He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines.

14 A nd Eleazar stood in the midst of that plot and defended it and slew the Philistines, and the Lord saved by a great victory and deliverance.

They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory.

15 T hree of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, and the army of the Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim.

16 D avid was then in the stronghold, and the Philistines’ garrison was in Bethlehem.

David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

17 A nd David longingly said, Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!

David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

18 T hen the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; he poured it out to the Lord,

So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which 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 A nd said, My God forbid that I should do this thing. 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. So he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

and he said, “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

20 A bishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. For he lifted up his spear against 300 and slew them, and was named among the Three.

As for Abshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the thirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them; and he had a name as well as the thirty.

21 O f the Three he was more renowned than the two, and became their captain; however, he attained not to the first three.

Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three.

22 B enaiah son of Jehoiada, whose father was a valiant man of Kabzeel, had done mighty deeds. He slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab. Also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in time of snow.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.

23 H e slew an Egyptian also, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian held a spear like a weaver’s beam, and went to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and slew him with the man’s own spear.

He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

24 T hese things did Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men.

These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men.

25 H e was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the rank of the first three. David put him over his guard and council.

Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David appointed him over his guard.

26 A lso the mighty men of the armies were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

Now the mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27 S hammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

28 I ra son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

29 S ibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

30 M aharai of Netophah, Heled son of Baanah of Netophah,

Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 I thai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah of Pirathon,

Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 H urai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

33 A zmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba of Shaalbon,

Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 T he sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

35 A hiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,

Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

36 H epher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 H ezro of Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai,

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

38 J oel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,

Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

39 Z elek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

40 I ra the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

41 U riah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

42 A dina son of Shiza, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty heroes with him,

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

43 H anan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 U zzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

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

45 J ediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

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

46 E liel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,

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

47 E liel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.