1
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 you will become their ruler.' "
3
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron,
he made a campact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed
David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.
4
David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus).
The Jebusites who lived there,
5
said to David, "You will not get in here."
Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.
6
David had said, "Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become
commander-in-chief." Joab son of Zeruiah went up first,
and so he received the command.
7
David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David.
8
He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding
wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.
9
And David became more and more powerful,
because the LORD Almighty was with him.
10
These were the chiefs of David's mighty men - they, together with all Israel,
gave this kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land,
as the LORD had promised -
11
this is thelist of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of
the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men,
whom he killed in one encounter.
12
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.
13
He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there
for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley,
the troops fled from the Philistines.
14
But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and
struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
15
Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of
Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Vally of Rephaim.
16
At that time David was in the stronghold,
and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem!"
17
David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink
of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
18
So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well
near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David.
But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.
19
"God forbid that I shold to this!" he said. "Should I drink the blod of
these men who went at the risk of their lives?" Because the risked
their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
20
Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against
three hundred men, whom he killed and so he became as famous as the Three.
21
He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander,
even though he was not included among them.
22
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed
great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
23
And he struck dwon an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. (about 2.3 meters)
Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand,
Benaiah went against hm with a club. He snatched the spear from
the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
24
Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada;
he too was as famous ad the three mighty men.
25
He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included
among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26
The mighty men were: Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
27
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Aliezer from Anathoth,
30
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled sonof Baanah the Netophathite,
31
Ithat son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32
Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33
Azmaveth the Baharmite, 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 the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
39
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Brothite,
the armor-bearer of 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 chief of the Reubenites,
and the thirty 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, is 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.
