1 Chronicles Chapter 11

David Anointed King

¹ Then Israel gathered to David in Hebron,

“We’re your flesh and bone. ² When Saul was king, you led out and brought in Israel. Yahveh your God said you would shepherd his people and be their leader.”

³ The elders in Israel came to him, and he made a treaty with them in Yahveh’s presence. They anointed him king according to Yahveh’s message through Samuel.

⁴ Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (Jebus). The Jebusites, natives in the land, lived there. ⁵ They told David, “You won’t get in here”; but he captured the fortress of Zion (The City of David). ⁶ He had said, “Whoever strikes down the Jebusites first will be general of the army.” Joab Ben-Zeruiah went up first, so he became the general. ⁷ David lived in the fortress; so they called it The City of David. ⁸ He built the city all around from the Millo to the surrounding area, and Joab repaired the rest of Jerusalem. ⁹ David became greater and greater because Yahveh was with him.                                                                                                                                    1 Ch 11:1-9

David’s Mighty Men

¹⁰ These are David’s leading powerful warriors, who greatly supported him in his kingdom, along with all Israel, in making him king. ¹¹ They were Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite, chief of the 30. He killed 300 men with his spear at one time. ¹² After him was Eleazar Ben-Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three powerful men. ¹³ He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines converged there for battle. There was a barley field, and the people were fleeing from the Philistines. ¹⁴ They took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. Yahveh gave them a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the 30 chief men went down to the rock to David into the cave near Adullam while the Philistine army was camping in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶ Davd was in the stronghold while the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David was thirsty and said, “Oh that somebody would give me a drink from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!” ¹⁸ The three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at Bethlehem and took it to David. But he wouldn’t drink it; he poured it out to Yahveh. ¹⁹ “In the presence of my God, I can’t do that. Should I, in effect, drink these men’s blood who risked their lives to bring it?” Those were exploits the three powerful men did.    1 Ch 11:10-19

²⁰ Abishai, Joab’s brother, was leader of the 30. He killed 300 with a spear; he had a reputation as well as the 30. ²¹ Of the three in the second rank, he had the greatest honor and became their commander. But he didn’t measure up to the three.

²² Benaiah Ben-Jehoiada, son of a fearless warrior from Kabzeel, powerful 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 He killed an Egyptian that was 7ft 6. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from him and killed him with it. ^24-25 Benaiah was renowned among the 30, but he didn’t measure up to the three. David appointed him over his guard.                            1 Ch 11:20-25

²⁶ The elite soldiers in the armies were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan Ben-Dodo from Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, ²⁸ Ira Ben-Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, ²⁹ Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰ Maharai the Netophathite, Heled Ben-Baanah the Netophathite, ³¹ Ithai Ben-Ribai from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, ³² Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan Ben-Shagee the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam Ben-Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal Ben-Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷ Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai Ben-Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar Ben-Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer for Joab Ben-Zeruiah, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Zabad Ben-Ahlai; ⁴² Adina Ben-Shiza the Reubenite, a chief in Reuben and 30 with him; ⁴³ Hanan Ben-Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite, ⁴⁵ Jediael Ben-Shimri and Joha his brother, the Tizite; ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite; ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.        1 Ch 11:26-47