CHAPTER 11
Then all
Israel
came together
to
David
at Hebron
and said,
“Here
we are,
your own flesh
and blood.
Even
in times past,
while Saul
was
king,
you were
the one who led
Israel out
and brought them back.
And to you
the LORD
your God
said,
‘You
will shepherd
My people
Israel,
and you
will be
ruler
over
them.'"
So all
the elders
of Israel
came
to
the king
at Hebron,
where
David
made
a covenant
with them
before
the LORD.
And they anointed
him
king
over
Israel,
according to the word
of the LORD
through
Samuel.
Then David
and all
the Israelites
marched
to Jerusalem
(that is,
Jebus),
where
the Jebusites
inhabited
the land.
The people
of Jebus
said
to David,
“You will never
get in
here.”
Nevertheless, David
captured
the fortress
of Zion
(that is,
the City
of David).
Now David
had said,
“Whoever
is the first
to strike down
a Jebusite
will become
chief
commander.”
And Joab
son
of Zeruiah
went up
first,
and he became
the chief.
He built up
the city
around it,
from
the supporting terraces
to
the surrounding wall,
while Joab
restored
the rest
of the city.
Now these were
the chiefs
of David’s
mighty men,
who,
together with
all
Israel,
gave
strong support
to his kingdom,
according to the word
of the LORD
concerning
Israel.
This
is the list
of David’s
mighty men:
Jashobeam
son
of Hachmoni
was chief
of the officers;
he
wielded
his spear
against
three
hundred men,
whom he killed
at one
time.
He
was
with
David
at Pas-dammim
when the Philistines
gathered
there
for battle.
At
the place
with a field
full of
barley,
the troops
fled
from
the Philistines.
But Eleazar and David stationed themselv
in the middle
of the field
and defended it.
They struck down
the Philistines,
and the LORD
brought about
a great
victory.
Three
of
the thirty
chief men
went down
to
David,
to
the rock
at
the cave
of Adullam,
while a company
of Philistines
was encamped
in the Valley
of Rephaim.
David
longed for water
and said,
“Oh, that someone
would get me a drink
of water
from the well
near the gate
of Bethlehem!”
So the Three
broke
through the Philistine
camp,
drew
water
from the well
at the gate
of Bethlehem,
and brought it
back to
David.
But he
refused
to drink it;
instead, he poured it out
to the LORD,
saying,
“Far be it
from me,
my God,
to do
this!
How can I drink
the blood
of these
men
who risked their lives?”
Because
they had brought it
at the risk of their lives,
David refused
to drink it.
Such
were the exploits
of the three
mighty men.
Now Abishai,
the brother
of Joab,
was
chief
of the Three,
and he
lifted
his spear
against
three
hundred men,
killed them,
and won
a name
along with the Three.
Among
the thirty
he was most
honored,
and he became
their commander,
even though he was not
included
among the Three.
And Benaiah
son
of Jehoiada
was a valiant warrior
from
Kabzeel,
a man of many
exploits.
He
struck down
two
champions
of Moab,
and on a snowy
day
he
went down
into
a pit
and killed
a lion.
He
also killed
an Egyptian,
a huge
man
five
cubits tall.
Although the Egyptian
had a spear
like a weaver’s
beam
in his hand,
Benaiah went against
him
with a club,
snatched
the spear
from his
hand,
and killed the Egyptian
with his own spear.
These
were the exploits
of Benaiah
son
of Jehoiada,
who won
a name
alongside the three
mighty men.
He was the most honored
of
the Thirty,
but he
did not
become
one of
the Three.
And David
appointed
him over
his guard.