11:1 Then all Israel gathered about David in Hebron, and they said: "Surely, we are of the same bone and flesh as you.
11:2 Even formerly, when Saul was still the king, it was you who led Israel in all its battles. And now the LORD, your God, has said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and be ruler over them.'"
11:3 Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and there David made a covenant with them in the presence of the LORD; and they anointed him king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the LORD as revealed through Samuel.
11:4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the natives of the land were called Jebusites.
11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not enter here." David nevertheless captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David.
11:6 David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be made the chief commander." Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first to go up; and so he became chief.
11:7 David took up his residence in the fortress, which thenceforth was called the City of David.
11:8 He rebuilt the city on all sides, from the Millo all the way around, while Joab restored the rest of the city.
11:9 David became more and more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.
11:10 These were David’s chief warriors who, together with all Israel, supported him in his reign in order to make him true king, even as the LORD had commanded concerning Israel.
11:11 Here is the list of David’s warriors: Ishbaal, the son of Hachamoni, chief of the Three. He brandished his spear against three hundred, whom he slew in a single encounter.
11:12 Next to him Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three warriors.
11:13 He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had massed for battle. The plow-land was fully planted with barley, but its defenders were retreating before the Philistines.
11:14 He made a stand on the sown ground, kept it safe, and cut down the Philistines. Thus the LORD brought about a great victory.
11:15 Three of the Thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, who was in the cave of Adullam while the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
11:16 David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
11:17 David expressed a desire: "Oh, that someone would give me a drink from the cistern that is by the gate at Bethlehem!"
11:18 Thereupon the Three broke through the encampment of the Philistines, drew water from the cistern by the gate at Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a libation to the LORD,
11:19 saying, "God forbid that I should do such a thing! Could I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?" For at the risk of their lives they brought it; and so he refused to drink it. Such deeds as these the Three warriors performed.
11:20 Abishai, the brother of Joab. He was the chief of the Thirty; he brandished his spear against three hundred, and slew them. Thus he had a reputation like that of the Three.
11:21 He was twice as famous as any of the Thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the Three.
11:22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of mighty deeds, from Kabzeel. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab, and also, on a snowy day, he went down and killed the lion in the cistern.
11:23 He likewise slew the Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. The Egyptian carried a spear that was like a weaver’s heddle-bar, but he came against him with a staff, wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
11:24 Such deeds as these of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, gave him a reputation like that of the Three.
11:25 He was more famous than any of the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
11:26 Also these warriors: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
11:27 Shammoth, from En-harod; Helez, from Palti;
11:28 Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa; Abiezer, from Anathoth;
11:29 Sibbecai, from Husha; Ilai, from Ahoh;
11:30 Maharai, from Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah;
11:31 I thai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Benjamin; Benaiah, from Pirathon;
11:32 Hurai, from the valley of Gaash; Abiel, from Beth-arabah;
11:33 Azmaveth, from Bahurim; Eliahba, from Shaalbon;
11:34 Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan, son of Shagee, from En-harod;
11:35 Ahiam, son of Sachar, from En-harod; Elipheleth, son of
11:36 Ahasabi, from Beth-maacah; Ahijah, from Gilo;
11:37 Hezro, from Carmel; Naarai, the son of Ezbai;
11:38 Joel, brother of Nathan, from Rehob, the Gadite;
11:39 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai, from Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah;
11:40 Ira, from Jattir; Gareb, from Jattir;
11:41 Uriah the Hittite; Zabad, son of Ahlai,
11:42 and, in addition to the Thirty, Adina, son of Shiza, the Reubenite, chief of the tribe of Reuben;
11:43 Hanan, from Beth-maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;
11:44 Uzzia, from Ashterath; Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham, from Aroer;
11:45 Jediael, son of Shimri, and Joha, his brother, the Tizite;
11:46 Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; Ithmah, from Moab;