First Book of Chronicles 11

¹ All the tribes of Israel then rallied to David at Hebron. ‘Look,’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood.

² In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and Yahweh your God said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of my people Israel”.’

³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh, and they anointed David king of Israel, in accordance with the word of Yahweh through Samuel.

⁴ David with all Israel marched on Jerusalem (that is to say, Jebus); the inhabitants of the country were Jebusites.

⁵ The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, ‘You will not get in here’. But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David.

⁶ David said, ‘The first to strike down a Jebusite shall become leader and commander’. Joab son of Zeruiah was first to go up, and became leader.

⁷ David went to live in the fortress, and that is how it came to be called the Citadel of David.

⁸ He then built a wall round the city, and the Millo as well as the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

⁹ David grew greater and greater, and Yahweh Sabaoth was with him.

¹⁰ These are the principal champions of David, those who in his reign grew in power with him and who, with all Israel, had made him king in accordance with the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.

¹¹ This is the roll of David’s champions: Jashobeam the Hachmonite, leader of the Thirty; it was he who wielded his battle-axe against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

¹² After him there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions.

¹³ He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines mustered for battle there. There was a field full of barley there; the army took flight before the Philistines,

¹⁴ but they positioned themselves in the middle of the field, defended it and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory.

¹⁵ Three out of the Thirty went down to David at the rock near the Cave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the Rephaim.

¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold and there was a Philistine garrison in Bethlehem.

¹⁷ ‘Oh’ David sighed ‘if someone would fetch me a drink of water from the well that stands by the gate at Bethlehem!’

¹⁸ At this the three champions, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well that stands by the gate of Bethlehem and, bringing it away, presented it to David. But David would drink none of it and poured it out as a libation to Yahweh.

¹⁹ ‘God keep me’ he said ‘from doing this! Am I to drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.’ And so he would not drink. Such were the deeds of the three champions.

²⁰ Abishai, the brother of Joab, was leader of the Thirty. It was he who wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed, winning himself a name among the Thirty.

²¹ He was more famous than the Thirty and became their captain, but he was no rival for the Three.

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a hero from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits, struck down the two champions of Moab and, one snowy day, went down and killed the lion in the cistern.

²³ He was also the man who killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam, but he went down against him with a staff, tore the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with it.

²⁴ Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty champions.

²⁵ He was more famous than the Thirty, but he was no rival for the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.

²⁶ The valiant champions: Asahel the brother of Joab. Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem.

²⁷ Shammoth from Harod. Helez the Pelonite.

²⁸ Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa. Abiezer from Anathoth.

²⁹ Sibbecai from Hushah. Ilai from Ahoh.

³⁰ Maharai from Netophah. Heled son of Baanah, from Netophah.

³¹ Ithai son of Ribai, from Gibea of Benjamin. Benaiah from Pirathon.

³² Hurai from the wadis of Gaash. Abiel from Beth-ha-arabah.

³³ Azmaveth from Baharum. Eliahba from Shaalbon.

³⁴ Bene-hashem from Gizon. Jonathan son of Shagee, from Harar.

³⁵ Ahiam son of Sachar, from Harar. Eliphelet son of Ur.

³⁶ Hepher from Mecherah. Ahijah the Pelonite.

³⁷ Hezro from Carmel. Naarai son of Ezbai.

³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan. Mibhar son of Hagri.

³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite. Naharai from Beeroth, armour-bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah.

⁴⁰ Ira from Jattir. Gareb from Jattir.

⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite. Zabad son of Ahlai.

⁴² Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and over the Thirty.

⁴³ Hanan son of Maacah. Joshaphat the Mithnite.

⁴⁴ Uzzia from Ashteroth. Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite.

⁴⁵ Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite.

⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite. Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam. Ithmah the Moabite.

⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Zoba.