10Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.H6430H3898H3478H376H3478H5127H6440H6430H5307H2491H2022H15332The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.H6430H1692H310H7586H310H1121H6430H5221H3129H41H4444H1121H75863The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him.H4421H3513H7586H3384H7198H4672H2342H33844Saul groaned to his armor bearer, "Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me." But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.H559H7586H5375H3627H8025H2719H1856H6189H935H5953H5375H3627H14H3966H3372H7586H3947H2719H53075When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died.H5375H3627H7200H7586H4191H5307H2719H41916So Saul and his three sons died there together, bringing his dynasty to an end.H7586H4191H7969H1121H1004H4191H31627When all the Israelites in the Jezreel Valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.H376H3478H6010H7200H5127H7586H1121H4191H5800H5892H5127H6430H935H34278The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa.H4283H6430H935H6584H2491H4672H7586H1121H5307H2022H15339So they stripped off Saul's armor and cut off his head. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul's death before their idols and to the people throughout the land of Philistia.H6584H5375H7218H3627H7971H776H6430H5439H1319H6091H597110They placed his armor in the temple of their gods, and they fastened his head to the temple of Dagon.H7760H3627H1004H430H8628H1538H1004H171211But when everyone in Jabesh-gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul,H3003H1568H8085H6430H6213H758612all their mighty warriors brought the bodies of Saul and his sons back to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones beneath the great tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.H6965H2428H376H5375H1480H7586H1480H1121H935H3003H6912H6106H424H3003H6684H7651H311713So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD's command, and he even consulted a mediumH7586H4191H4604H4603H3068H1697H3068H8104H7592H178H187514instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.H1875H3068H4191H5437H4410H1732H1121H3448
11Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, "We are your own flesh and blood.H3478H6908H1732H2275H559H6106H1320 2In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD your God told you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.'"H8543H8032H7586H4428H3318H935H3478H3068H430H559H7462H5971H3478H5057H1571H3478 3So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the LORD had promised through Samuel.H935H2205H3478H4428H2275H1732H3772H1285H2275H6440H3068H4886H1732H4428H3478H1697H3068H3027H8050 4Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living.H1732H3478H3212H3389H2982H2983H3427H776 5The people of Jebus taunted David, saying, "You'll never get in here!" But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.H3427H2982H559H1732H935H1732H3920H4686H6726H5892H1732 6David had said to his troops, "Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will become the commander of my armies!" And Joab, the son of David's sister Zeruiah, was first to attack, so he became the commander of David's armies.H1732H559H5221H2983H7223H7218H8269H3097H1121H6870H5927H7223H5927H7218 7David made the fortress his home, and that is why it is called the City of David.H1732H3427H4679H7121H5892H1732 8He extended the city from the supporting terraces to the surrounding area, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem.H1129H5892H5439H4407H5439H3097H2421H7605H5892 9And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD of Heaven's Armies was with him.H1732H3212H1980H1419H3068H6635 10These are the leaders of David's mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the LORD had promised concerning Israel.H7218H1368H1732H2388H4438H3478H4427H1697H3068H3478 11Here is the record of David's mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David's men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.H4557H1368H1732H3434H2453H7218H7991H7970H5782H2595H7969H3967H2491H259H6471 12Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah.H310H499H1121H1734H266H7969H1368 13He was with David in the battle against the Philistines at Pas-dammim. The battle took place in a field full of barley, and the Israelite army fled.H1732H6450H6430H622H4421H2513H7704H4392H8184H5971H5127H6440H6430 14But Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD saved them by giving them a great victory.H3320H8432H2513H5337H5221H6430H3068H3467H1419H8668 15Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David's fighting men) went down to meet him there.H7969H7970H7218H3381H6697H1732H4631H5725H4264H6430H2583H6010H7497 16David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.H1732H4686H6430H5333H1035 17David remarked longingly to his men, "Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem."H1732H183H559H8248H4325H953H1035H8179 18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.H7969H1234H4264H6430H7579H4325H953H1035H8179H5375H935H1732H1732H14H8354H5258H3068 19"God forbid that I should drink this!" he exclaimed. "This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me." So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.H559H430H2486H6213H2063H8354H1818H582H5315H5315H935H14H8354H6213H7969H1368 20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.H52H251H3097H7218H7969H5782H2595H7969H3967H2491H8034H7969 21Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.H7969H3513H8147H8269H935H7969 22There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.H1141H1121H3077H1121H2428H376H6909H7227H6467H5221H8147H739H4124H3381H5221H738H8432H953H7950H3117 23Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7 1/2 feet tall and whose spear was as thick as a weaver's beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it.H5221H4713H376H4060H2568H520H4713H3027H2595H707H4500H3381H7626H1497H2595H4713H3027H2026H2595 24Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the three mightiest warriors.H6213H1141H1121H3077H8034H7969H1368 25He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.H2009H3513H7970H935H7969H1732H7760H4928 26David's mighty warriors also included: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;H1368H2428H6214H251H3097H445H1121H1734H1035 27Shammah from Harod; Helez from Pelon;H8054H2033H2503H6397 28Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth;H5896H1121H6142H8621H44H6069 29Sibbecai from Hushah; Zalmon from Ahoah;H5444H2843H5866H266 30Maharai from Netophah; Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;H4121H5200H2466H1121H1196H5200 31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin); Benaiah from Pirathon;H863H1121H7380H1390H1121H1144H1141H6553 32Hurai from near Nahale-gaash; Abi-albon from Arabah;H2360H5158H1608H22H6164 33Azmaveth from Bahurim; Eliahba from Shaalbon;H5820H978H455H8170 34the sons of Jashen from Gizon; Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar;H1121H2044H1493H3129H1121H7681H2043 35Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar; Eliphal son of Ur;H279H1121H7940H2043H465H1121H218 36Hepher from Mekerah; Ahijah from Pelon;H2660H4382H281H6397 37Hezro from Carmel; Paarai son of Ezbai;H2695H3761H5293H1121H229 38Joel, the brother of Nathan; Mibhar son of Hagri;H3100H251H5416H4006H1121H1905 39Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, Joab's armor bearer;H6768H5984H5171H1307H5375H3627H3097H1121H6870 40Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;H5896H3505H1619H3505 41Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;H223H2850H2066H1121H304 42Adina son of Shiza, the Reubenite leader who had thirty men with him;H5721H1121H7877H7206H7218H7206H7970 43Hanan son of Maacah; Joshaphat from Mithna;H2605H1121H4601H3146H4981 44Uzzia from Ashtaroth; Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham, from Aroer;H5814H6254H8091H3273H1121H2369H6200 45Jediael son of Shimri; Joha, his brother, from Tiz;H3043H1121H8113H3109H251H8491 46Eliel from Mahavah; Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; Ithmah from Moab;H447H4233H3403H3145H1121H493H3495H4125 47Eliel and Obed; Jaasiel from Zobah.H447H5744H3300H4677
12The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle.H935H1732H6860H6113H6440H7586H1121H7027H1368H5826H4421 2All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.H5401H7198H3231H8041H68H2671H7198H7586H251H1144 3Their leader was Ahiezer son of Shemaah from Gibeah; his brother Joash was second-in-command. These were the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu from Anathoth;H7218H295H3101H1121H8094H1395H3149H6404H1121H5820H1294H3058H6069 4Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;H3460H1393H1368H7970H7970H3414H3166H3110H3107H1452 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph;H498H3406H1183H8114H8203H2741 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites;H511H3449H5832H3134H3434H7145 7Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.H3132H2069H1121H3395H1446 8Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.H1425H914H1732H4679H4057H1368H2428H582H6635H4421H6186H6793H7420H6440H6440H738H4116H6643H2022 9Ezer was their leader. Obadiah was second. Eliab was third.H5829H7218H5662H8145H446H7992 10Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.H4925H7243H3414H2549 11Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.H6262H8345H447H7637 12Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.H3110H8066H443H8671 13Jeremiah was tenth. Macbannai was eleventh.H3414H6224H4344H6249H6240 14These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!H1121H1410H7218H6635H259H6996H3967H1419H505 15These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.H5674H3383H7223H2320H4390H1415H1428H1272H6010H4217H4628 16Others from Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.H935H1121H1144H3063H4679H1732 17David went out to meet them and said, "If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see it and punish you."H1732H3318H6440H6030H559H935H7965H5826H3824H3162H7411H6862H3808H2555H3709H430H1H7200H3198 18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you." So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.H7307H3847H6022H7218H7970H7991H1732H1121H3448H7965H7965H7965H5826H430H5826H1732H6901H5414H7218H1416 19Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he set out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine rulers refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said, "It will cost us our heads if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us."H5307H4519H1732H935H6430H7586H4421H5826H5633H6430H6098H7971H559H5307H113H7586H7218 20Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded 1,000 troops from the tribe of Manasseh.H3212H6860H5307H4519H5734H3107H3043H4317H3107H453H6769H7218H505H4519 21They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army.H5826H1732H1416H1368H2428H8269H6635 22Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God.H6256H3117H3117H935H1732H5826H1419H4264H4264H430 23These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as the LORD had promised.H4557H7218H2502H6635H935H1732H2275H5437H4438H7586H6310H3068 24From the tribe of Judah, there were 6,800 warriors armed with shields and spears.H1121H3063H5375H6793H7420H8337H505H8083H3967H2502H6635 25From the tribe of Simeon, there were 7,100 brave warriors.H1121H8095H1368H2428H6635H7651H505H3967 26From the tribe of Levi, there were 4,600 warriors.H1121H3878H702H505H8337H3967 27This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had 3,700 under his command.H3077H5057H175H7969H505H7651H3967 28This also included Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 members of his family who were all officers.H6659H5288H1368H2428H1H1004H6242H8147H8269 29From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's relatives, there were 3,000 warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.H1121H1144H251H7586H7969H505H4768H8104H4931H1004H7586 30From the tribe of Ephraim, there were 20,800 brave warriors, each highly respected in his own clan.H1121H669H6242H505H8083H3967H1368H582H2428H8034H1004H1 31From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, 18,000 men were designated by name to help David become king.H2677H4294H4519H8083H6240H505H5344H8034H935H1732H4427 32From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.H1121H3485H998H3045H6256H3045H3478H6213H7218H3967H251H6310 33From the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.H2074H3318H6635H6186H4421H3627H4421H2572H505H5737H3820H3820 34From the tribe of Naphtali, there were 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors armed with shields and spears.H5321H505H8269H6793H2595H7970H7651H505 35From the tribe of Dan, there were 28,600 warriors, all prepared for battle.H1839H6186H4421H6242H8083H505H8337H3967 36From the tribe of Asher, there were 40,000 trained warriors, all prepared for battle.H836H3318H6635H6186H4421H705H505 37From the east side of the Jordan River—where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived—there were 120,000 troops armed with every kind of weapon.H5676H3383H7206H1425H2677H7626H4519H3627H6635H4421H3967H6242H505 38All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king over all Israel. In fact, everyone in Israel agreed that David should be their king.H582H4421H5737H4634H935H8003H3820H2275H1732H4427H3478H7611H3478H259H3824H1732H4427 39They feasted and drank with David for three days, for preparations had been made by their relatives for their arrival.H1732H7969H3117H398H8354H251H3559 40And people from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, sheep, and goats were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel.H7138H3485H2074H5321H935H3899H2543H1581H6505H1241H3978H7058H1690H6778H3196H8081H1241H6629H7230H8057H3478
Dublin, OH
, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD your God told you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.'"H8543
