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
New Living Translation (NLT). Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
More details.
, 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
