1 Chronicles 11

1 And all Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your own bone and your own flesh. 2 Before now, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought Israel in. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’” [a] 3 And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel.

4 And the king and the men of Israel went to Jerusalem — this is Jebus — and the Jebusites were living there in the land. 5 And the people living in Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” But he captured the stronghold of Zion first — this is the city of David. [b] 6 And David said, “Everyone who strikes down a Jebusite among the first will be leader and commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up against it among the first, and he became leader.

7 And David settled in the stronghold; that is why he called it the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around; and he fought and took the city. [c] 9 And David went on and grew greater and greater, and the Lord Almighty was with him.

10 And these are the leaders of the mighty men who were David’s, who held strongly with him in his kingdom, along with all Israel, to make him king according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11 And this is the number of David’s mighty men. Jesebaal son of Achamani was first of the thirty; he drew his sword once against three hundred and left them wounded at one time. [d]

12 And after him, Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite; he was among the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim, and the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground there full of barley, and the people fled before the Philistines. [e] 14 But he took his stand in the middle of the plot and saved it, and struck the Philistines down; and the Lord brought about a great rescue.

15 And three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock, to David, at the cave of Adullam, and the camp of the Philistines was pitched in the valley of the giants. [f] 16 And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 And David longed, and said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, the one by the gate?” 18 And the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well in Bethlehem, the one by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord, 19 and said, “God spare me from doing this thing! Shall I drink the blood of these men, with their lives in it? For they brought it at the cost of their lives.” And he would not drink it. These are the things the three mighty men did. [g]

20 And Abishai brother of Joab — he was leader of the three. He drew his sword against three hundred and left them wounded at one time, and he had a name among the three. [h] 21 Of the three he was honored beyond the other two, and he became their leader, but he did not come up to the three.

22 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the son of a mighty man — many were his deeds for Kabasael. He struck down the two Ariel of Moab; and he went down and struck the lion in the pit on a day of snow. [i] 23 And he struck down the Egyptian, a man of striking appearance, seven and a half feet tall; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam. And Benaiah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. [j] 24 These are the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty men. 25 He was honored beyond the thirty, but he did not come up to the three; and David set him over his household.

26 And the mighty men of the forces: Asahel brother of Joab; Eleanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem; [k] 27 Shammoth the Adite; Helles the Phelonite; 28 Orai son of Ekkes the Tekoite; Abiezer the Anathothite; 29 Sobochai the Asothite; Eli the Achoite; 30 Moorai the Netophathite; Cholod son of Nooza the Netophathite; 31 Ittai son of Ribai, from the hill of Benjamin; Benaiah the Pharathonite; 32 Uri from Nachaligaas; Abiel the Garabethite; 33 Azmoth the Beermite; Eliaba the Salabonite; 34 Benaiah; Osom the Gennounite; Jonathan son of Sola the Ararite; [l] 35 Achim son of Sachar the Ararite; Elphal son of Ur; 36 Ophar the Mochorathite; Ahijah the Phelonite; [m] 37 Eserai the Charmalite; Naarai son of Azobai; 38 Joel brother of Nathan; Mebaar son of Agari; 39 Selek the Ammonite; Nahor the Berothite, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah; 40 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; 41 Uriah the Hittite; Zabet son of Achlia; 42 Adina son of Saiza, of Reuben, a leader, and thirty men with him; 43 Anan son of Moocha; and Jehoshaphat the Baithanite; 44 Ozia the Ashtarothite; Shammah and Jeiel sons of Chothan the Ararite; 45 Jediel son of Sameri, and Joazae his brother, the Ieasite; 46 Eliel the Miite, and Jaribi, and Josiah his son; Elnaam, and Jethema the Moabite; 47 Aliel, and Obed, and Jesiel the Misabite.