David’s Anointing as King
1All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even previously when Saul was king, you were leading Israel out to battle and bringing us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.’”
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.
David’s Capture of Jerusalem
4David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); the Jebusites who inhabited the land were there. 5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
6David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.
7Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David. 8He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city. 9David steadily grew more powerful, and the Lord of Armies was with him.
Exploits of David’s Warriors
10The following were the chiefs of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, strongly supported him in his reign to make him king according to the Lord’s word about Israel. 11This is the list of David’s warriors:
Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the Thirty; he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
12After him, Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite was one of the three warriors. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines. 14But Eleazar and David took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.
15Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while the Philistine army was encamped in Rephaim Valley. 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
20Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 21He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.
22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 24These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 25He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26The best soldiers were
Joab’s brother Asahel,
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the Pelonite,
28Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
29Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
30Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32Hurai from the wadis of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur,
36Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro the Carmelite,
Naarai son of Ezbai,
38Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar son of Hagri,
39Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,
40Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41Uriah the Hethite,
Zabad son of Ahlai,
42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43Hanan son of Maacah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,
46Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,
Ithmah the Moabite,
47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.