1 Chronicles 11 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Then all of gathered to David at and said, "Look — we are your own and
"Even before this, when was king, you were the one actually leading Israel's military campaigns. And Yahweh your God told you, 'You will be the of my people Israel — you will be their
So all the of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a with them at Hebron before Yahweh. Then they David as king over Israel, just as Yahweh had promised through
Then David and all Israel marched to (that is, The who lived in the land were there.
The people of Jebus taunted "You'll never get in here." But captured the of — that became the of
David had said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first will become son of went up first, so he became commander.
David then took up residence in the fortress, which is why they called it the City of David.
He built up the city all around it, from the to the surrounding walls, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
David kept growing more and more powerful, and of was with him.
These are the leaders of David's who threw their full support behind his kingship, along with all Israel, to make him king — just as Yahweh had promised about Israel.
Here is the roster of David's elite warriors: son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers. He once wielded his spear against three hundred men — and killed them all in a single encounter.
After him was son of Dodo the Ahohite — he was one of the three elite warriors.
He was with David at when the had gathered there for battle. There was a field full of barley, and the troops had retreated from the
But they took their stand in the middle of that field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. Yahweh a
One time, three of the thirty leading warriors went down to David at the rock formation near the cave of while the Philistine army was camped in the of
David was in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine garrison was stationed at
David said longingly, "If only someone could get me a drink of water from the by the of Bethlehem!"
So the three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he it out as an to Yahweh.
"God forbid that I should do this!" David said. "Should I drink the of these who risked their lives? They put their lives on the line to bring this to me." So he refused to drink it. These were the kinds of things the three elite warriors did.
the brother of Joab — he was the leader of the He wielded his spear against three hundred men, killing them, and gained a reputation among the
He was doubly honored compared to the rest of the Thirty and became their commander, though he didn't quite reach the level of the top Three.
son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who accomplished remarkable feats. He struck down two of He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a
He also struck down an Egyptian — a huge man, and a The Egyptian had a spear like a in his hand, but Benaiah went at him with just a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
These are the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he gained a reputation among the three elite warriors.
He was the most honored of the Thirty, though he didn't quite reach the level of the top Three. David put him in charge of his
The elite warriors of the army included: the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth,
Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Maharai from Netophah, Heled son of Baanah from Netophah,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah from Pirathon,
Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon,
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hezro from Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai,
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth — the for Joab son of Zeruiah,
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
the Zabad son of Ahlai,
Adina son of Shiza the — a leader of the Reubenites — and thirty warriors with him,
Hanan son of Maakah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
Jediael son of Shimri, and his brother Joha the Tizite,
Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the
Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.