David Becomes King over All Israel
1 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led Israel’s military. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel.’ ”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
David Conquers Jerusalem
4 David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem (also called Jebus), and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land were there.
5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not get in here.”
Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
6 David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was made chief.
7 David lived in the stronghold, therefore they called it the City of David. 8 He built up everything around the city, from the terrace to the surrounding walls, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, for the Lord of Hosts was with him.
David’s Mightiest Warriors
10 Now these are the chiefs of the David’s mighty men, who strengthened him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
11 This is the list of mighty men whom David had:
Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the leader of the 30, who raised his spear against 300 and killed them at one time.
12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together for battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 They stood in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord gave them a great victory.
15 Three of the 30 leading men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time. 17 With longing, David said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
18 The three broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate. They took it and brought it to David, but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to the Lord 19 and said, “My God forbid me that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
David’s Thirty Mighty Men
20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three, for he raised his spear against 300 and killed them and had a name among the three. 21 He was more honorable than the other three, and was made their captain, however he was not included in the three.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, 7½ feet tall. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men. 25 He was more honorable than the 30, but he was not one of the three, and David set him over his guard.
26 The mighty men of the armies also include:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,
Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
35 Ahiam the son of Sac
ar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite,
Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and the 30 with him,
43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.