Open English Translation 1 CHR Chapter 11

11 Then all of Yisrael (Israel) assembled around David at Hevron, saying, “Look, we’re your flesh and blood relatives. 2 In the recent past, even when Sha’ul (Saul) was king, you were the one who took Yisrael out and the one who brought us back in. Plus your god Yahweh told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people, Yisrael, and you yourself will become the leader of my Israeli people.’ ” 3 So all the Israeli elders went to the king at Hevron, and David made a solemn agreement with them at Hevron in front of Yahweh. Then they anointed David as king over Yisrael in accordance with Yahweh’s message that was given through the prophet Shmuel (Samuel).

4 Then David and all of Yisrael went to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) (Yerushalem, which was also known as Yevus because the Yevusim were living there).[ref] 5 The inhabitants inside Yevus said to David, “You won’t be entering this place.” But David captured what became known as the Tsiyon (Zion) fortress, that is, the city of David. 6 He’d said, “The one who strikes down the Yevusim first will become my army commander.” Tseruyah’s son Yoav (Joab) went up over the wall first, and he became head of the army. 7 David started living in that fortress, so then they called it the city of David. 8 He built the city up all around, from the terrace to the surrounding walls, and Yoav restored the rest of the city. 9 So David became more powerful because Commander-in-chief Yahweh helped him.

10 The following were the leaders of David’s powerful warriors who, together with all of Yisrael (Israel), strengthened his kingdom and established him as king, just as Yahweh had said. 11 So these are David’s powerful warriors: Yashaveam (a Hakmoni and the leader of the thirty), who once used his spear against three hundred men in a single battle and killed them all. 12 Next was Eleazar (an Ahohi, son of Dodo) who was one of the top three powerful warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-Damim when the Pelishtim had assembled there for battle near a part of the countryside where barley was growing. At first, the Israelis fled from the Pelishtim, 14 but then they took their stand in the middle of the barley and proceeded to defeat the Pelishtim as Yahweh saved them through a stunning victory.

15 Then three of that top thirty went down to David, near the rock at Adulam’s cave. Meanwhile, Pelishtim had encamped in the Refaim Valley. 16 David was in that fortress then, and the Pelishti garrison was in Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem), 17 and David was thirsty and asked, “Who’ll get me water to drink from the well by the Beyt-Lehem gate?” 18 So those three broke through the Pelishti camp, and they drew water from the well at the Beyt-Lehem gate, and they brought it back to David. But David wasn’t willing to drink it, and he poured it out on the ground as an offering to Yahweh. 19 “Far be it from me to drink this water in front of my god,” he said. “Could I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it?” So he wasn’t prepared to drink it. Those were some of the things those three powerful warriors did.

20 Yoav’s (Joab) brother Avishay was the head of a group of three. He’d killed three hundred people with his spear and had a reputation among the three.[fn] 21 He was honoured more than the other two and became the leader of that second group of three, but didn’t enter the first Three.

22 Yehoyada’s son Benayah from Kavtse’el was a powerful warrior who did amazing things. He struck down Ariel’s two sons from Moav (Moab). Another time, he climbed down into a pit on a snowy day and killed the lion that was trapped in the pit. 23 He also killed a huge Mitsri (Egyptian) man—well over two metres tall. The Mitsri was carrying a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benayah went down to take him on with a staff. He forced the spear from the Mitsri’s grasp, and then killed him with it. 24 So that was what Benayah (Yehoyada’s son) did that gave him a reputation among the three powerful warriors. 25 Actually, he was honoured more than the Thirty, yet he didn’t make it to the first Three, but David appointed him to have authority over his bodyguards.

26 These are the names of the powerful warriors: Asahel (Yoav’s brother), Elhanan (Dodo’s son from Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem)), 27 Shamot (from Haror), Helets (from Pelon), 28 Ira (Ikesh’s son from Tekoa), Aviezer (from Anatot), 29 Sibkay (from Hushah), Ilay (from Ahoh), 30 Maharay (from Netofah), Heled (Ba’anah’s son from Netofah), 31 Itay (Rivay’s son from Giveah, which belonged to Benyamin’s descendants), Benayah (from Pireaton), 32 Huray (from the valleys near Mt. Ga’ash), Aviel (from Aravah), 33 Azmavet (from Baharum), Elyahba (from Shaalvon), 34 Hashem’s sons (from Gizon), Yonatan (Jonathan) (Shageh’s son from Harar), 35 Ahiam (Sakar’s son from Harar), Elifal (Ur’s son), 36 Hefer (from Mekerat), Ahiyah (from Pelon), 37 Hetsro (from Karmel), Na’aray (Ezbay’s son), 38 Yoel (Joel) (Natan’s (Nathan) brother), Mivhar (Hagri’s son), 39 Tselek (the Amoni), Naharay (from Be’erot, armour bearer for Tseruyah’s son Yoav (Joab)), 40 Ira (the Yitri), Garev (the Yitri), 41 Uriyah (Bat-Sheva’s (Bathsheba) husband the Hiti), Zavad (Ahlay’s son), 42 Adina (Shiza’s son from the tribe of Re’uven, a leader from that tribe who had thirty soldiers with him), 43 Hanan (Ma’akah’s son), Yoshafat (from Mithna), 44 Uziya (from Ashterat), Shama and Yeiel (Hotam’s sons from Aroer), 45 Yedieael (Shimri’s son) and his brother Yoha (from Tiz), 46 Eliel (from Mahavah), Yerivay and Yoshavyah (Elna’am’s sons), Yitmah (from Moav (Moab)), 47 Eliel and Oved, and Ya’asiyel (from Tsovah).