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all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 Inthe past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led Israel out to battle and brought us back. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be the 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 before the Lord at Hebron. Then they anointed David king over Israel, in fulfilment of the word of the Lord through Samuel.
4 David and all Israel went up to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 The people of Jebus said to David, “You will not get in here.” But David did capture the stronghold of Zion, which is now the City of David.
6 David had said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first will become the chief commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.
7 Then David took up residence in the stronghold, so it was called the City of David. 8 He built up the city all around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew more and more powerful, because the Lord of Hosts was with him.
10 These were David’s warrior leaders, who, together with all Israel, made him king and strongly supported him in his kingdom, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11 This is the list of the mighty warriors whom David had:
Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the Thirty; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 12 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite; he was one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley there, where the troops had fled from the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the midst of that plot. They defended it and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
15 Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock at the cave of Adullam to David, while the army of the Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David was extremely thirsty and he said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But David would not drink it, but poured it out before the Lord. 19 He said, “God forbid that I should do this! How can I drink the blood of these men, who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For at the risk of their lives they brought the water back, so David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
20 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them, and so won a name among the Three. 21 He was the most honoured of the Three and so became their commander, although he did not attain to the other three.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave fighter from Kabzeel, who performed many exploits. He struck down two of the best men of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 He also killed an Egyptian who was a giant of a man, five cubits tall. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand that was like a weaver’s beam, Benaiah went up against him with only a staff. In the ensuing fight he snatched the spear from the Egyptians hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he won a name among the three warriors. 25 He was the most honoured of the Thirty, but he did not join the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26 The valiant warriors were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth of Harod,
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,
Abiezer of Anathoth,
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai of Netophah,
Heled son of Baanah of Netophah,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai of the wadis of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth of Baharum,
Eliahba of Shaalbon,
34 Hashemj the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro of Carmel,
Naarai son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai of Beeroth, the armour-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad son of Ahlai,
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43 Hanan son of Maacah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael son of Shimri,
his brother Joha the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam,
Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.