1 Chronicles 11:1-47
David Becomes King Over Israel
The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, Saul was our king. But you led the men of Israel in battle. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.’ ”
All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There he made a covenant with them in front of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel. It happened just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
David and all the men of Israel marched to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also called Jebus. The Jebusites who lived there said to David, “You won’t get in here.” But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.
David had said, “Anyone who leads the attack against the Jebusites will become the commander of Israel’s army.” Joab went up first. So he became the commander of the army. He was the son of Zeruiah.
David moved into the fort. So it was called the City of David. He built up the city around the fort. He filled in the low places. He built a wall around it. During that time, Joab built up the rest of the city. David became more and more powerful. That’s because the Lord who rules over all was with him.
David’s Mighty Warriors
The chiefs of David’s mighty warriors and the whole community of Israel helped David greatly. They helped him become king over the entire land. That’s exactly what the Lord had promised him. Here is a list of David’s mighty warriors.
Jashobeam was chief of the officers. He was a Hakmonite. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them at one time.
Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty warriors. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite. Jashobeam was with David at Pas Dammim. The Philistines had gathered there for battle. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines. At the place where that happened, there was a field full of barley. The three mighty warriors took their stand in the middle of the field. They didn’t let the Philistines capture it. They struck them down. The Lord helped them win a great battle.
David was near the rock at the cave of Adullam. Three of the 30 chiefs came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem. David really wanted some water. He said, “I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord. “I would never drink that water!” David said. “It would be like drinking the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem.” The men had put their lives in danger by bringing the water back. So David wouldn’t drink it.
Those were some of the brave things the three mighty warriors did.
Abishai was chief over the three mighty warriors. He was the brother of Joab. Abishai used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was honored twice as much as the three mighty warriors. He became their commander. But he wasn’t included among them.
Benaiah was a great hero from Kabzeel. He was the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah did many brave things. He struck down two of Moab’s best fighting men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day. He killed a lion there. And Benaiah struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian was holding a spear as big as a weaver’s rod. Benaiah went out to fight against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand. Then he killed him with it. Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was honored more than any of the 30 chiefs. But he wasn’t included among the three mighty warriors. And David put him in charge of his own personal guards.
Here is a list of David’s mighty warriors.
Asahel, the brother of Joab
Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem
Shammoth, the Harorite
Helez, the Pelonite
Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa
Abiezer from Anathoth
Sibbekai, the Hushathite
Ilai, the Ahohite
Maharai from Netophah
Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah
Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin
Benaiah from Pirathon
Hurai from the valleys of Gaash
Abiel, the Arbathite
Azmaveth, the Baharumite
Eliahba, the Shaalbonite
the sons of Hashem, the Gizonite
Jonathan, the son of Shagee, the Hararite
Ahiam, the son of Sakar, the Hararite
Eliphal, the son of Ur
Hepher, the Mekerathite
Ahijah, the Pelonite
Hezro from Carmel
Naarai, the son of Ezbai
Joel, the brother of Nathan
Mibhar, the son of Hagri
Zelek from Ammon
Naharai, from Beeroth, who carried the armor of Joab, the son of Zeruiah
Ira, the Ithrite
Gareb, the Ithrite
Uriah, the Hittite
Zabad, the son of Ahlai
Adina, the son of Shiza, the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites and the 30 men with him
Hanan, the son of Maakah
Joshaphat, the Mithnite
Uzzia, the Ashterathite
Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham from Aroer
Jediael, the son of Shimri
his brother Joha, the Tizite
Eliel, the Mahavite
Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam
Ithmah from Moab
Eliel
Obed
Jaasiel, the Mezobaite
1 Chronicles 12:1-22
Fighting Men Join David
Some fighting men came to David at Ziklag. They were among those who helped him in battle. David had been forced to hide from Saul, the son of Kish. The men were armed with bows. They were able to shoot arrows or throw stones from a sling with either hand. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Here is a list of them.
Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite
Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth
Berakah
Jehu from Anathoth
Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty warrior among the 30 chiefs and a leader of the 30 chiefs
Jeremiah
Jahaziel
Johanan
Jozabad from Gederah
Eluzai
Jerimoth
Bealiah
Shemariah
Shephatiah, the Haruphite
the Korahites Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam
Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor
Some men of Gad went over to David’s side at his usual place of safety in the desert. They were brave fighting men. They were ready for battle. They were able to use shields and spears. Their faces were like the faces of lions. They could run as fast as antelopes in the mountains.
Ezer was their chief.
Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.
Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.
Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.
Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.
Jeremiah was tenth. And Makbannai was eleventh.
All these men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000. They went across the Jordan River when it was flowing over its banks. That happened in the first month of spring. They chased away everyone who lived in the valleys. They chased them away from the east and west sides of the river.
Some men from the territories of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his usual place of safety. David went out to meet them. He said to them, “Have you come to me in peace? Have you come to help me? If you have, I’m ready for you to join me. But suppose you have come to hand me over to my enemies when I haven’t even harmed anyone. Then may the God of our people see it and judge you.”
The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was leader of the 30 chiefs. He said,
“David, we belong to you!
Son of Jesse, we’re on your side!
May you have great success.
May those who help you also have success.
Your God will help you.”
So David welcomed them. He made them leaders in his army.
Some people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side. They did this when he marched out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But David and his men didn’t help the Philistines. That’s because after all the Philistine rulers had discussed the matter, they sent him away. They said, “Suppose he deserts to his master Saul. Then our heads will be cut off!” So David went to Ziklag. Here are the men of Manasseh who went over to his side. They were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai. They were leaders of groups of 1,000 men in Manasseh. They helped David fight against enemy armies. All the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David’s army. Day after day men came to help David. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.
