1 Chronicles 11

David Becomes King Over Israel

1 The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said, "We are your own flesh and blood.

2 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.' "

3 All of the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There he made a covenant with them in the sight of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel. It happened just as the LORD had promised through Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem

4 David and all of the men of Israel marched to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also called Jebus. The Jebusites who lived there

5 spoke to David. They said, "You won't get in here." But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.

6 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.

7 David moved into the fort. So it was called the City of David.

8 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.

9 David became more and more powerful. That's because the LORD who rules over all was with him.

David's Mighty Men

10 The chiefs of David's mighty men 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.

11 Here is a list of David's mighty men. Jashobeam was chief of the officers. He was a Hacmonite. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them at one time.

12 Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty men. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite.

13 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 that was full of barley.

14 The three mighty men 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.

15 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.

16 At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem.

17 David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem!"

18 So the Three fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was 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.

19 "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 men did.

20 Abishai was chief over the Three. He was the brother of Joab. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the Three were.

21 He was honored twice as much as the Three. He became their commander. But he wasn't included among them.

22 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.

23 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.

24 Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty men were.

25 He was honored more than any of the Thirty. But he wasn't included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his own personal guards.

26 Here is a list of David's mighty men. Asahel, the brother of Joab Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem

27 Shammoth, the Harorite Helez, the Pelonite

28 Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa Abiezer from Anathoth

29 Sibbecai, the Hushathite Ilai, the Ahohite

30 Maharai from Netophah Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah

31 Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin Benaiah from Pirathon

32 Hurai from the valleys 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 Sacar, the Hararite Eliphal, the son of Ur

36 Hepher, the Mekerathite Ahijah, the Pelonite

37 Hezro from Carmel Naarai, the son of Ezbai

38 Joel, the brother of Nathan Mibhar, the son of Hagri

39 Zelek from Ammon Naharai, from Beeroth, who carried the armor 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, who was chief of the Reubenites and the 30 men with him

43 Hanan, the son of Maacah Joshaphat, the Mithnite

44 Uzzia, the Ashterathite Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham from Aroer

45 Jediael, the son of Shimri his brother Joha, the Tizite

46 Eliel, the Mahavite Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam Ithmah from Moab

47 Eliel Obed Jaasiel, the Mezobaite

1 Chronicles 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

David raised to the throne. (1-9) A list of David's mighty men. (10-47)

Verses 1-9 David was brought to possess the throne of Israel after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only. God's counsels will be fulfilled at last, whatever difficulties lie in the way. The way to be truly great, is to be really useful, to devote all our talents to the Lord.

Verses 10-47 An account is given of David's worthies, the great men who served him. Yet David reckoned his success, not as from the mighty men that were with him, but from the mighty God, whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they strengthened themselves and their own interest, for his advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David; and those that are faithful to Him, shall find their names registered much more to their honour, than these are in the records of fame.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 11

This chapter treats of David's being anointed king by all Israel, 1Ch 11:1-3, which agrees with 2Sa 5:1-3 \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:1"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:2"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:3"\\ and of his taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites, 1Ch 11:4-9 the account of which we have 2Sa 5:6-10. \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:6"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:7"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:8"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:9"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 5:10"\\ only here we are told, that it was Joab that smote the Jebusites first, and so was made chief captain according to David's promise; and that he also repaired the rest of the city David built round about; perhaps the fortifications demolished in taking it, 1Ch 11:6,8 or rather, as others give the sense, he "saved alive" {b} those that remained in the city, after he had slain the lame and the blind; though a learned {c} writer conjectures it should be read, "and Joab hyhy was made rv the governor of the city"; and the Targum is,

``Joab governed the rest of the city.''

And then follows an account of David's mighty men and worthies, 1Ch 11:10-41 of whom see the notes on \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:8"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:9"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:10"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:11"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:12"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:13"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:14"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:15"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:16"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:17"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:18"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:19"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:20"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:21"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:22"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:23"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:24"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:25"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:26"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:27"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:28"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:29"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:30"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:31"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:32"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:33"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:34"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:35"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:36"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:37"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:38"\\ \\See Gill on "2Sa 23:39"\\ and others are added here, 1Ch 11:42-47 of whom we know no more than their names.

{b} rav ta hyxy "vivas conservavit urbis reliquias", Junius & Tremellius; Strigelius in Poli Synops. in loc. {c} Dr. Kennicot's State of the Hebrew Text, dissert. 1. p. 54. 18633-941231-2014-1Ch11.2