1 All Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. The LORD your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.’ ” 3 All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, lived. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” But David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. 6 David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first will become chief and commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first and became chief. 7 David settled in the stronghold, so they called it the City of David. 8 He built up the city all around, from the Millo to the surrounding area, while Joab restored the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, and the LORD of hosts was with him.

10 These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors, who, together with all Israel, gave him strong support in his kingdom to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

11 This is the list of David’s mighty warriors: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni, chief of the officers. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them in a single encounter. 12 After him was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines gathered for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the people fled before the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. The LORD brought about a great deliverance. 15 Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam, while the Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “If only someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!” 18 The three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and brought it to David. But David refused to drink it and poured it out to the LORD. 19 He said, “My God forbid that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? For they brought it at the risk of their lives.” So he refused to drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty warriors. 20 Abishai, Joab’s brother, was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a name among the Three. 21 He was more honored than the other two of the Three and became their commander, but he did not attain to the Three.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man, a man of many deeds from Kabzeel, struck down two lionlike warriors of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 He struck down an Egyptian, a man about 7½ feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. Benaiah went down against him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he gained a name among the three mighty warriors. 25 He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. David put him in charge of his guard.

26 The mighty warriors were Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

27 Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; Abiezer the Anathothite;

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai the Ahohite;

30 Maharai the Netophathite; Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites; Benaiah the Pirathonite;

32 Hurai from the ravines of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite; Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite;

35 Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite; Eliphal son of Ur;

36 Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;

37 Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai son of Ezbai;

38 Joel, Nathan’s brother; Mibhar son of Hagri;

39 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer to 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, with thirty men;

43 Hanan son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite;

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

46 Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; Ithmah the Moabite; 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.