1 A2 Sam 5:1, 3, 6-10Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron 1Lit sayingand said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2  “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Loʀᴅ your God said to you, ‘A2 Sam 5:2; 7:7You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’ ” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Loʀᴅ; and A2 Sam 2:4; 5:3, 5they anointed David king over Israel, B1 Sam 16:1, 3, 12, 13according to the word of the Loʀᴅ through Samuel.

4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (AJosh 15:8, 63; Judg 1:21that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David). 6 Now David had said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” A2 Sam 8:16Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 He 1Or fortifiedbuilt the city all around, from the 2I.e. citadelMillo even to the surrounding area; and Joab 3Lit revivedrepaired the rest of the city. 9 A2 Sam 3:1David became greater and greater, for the Loʀᴅ of hosts was with him.

10 A2 Sam 23:8-39Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, B1 Chr 11:3according to the word of the Loʀᴅ concerning Israel. 11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: A2 Sam 23:8Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, B1 Chr 12:18the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred 1Lit slain oneswhom he killed at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of A1 Chr 27:4Dodo, the Ahohite, who was 1Lit amongone of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at 1In 1 Sam 17:1, EphesdammimPasdammim A2 Sam 23:11, 12when the Philistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines. 14 They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Loʀᴅ saved them by a great 1Or salvationvictory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while A1 Chr 14:9the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, while A1 Sam 10:5the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Loʀᴅ; 19 and he said, “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went 1Lit with their soulsat the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

20 As for 1In 2 Sam 23:18, AbishaiAbshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the 2So Syriac; M.T. threethirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred 3Lit slain onesand killed them; and he had a name as well as the 2So Syriac; M.T. threethirty. 21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three.

22 A2 Sam 8:18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the 1Or two lion-like heroes oftwo sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and 2Lit smotekilled a lion inside a pit on a snowy day. 23 He 1Lit smotekilled an Egyptian, a man of great stature five 2I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was A1 Sam 17:7a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and 1Lit smotekilled him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three; and David appointed him over his guard.

26 Now the mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 1In 2 Sam 23:25,Shammah the HaroditeShammoth the Harorite, Helez the 2In 2 Sam 23:26, PaltitePelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 1In 2 Sam 23:27,MebunnaiSibbecai the Hushathite, 2In 2 Sam 23:28, ZalmonIlai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, 1In 2 Sam 23:29, HelebHeled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 1In 2 Sam 23:30,HiddaiHurai of the brooks of Gaash, 2In 2 Sam 23:31, Abi-albonAbiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of 1In 2 Sam 23:32, JashenHashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of 1In 2 Sam 23:33, ShararSacar the Hararite, 2In 2 Sam 23:34, Eliphelet the son of AhasbaiEliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, 1In 2 Sam 23:35, Paarai the ArbiteNaarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer 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, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.