1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David at Hebron, and said, “We are your bone and your flesh. 2And, in the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel in and out; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall feed, and be ruler over My people, Israel.’” 3And when all the elders of Israel had come to Hebron, David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, as promised by the word of the LORD through Samuel.

4Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites, the indigenous occupants of the land were. 5And the Jebusites said to David, “You shall never enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David. 6And David said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will be commander of the army.” And Joab, son of Zeruiah, led the assault, and became commander. 7And David made that stronghold his home; that is why they named it the City of David. 8And he built up the city around it, from the terraces of Millo all around; while Joab restored the rest of the (old Jebusite) city. 9So David grew in power; for the LORD of hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty (or Valiant) Men

10These are the chiefs of the mighty men whom David had, who lent their support, and with all Israel, established his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD regarding Israel. 11This is the roster of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the officers; he raised his spear against and killed three hundred at one time. 12And after him was Eleazar, son of Dodai, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13He was with David at Pasdammim, where the Philistines were gathered there for battle on a field of barley; when the troops fled from the Philistines. 14But they took their stand in the center of that field, defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.

15Three of the thirty captains came down to David at the rock by the cave of Adullam; while the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. 16And David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17And David was thirsty, and said, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water from the well that is by the gate of Bethlehem!” 18And the three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it to David. But David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19And said, “My God, forbid that I should do this thing. Shall I drink the blood of these men who have risked their lives? For by risking their lives they brought it.” Therefore, he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of those three; he lifted his spear against and killed three hundred, and gained a name among the three. 21Of the three, he was more honored than the other two; and became their leader, though he was not among the first three (Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah).

22Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many deeds: he slew two lion-like men of Moab; he also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day. 23And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits (seven and a half feet) tall; and that Egyptian held a spear like a weaver's beam (about 2½ inches thick); and Benaiah confronted him with only a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24These things did Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and won a name among the three mighty men. 25He, too, was honorable among the thirty, but did not attain to the first three; and David set him over his guard.

26Other valiant men of the armies were: Asahel, brother of Joab; Elhanan, son of Dodo (Dodai) of Bethlehem; 27Shammoth, the Harorite; Helez, the Pelonite; 28Ira, son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite; Abiezer, the Anathothite; 29Sibbecai, the Hushathite; Illai, the Ahohite; 30Maharai, the Netophathite; Heled, son of Baanah, the Netophathite; 31Ithai, son of Ribai of Gibeah, that among the descendants of Benjamin; Benaiah, the Pirathonite; 32Hurai, of the brooks of Gaash; Abiel, the Arbathite; 33Azmaveth, the Baharumite; Eliahba, the Shaalbonite; 34The sons of Hashem, the Gizonite; Jonathan, son of Shagee, the Hararite; 35Ahiam, son of Sacar, the Hararite; Eliphal, son of Ur; 36Hepher, the Mecherathite; Ahijah, the Pelonite; 37Hezro, the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai; 38Joel, the brother of Nathan; Mibhar, son of Haggeri; 39Zelek, the Ammonite; Naharai, the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah; 40Ira, the Ithrite; Gareb, the Ithrite; 41Uriah, the Hittite; Zabad, son of Ahlai; 42Adina, son of Shiza, the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him; 43Hanan, son of Maachah; Joshaphat, the Mithnite; 44Uzzia, the Ashterathite; Shama and Jehiel, sons of Hotham, the Aroerite; 45Jediael, son of Shimri; Joha his brother, the Tizite; 46Eliel, the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; Ithmah, the Moabite; 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel, the Mesobaite.