2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11; 1 Chronicles 12

1 All of the tribes of Israel came 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 on their military campaigns. And the LORD 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 the king made a covenant with them in the sight of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel.

4 David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years.

5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled over all of Israel and Judah for 33 years.

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem. They went to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You won't get in here. Even blind people and those who are disabled can keep you from coming in." They thought, "David can't get in here."

7 But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.

8 On that day David said, "Anyone who wins the battle over the Jebusites will have to crawl through the water tunnel to get into the city. That's the only way he can reach those 'disabled and blind' enemies of mine." That's why people say, "Those who are 'blind and disabled' won't enter David's palace."

9 David moved into the fort. He called it the City of David. He built up the area around the fort. He filled in the low places. He started at the bottom and worked his way up.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

2 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.

3 Their chief Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth Beracah Jehu from Anathoth

4 Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, who was a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader of the Thirty Jeremiah Jahaziel Johanan Jozabad from Gederah

5 Eluzai Jerimoth Bealiah Shemariah Shephatiah, the Haruphite

6 the Korahites Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam

7 Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor

8 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.

9 Ezer was their chief. Obadiah was next in command. Eliab was third.

10 Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.

11 Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.

12 Johanan was eighth. Elzabad was ninth.

13 Jeremiah was tenth. And Macbannai was eleventh.

14 All of those men of Gad were army commanders. The least important of them was equal to 100 men. The most important was equal to 1,000.

15 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.

16 Some men from the territories of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his usual place of safety.

17 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 to have you 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."

18 The Spirit of God came on Amasai. He was chief of the Thirty. 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.

19 Some men of Manasseh went over to David's side 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 of 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!"

20 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 companies of 1,000 men in Manasseh.

21 They helped David fight against enemy armies. All of the men of Manasseh were brave fighting men. They were commanders in David's army.

22 Day after day men came to help him. Soon he had a large army. It was like the army of God.

23 Large numbers of men came to David at Hebron. They were prepared for battle. They came to hand Saul's kingdom over to him, just as the LORD had said. Here are the numbers of the men who came.

24 The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was %"6,800.

25 The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was %"7,100.

26 The total number of men from Levi was %"4,600.

27 They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with %"3,700 men.

28 They also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.

29 The men from Benjamin were Saul's relatives. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul's family until that time. The total number of them was %"3,000.

30 The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.

31 The men from half of the tribe of Manasseh had been chosen by name to come and make David king. The total number of them was 18,000.

32 The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all of their relatives who were under their command.

33 The men from Zebulun knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. They had every kind of weapon. They came to help David with their whole heart. The total number of them was 50,000.

34 The total number of officers from Naphtali was %"1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.

35 The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.

36 The men from Asher knew how to fight well. That's because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 40,000.

37 The men from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh were armed with every kind of weapon. The men came from the east side of the Jordan River. The total number of them was 120,000.

38 All of those fighting men offered to serve in the army. Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all of the people of Israel. All of the rest of the people also agreed to make David king.

39 The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them.

40 Their neighbors also brought food. They brought it on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. They came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep. The people of Israel brought all of those things because they were so happy.