| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. | 1All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your very flesh and blood! |
| 2Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ” | 2In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel's commanding general. The LORD your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.'" |
| 3Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and 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 by Samuel. | 3When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, just as the LORD had announced through Samuel. |
| 4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. | 4David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land's original inhabitants, lived there.) |
| 5But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). | 5The residents of Jebus said to David, "You cannot invade this place!" But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). |
| 6Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. | 6David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!" So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander. |
| 7Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. | 7David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. |
| 8And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city. | 8He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city. |
| 9So David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him. | 9David's power steadily grew, for the LORD who commands armies was with him. |
| 10Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. | 10These were the leaders of David's warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the LORD's word. |
| 11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time. | 11This is the list of David's warriors: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. |
| 12After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. | 12Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. |
| 13He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. | 13He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, |
| 14But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. | 14but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them a great victory. |
| 15Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. | 15Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 16David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. | 16David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. |
| 17And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” | 17David was thirsty and said, "How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!" |
| 18So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. | 18So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD |
| 19And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men. | 19and said, "God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. |
| 20Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. | 20Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. |
| 21Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three. | 21From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them. |
| 22Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. | 22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. |
| 23And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. | 23He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. |
| 24These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. | 24Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. |
| 25Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard. | 25He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. |
| 26Also the mighty warriors were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, | 26The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem, |
| 27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, | 27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, |
| 28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, | 28Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, |
| 29Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, | 29Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, |
| 30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, | 30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, |
| 31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, | 31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Benaiah the Pirathonite, |
| 32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, | 32Hurai from the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, |
| 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, | 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, |
| 34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, | 34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite, |
| 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, | 35Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, |
| 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, | 36Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, |
| 37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, | 37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, |
| 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, | 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, |
| 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), | 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, |
| 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, | 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, |
| 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, | 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Achli, |
| 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, | 42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him, |
| 43Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, | 43Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, |
| 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, | 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, |
| 45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, | 45Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, |
| 46Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, | 46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, |
| 47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. | 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. |
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