CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Chronicles 11
Chapter 11 of 29
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Chronicles 11
David becomes king over all Israel, captures Jerusalem, and establishes it as his capital. The rest of the chapter lists his mighty warriors and their brave deeds.
Scripture
1 Chronicles 11
David Is Made King Over All Israel
Study note
After Saul's death, all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They reminded him that he had already been their military leader and that God had chosen him to be king. The elders anointed David as king, fulfilling what the prophet Samuel had spoken.
1 All the people of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood!' Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one that led out and brought in Israel: and the LORD your God said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over my people Israel. And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3 So all the tribal leaders of Israel came to David at Hebron. David made a formal agreement with them there, with the Lord as their witness. Then they anointed David as king over Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel. Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
Study note
David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, which was then called Jebus and was occupied by the Jebusites. Even though the Jebusites said David could not take the city, David captured the fortress of Zion. He offered the position of army commander to whoever led the attack first, and Joab earned that honor. David grew more and more powerful because the Lord was with him.
4 David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem, which at that time was called Jebus. The Jebusites were the people living there. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
5 The Jebusites mocked David, saying, 'You will never get inside our city!' But David captured the fortress of Zion and made it his own. It became known as the City of David. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
6 David had announced, 'The first person to lead an attack against the Jebusites will become the army commander.' Joab son of Zeruiah led the charge, so he became the commander. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
7 David made the fortress his home, which is why it was called the City of David. And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8 He rebuilt and expanded the city from the terraces outward. Joab repaired the rest of the city. And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9 David grew stronger and more powerful because the Lord of Armies was on his side. So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
The Three Mightiest Warriors
Study note
David's most elite warriors included Jashobeam, who killed 300 men in one battle, and Eleazar, who stood his ground against the Philistines when everyone else fled. Three warriors once broke through enemy lines to bring David water from the well of Bethlehem. David was so moved by their bravery that he poured out the water as an offering to God, saying he could not drink what had cost them so much risk.
10 Here is a list of David's most outstanding warriors. Together with the rest of Israel, they gave strong support to David's rule and helped make him king, just as the Lord had promised for Israel. These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
11 First was Jashobeam, from the Hachmonite family. He was the leader of the Three, David's top warriors. In one battle, he used his spear to kill 300 enemy soldiers. And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12 Next was Eleazar son of Dodo, from the Ahohite family. He was one of the three greatest warriors. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13 He was with David at Pas-Dammim when the Philistines gathered for battle. There was a field full of barley, and the Israelite troops had run away from the Philistines. He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14 But Eleazar and his men planted themselves in the middle of that field and held their ground. They fought the Philistines and won. The Lord gave them a tremendous victory. And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
15 One time, three of David's top thirty warriors went down to meet him at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16 David was in his hideout at the time, and a group of Philistine soldiers was stationed at Bethlehem. And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Beth-lehem.
17 David said longingly, 'Oh, how I wish someone could bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!' And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that is at the gate!
18 So these three warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well by Bethlehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out on the ground as an offering to the Lord. And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest. And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
Abishai and Benaiah
Study note
Abishai, Joab's brother, killed 300 men with his spear and led the Three. Benaiah was another famous warrior who killed two great fighters from Moab and a lion in a snowy pit. He also killed a huge Egyptian warrior by grabbing his own spear away from him. David put Benaiah in charge of his personal guard.
20 Abishai, Joab's brother, was the leader of another group of three. He once killed 300 men with his spear and became as famous as the top three warriors. And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21 He was the most honored man in this second group of three. He became their leader. But he did not quite reach the level of the top three. Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave soldier from Kabzeel who performed amazing feats. He struck down two of Moab's fiercest fighters. He also went into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23 He even killed an Egyptian giant who stood about seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian carried a spear as big as a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went at him with just a club. He grabbed the spear right out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it. And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
24 These were the impressive things Benaiah did. He was famous like the three greatest warriors. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25 He was more honored than any of the Thirty, but he did not quite reach the level of the top Three. David put him in charge of his personal bodyguard. Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
The List of David's Mighty Men
Study note
This section lists about thirty more of David's brave warriors, identifying each by name and hometown. They came from many different tribes and regions, showing that David's support was widespread. The list even includes Uriah the Hittite, whose wife Bathsheba later married David. Some warriors came from as far as Moab and Ammon.
26 Other great warriors were Asahel, Joab's brother, and Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem. Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
27 Also Shammoth from Harod and Helez from Pelon. Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28 Also Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa and Abi-Ezer from Anathoth. Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite,
29 Also Sibbecai from Hushah and Ilai from the Ahohite family. Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Also Maharai from Netophah and Heled son of Baanah from Netophah. Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Also Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin and Benaiah from Pirathon. Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Also Hurai from the valleys of Gaash and Abiel from Arabah. Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Also Azmaveth from Baharum and Eliahba from Shaalbon. Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 Also the sons of Hashem from Gizon and Jonathan son of Shagee from the Hararite family. The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
35 Also Ahiam son of Sacar from the Hararite family and Eliphal son of Ur. Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36 Also Hepher from Mecherah and Ahijah from Pelon. Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Also Hezro from Carmel and Naarai son of Ezbai. Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38 Also Joel (Nathan's brother) and Mibhar son of Hagri. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
39 Also Zelek from Ammon and Naharai from Beeroth, who carried armor for Joab son of Zeruiah. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40 Also Ira from the Ithrite family and Gareb from the Ithrite family. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Also Uriah the Hittite and Zabad son of Ahlai. Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42 Also Adina son of Shiza, a leader in the tribe of Reuben, who had thirty warriors with him. Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43 Also Hanan son of Maacah and Joshaphat from Mithni. Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Also Uzzia from Ashteroth and Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham from Aroer. Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
45 Also Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha from Tiz. Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46 Also Eliel from Mahavi, Jeribai and Joshaviah (sons of Elnaam), and Ithmah from Moab. Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Also Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobi. Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Chronicles 11
Unity under God's chosen leaderCourage and loyalty in God's serviceJerusalem as God's chosen cityThe value of devoted followers
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
1 Chronicles 11:1-3 Revelation 19:16
All Israel united under David as God's anointed king — a foreshadowing of the day when all believers will unite under Jesus, the ultimate King of kings.
Apply This Today
Living 1 Chronicles 11
David's mighty men risked everything out of devotion to their leader. True loyalty and courage are born from deep conviction. Surround yourself with faithful people who will stand with you, and be that kind of loyal friend to others.
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