| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. | 1Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own 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.’ ” | 2Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’ ” |
| 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. | 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel. |
| 4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. | 4Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land. |
| 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 people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Nevertheless, 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. | 6Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief. |
| 7Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. | 7So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was 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 supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. |
| 9So David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him. | 9And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts 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. | 10Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. |
| 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 mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time. |
| 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, one of the three mighty men. |
| 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 at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At the place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from 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 Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about 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 chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 16David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. | 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at 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 longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” |
| 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 broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out 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. | 19saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. |
| 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. | 20Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. |
| 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. | 21He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. |
| 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. | 22And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. |
| 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 also killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. |
| 24These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. | 24These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. |
| 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 was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard. |
| 26Also the mighty warriors were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, | 26Now these were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of 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, | 29Sibbecai 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 of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, |
| 32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, | 32Hurai from the brooks 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 Shagee the Hararite, |
| 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, | 35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, |
| 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, | 36Hepher the Mecherathite, 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 Ahlai, |
| 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, | 42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty 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 his brother Joha the Tizite, |
| 46Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, | 46Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, |
| 47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. | 47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. |
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