Apr 2 - 1 Chronicles 11-12
1 Chronicles
1Then all of Israel was gathered to David at Hebron, saying: "We are your bone and your flesh2Also, yesterday and the day before, when Saul still reigned, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. For the Lord your God said to you: ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over them.’ 3Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel went to the king at Hebron. And David formed a pact with them before the Lord. And they anointed him king over Israel, in accord with the word of the Lord, which he spoke by the hand of Samuel4Then David and all of Israel went to Jerusalem. The same is Jebus, where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were5And those who were living in Jebus said to David: "You shall not enter here." But David seized the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David6And he said, "Whoever shall strike the Jebusites first, shall be ruler and commander." And so Joab, the son of Zeruiah, ascended first, and he was made the leader7Then David lived in the stronghold, and for this reason it was called the City of David8And he built up the city all around, from Millo even to every side. But Joab built the rest of the city9And David continued advancing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him10These are the leaders of the strong men of David, who assisted him, so that he would become king over all of Israel, in accord with the word of the Lord, which he spoke to Israel11And this is the number of the robust of David: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, leader among the thirty. He lifted up his spear over three hundred, who were wounded at one time12And after him, there was Eleazar, the son of his uncle, an Ahohite, who was among the three powerful ones13He was with David in Pasdammim, when the Philistines were gathered to that place for battle. Now the field of that region was full of barley, but the people had fled from the face of the Philistines14These men stood in the midst of the field, and they defended it. And when they had struck down the Philistines, the Lord gave a great salvation to his people15Then three from the thirty leaders descended to the rock where David was, to the cave of Adullam, when the Philistines had made camp in the Valley of the Rephaim16Now David was in a stronghold, and a garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem17And then David desired and said, "O if only someone would give me water from the well of Bethlehem, which is at the gate!18Therefore, these three broke through to the midst of the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem, which was at the gate. And they took it to David, so that he might drink. But he was not willing; and instead, he offered it as a libation to the Lord19saying: "Far be it from me, that I would do this in the sight of my God, and that I would drink the blood of these men. For at the peril of their own lives, they brought the water to me." And for this reason, he was not willing to drink. The three most powerful accomplished these things20Also, Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, who were wounded. And he was most renown among the three21and he was famous among the second three and their leader. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as the first three22Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel, was a very mature man, who had accomplished many deeds. He struck down the two lions of God from Moab. And he descended and killed a lion in the middle of a pit, in the time of snow23And he struck down an Egyptian man, whose stature was five cubits, and who had a spear like a weaver’s beam. And yet he descended to him with a staff. And he seized the spear that he was holding in his hand. And he killed him with his own spear24These things were done by Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who was most renowned among the three robust ones25the first among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not reach as far as the three. Then David placed him beside his ear26Moreover, the strongest men of the army were Asahel, the brother of Joab; and Elhanan, the son of his uncle, from Bethlehem27Shammoth, a Harorite; Helez, a Pelonite28Ira, the son of Ikkesh, a Tekoite; Abiezer, an Anathothite29Sibbecai, a Hushathite; Ilai, an Ahohite30Maharai, a Netophathite; Heled, the son of Baanah, a Netophathite31Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin; Benaiah, a Pirathonite32Hurai, from the torrent Gaash; Abiel, an Arbathite; Azmaveth, a Baharumite; Eliahba, a Shaalbonite33The sons of Hashem, a Gizonite: Jonathan, the son of Shagee, a Hararite34Ahiam, the son of Sachar, a Hararite35Eliphal, the son of Ur36Hepher, a Mecherathite; Ahijah, a Pelonite37Hezro, a Carmelite; Naharai, the son of Ezbai38Joel, the brother of Nathan; Mibhar, the son of Hagri39Zelek, an Ammonite; Naarai, a Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah40Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite41Uriah, a Hittite; Zabad, the son of Ahlai42Adina, the son of Shiza, a Reubenite, the leader of the Reubenites, and thirty who were with him43Hanan, the son of Maacah; and Joshaphat, a Mithnite44Uzzia, an Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham, an Aroerite45Jediael, the son of Shimri; and Joha, his brother, a Tizite46Eliel, a Mahavite; and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; and Ithmah, a Moabite;47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobaite.
1Also, these went to David at Ziklag, while he was still fleeing from Saul, the son of Kish. And they were very strong and distinguished fighters2bending the bow, and using either hand in casting stones with slings, and shooting arrows. From the brothers of Saul, out of Benjamin3the leader was Ahiezer, with Joash, sons of Shemaah from Gibeah, and Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu, from Anathoth4Also, there was Ishmaiah, from Gibeon, the strongest among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad, from Gederah5and Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah, the Haruphites6Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, from Carehim7and also Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor8Then too, from Gad, there went over to David, when he was hiding in the desert, very robust men, who were excellent fighters, taking hold of shield and spear; their faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roe deer upon the mountains9Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh14These were from the sons of Gad, leaders of the army. The least was in charge of one hundred soldiers, and the greatest was in charge of one thousand15These are the ones who crossed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is accustomed to overflow its banks. And they put to flight all those who were staying in the valleys, to the eastern region and to the west16Then some from Benjamin and from Judah also arrived at the stronghold where David was staying17And David went out to meet them, and he said: "If you have arrived peacefully, so as to be a help to me, may my heart be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, though I have no iniquity in my hands, may the God of our fathers see and judge.18Truly, the Spirit clothed Amasai, the leader among the thirty, and he said: "O David, we are yours! O son of Jesse, we are for you! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you." Therefore, David received them, and he appointed them as leaders of troops19Moreover, some from Manasseh crossed over to David, when he went forth with the Philistines against Saul, so that he might fight. But he did not fight with them. For the leaders of the Philistines, taking counsel, sent him back, saying, "To the peril of our own heads, he will return to his lord, Saul.20And so, when he returned to Ziklag, some fled over to him from Manasseh: Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Adnah, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh21These offered assistance to David against the robbers. For all were very strong men, and they became leaders in the army22Then, too, some came to David throughout each day, in order to help him, until they became a great number, like the army of God23Now this is the number of the leaders of the army who went to David when he was at Hebron, so that they might transfer the kingdom of Saul to him, in accord with the word of the Lord24the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred, equipped for battle25from the sons of Simeon, very strong men for the fight, seven thousand one hundred26from the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred27as well as Jehoiada, a leader from the stock of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred28and then Zadok, a youth of distinguished qualities, and the house of his father, twenty-two leaders29and from the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand, for still a great part of them were following the house of Saul30Then from the sons of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred, very strong and robust men, renowned among their kindred31And out of the one half tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, each by their names, went forth so that they might appoint David as king32Also, from the sons of Issachar, there were learned men, who knew each of the times, in order to anticipate what Israel ought to do, two hundred leaders. And all the remainder of the tribe were following their counsel33Then, from Zebulun, there were those who went forth to battle, and who were standing in a battle line, prepared with the weapons of warfare; these fifty thousand arrived to assist, without duplicity of heart34And from Naphtali, there were one thousand leaders; and with them were thirty-seven thousand, prepared with shield and spear35And then from Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred, ready for battle36And from Asher, there were forty thousand, going forth to fight, and summoned to the battle line37Then, across the Jordan, there were, from the sons of Reuben, and from Gad, and from the one half tribe of Manasseh, one hundred twenty thousand, prepared with the weapons of warfare38All these men of war, equipped for the fight, went with a perfect heart to Hebron, so that they might appoint David as king over all of Israel. Then, too, all the remainder of Israel were of one heart, so that they might make David king39And they were in that place with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brothers had made preparations for them40Moreover, those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing, on donkeys and camels and mules and oxen, bread for their provisions, with grain, dried figs, dried grapes, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep, with all abundance. For indeed, there was joy in Israel