1 Chronicles 11: David is made king, takes Jerusalem, and his mighty men
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
All Israel gathers to David at Hebron, and the elders anoint him king according to Yahweh's word by Samuel. David goes to Jerusalem (Jebus), takes the stronghold of Zion, and Joab becomes chief by going up first; David lives there and grows greater, for Yahweh of Armies is with him. The rest of the chapter lists David's mighty men, with stories of Jashobeam, Eleazar, the three who bring David water from the well of Bethlehem, Abishai and Benaiah, and then a list of names.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. All Israel speaks to David in verses 1 and 2, and inside their words they tell what Yahweh said to him; those are the people's report, so they are not in gold. The people of Jebus speak in verse 5, and David speaks in verses 6, 17 and 19. Verse 3, that they anointed David according to Yahweh's word by Samuel, and verse 10, that his men made him king according to Yahweh's word, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
In plain English: Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your bone and your flesh.
Good to know: tells the same gathering. There "all the tribes of Israel" come to David; here it is "all Israel". The people's words "we are your bone and your flesh" are the same in both.
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2In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”
In plain English: In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. Yahweh your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.'"
The Hebrew word: "Shepherd" is ra'ah, which the dictionary gives as "to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it", and "generally to rule". The people give these as words of Yahweh to David; they are the people's report, so they are not printed as Yahweh speaking.
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3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh’s word by Samuel.
In plain English: So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron before Yahweh, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh's word by Samuel.
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4David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
In plain English: David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus. The Jebusites, who lived in the land, were there.
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5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.
In plain English: The people who lived in Jebus said to David, "You will not come in here." But David captured the stronghold of Zion. It is the city of David.
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6David had said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
In plain English: David had said, "Whoever strikes down the Jebusites first will become chief and commander." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became chief.
Good to know: gives David's words about the Jebusites differently, and does not say there who went up first. This chapter says Joab went up first and became chief. The text does not say how the two accounts fit.
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7David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city.
In plain English: David lived in the stronghold, and so people called it the city of David.
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8He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
In plain English: He built the city all around, from the Millo to the surrounding area, and Joab restored the rest of the city.
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9David grew greater and greater, for Yahweh of Armies was with him.
In plain English: David kept growing greater and greater, for Yahweh of Armies was with him.
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10Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh’s word concerning Israel.
In plain English: These are the chiefs of the mighty men who belonged to David. They held strongly with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh's word about Israel.
The Hebrew word: "Mighty men" is gibbor, which the dictionary gives as "powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant". The word is in 30 verses of 1 Chronicles, and this Bible says "mighty" in 28 of them.
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11This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
In plain English: This is the number of the mighty men who belonged to David: Jashobeam, a son of a Hacmonite, the chief of the thirty (or: the officers). He wielded his spear against three hundred, killed at one time.
Good to know: begins the same list, but names the first man differently and says he "killed eight hundred at one time"; here Jashobeam wields his spear against "three hundred". The text does not say how they fit.
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12After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
In plain English: After him came Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty men.
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13He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
In plain English: He was with David at Pasdammim. The Philistines had gathered there for battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley, and the people fled from the Philistines.
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14They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.
In plain English: They took their stand in the middle of the plot and defended it, and they struck down the Philistines. Yahweh saved them with a great victory.
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15Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
In plain English: Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, to the cave of Adullam. The camp of the Philistines was in the valley of Rephaim.
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16David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.
In plain English: David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
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17David longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
In plain English: David longed for water and said, "Oh, who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is at the gate?"
Good to know: tells the same story of the water from the well of Bethlehem. The three men are not named there or here.
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18The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,
In plain English: The three broke through the camp of the Philistines. They drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was at the gate, took it and brought it to David. But David was not willing to drink it. He poured it out to Yahweh,
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19and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
In plain English: and said, "My God forbid me to do this (or: Far be it from me, from my God, to do this). Shall I drink the blood of these men, who risked their lives? For they brought it at the risk of their lives." So he was not willing to drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
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20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
In plain English: Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them, and he had a name among the three.
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21Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three.
In plain English: Of the three, he was more honored than the two and became their captain. But he did not reach the three.
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22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
In plain English: Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab (or: two heroic men of Moab). He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
The Hebrew word: Word for word the Hebrew says "two Ariel of Moab". The words "sons of" are not in it; this Bible adds them. Ariel is the dictionary's "lion of God; i.e. heroic".
What changes: Read as a name, Benaiah killed the two sons of a man called Ariel. Read by its meaning, he killed two heroic men of Moab. has the same words.
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23He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
In plain English: He killed an Egyptian, a man of great size, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam. Benaiah went down to him with a staff, tore the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
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24Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.
In plain English: Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.
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25Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.
In plain English: Look, he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not reach the three. David set him over his guard.
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26The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
In plain English: The mighty men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab and Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
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27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
In plain English: Shammoth the Harorite and Helez the Pelonite,
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28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
In plain English: Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite and Abiezer the Anathothite,
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29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
In plain English: Sibbecai the Hushathite and Ilai the Ahohite,
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30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
In plain English: Maharai the Netophathite and Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
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31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
In plain English: Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, and Benaiah the Pirathonite,
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32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
In plain English: Hurai of the brooks of Gaash and Abiel the Arbathite,
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33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
In plain English: Azmaveth the Baharumite and Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
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34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
In plain English: the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, and Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
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35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
In plain English: Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite and Eliphal the son of Ur,
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36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
In plain English: Hepher the Mecherathite and Ahijah the Pelonite,
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37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
In plain English: Hezro the Carmelite and Naarai the son of Ezbai,
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38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
In plain English: Joel the brother of Nathan and Mibhar the son of Hagri,
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39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),
In plain English: Zelek the Ammonite and Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
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40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
In plain English: Ira the Ithrite and Gareb the Ithrite,
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41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
In plain English: Uriah the Hittite and Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Good to know: Uriah the Hittite is named only here in 1 Chronicles. gives Bathsheba's husband the same name and title, and ends its list with him.
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42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites), and thirty with him,
In plain English: Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
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43Hanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
In plain English: Hanan the son of Maacah and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
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44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
In plain English: Uzzia the Ashterathite, and Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
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45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
In plain English: Jediael the son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,
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46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
In plain English: Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
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47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
In plain English: Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
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