1 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron {hevronah: anointing city} to say, “Look, we are your own bone {atzmekha: shared ancestry} and flesh.”
2 In former days—both earlier and even when Saul was king—you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in, and the LORD your God {YHWH Elohekha, Covenant Director} said to you, “You will shepherd {tirʿeh: provide care and guidance} my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.”
3 Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant {berit: binding agreement} with them at Hebron before the LORD {YHWH, Divine Kingmaker}, and they anointed David as king over Israel according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Samuel.
4 David and all Israel moved against Jerusalem—that is Jebus {yevus: ancient stronghold}—where the Jebusites, the inhabitants {yoshvei: settled residents} of the land, were living.
5 The inhabitants of Jebus {Yevus: Jebusite fortress} said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion; it became the City of David {Ir David: royal stronghold}.
6 And David said, “The one who strikes {makkeh: initiates the attack} the Jebusite first will become chief and commander {sar: military commander}.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became chief.
7 David dwelt {vayeshev: took up residence} in the fortress {bametsad: military citadel}; for that reason they called it the City of David.
8 And he built the city all around, from the Millo {millo: inner fortification} in a full circuit, and Joab restored {yechayyeh: brought back to life} the remainder of the city.
9 David pressed on {halokh: uninterrupted progress} and rose in influence, and the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Divine Warrior} was with him.
10 And these are the heads of the mighty men who supported David, those who strengthened themselves with him in his kingship, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Promise Fulfiller} concerning Israel {Yisrael: covenant people}.
11 And these are the number {mispar: total count} of the mighty ones who were for David: Jashobeam son of a Hakmonite, chief of the Three {shalishim: elite warriors}. He raised his spear against three hundred slain in one encounter.
12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite {haachochi: tribal designation}; he was among the three mighty men {gibborim: valiant fighters}.
13 He was with David at Pas Dammim {pas dammim: place name 'blood border'}, and the Philistines were gathered there for battle. Then a portion of the field was full of barley {seorim: barley grain}, and the people fled before the Philistines.
14 But they took their stand in the midst of the field, they delivered it, and they struck down the Philistines; then the LORD {YHWH, Divine Rescuer} brought about a great deliverance {tešûʿāh: dramatic rescue}.
15 And three of the thirty chiefs {rosh: head leaders} went down to the rock, to David at the cave {me‘arat: cave refuge} of Adullam, while the camp of the Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16 And David {Dawid: anointed leader} was then in the stronghold {metzudah: fortified refuge}, and the Philistine garrison was then in Bethlehem.
17 And David longed and longed {hit'aw: intense yearning} and said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem {beit-lechem: David's birthplace} which is at the gate?”
18 And the three broke through into the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well{bor: fortified cistern} of Bethlehem that was at the gate, and they carried it and brought it to David; but David was not willing to drink it, and he poured it out to the LORD {YHWH, Holy Recipient}.
19 And he said, “May it be unthinkable for me, before my God {Elohai, Divine Standard}, to do this! Am I to drink the blood of these men, that is, their life {nefesh: life-force}? For they brought it with their lives.” So he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
20 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief {rosh: top commander} of the Three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and he had a name {shem: renown and honor} among the Three.
21 He was honored {nikhbad: highly esteemed} above the other two among the three and became their commander {lesar: military leader}, yet he did not attain membership among the three.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a man of valor, great in deeds, from Kabzeel, struck the two Ariels {ariel: lion-like warriors} of Moab and then struck the lion in the midst of the pit on a snowy day {hasheleg: day marked by snow}.
23 And he struck down the Egyptian, a man of immense stature five cubits tall, and the Egyptian bore a spear like a weaver’s beam {weaver’s beam: menor orgim—large loom crossbar}; he then advanced with a staff {staff: shavet—rod or club}, seized the spear from his hand, and killed him with it.
24 These {eleh: opening formula} things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty men {gibborim: elite warriors}.
25 He was honored from among the Thirty, yet he was not one of the Three; nevertheless, Dāwîḏ {Dāwîḏ: anointed ruler} set him over his guard {mišmaṯtô: personal protection detail}.
26 And among the mighty men {gibborei: elite warriors} of the army were Asahel, the brother of Joab, and Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem {beit-lechem: house of bread}.
27 Shammoth the Harorite {harori: from Haror} and Helez the Pelonite {peloni: from Pelon}.
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite {teqo’i: native of Tekoa}, Abiezer the Anathothite {anetoti: native of Anathoth}.
29 Sibbekai the Hushathite {chushati: belonging to Chushah} and Ilai the Ahohite {achochi: descendant of Ahoah}
30 Maharai, a Netophathite {netofati: Netophah native}, and Heled {kheled: listed warrior}, son of Baanah, a Netophathite.
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah {mi-giv'at: originating locale} of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite {pir'atoniy: gentilic designation}
32 Hurai from the streams {nahal: wadi channels} of Gaash; Aviel the Arbathite {aravah: Jordan valley}.
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite {bahurim: Benjamite village}, Eliahba the Shaalbonite {sha'albon: Danite town}.
34 The sons of Hashem {ha-shem: personal name} the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite {harari: hill country dweller}.
35 Ahiam, son {ben: family line} of Sakar, the Hararite {haharari: place-based title}, Eliphal, son of Ur.
36 Hepher the Mekerathite {mecherati: inhabitant of Mekerah}, Ahijah the Pelonite {peloni: inhabitant of Pelon}.
37 Hezro the Carmelite {ha-karmeli: gentilic adjective indicating origin}, Naarai son of Ezbai {ben: patrilineal descendant}.
38 Joel, the brother {achi: close kin} of Nathan, and Mibhar, the son {ben: direct descent} of Hagri.
39 Zelek the Ammonite {ha-ammoni: descendant of Ammon} and Naharai the Berothite, the one bearing the weapons of Joab son {ben: direct male descendant} of Zeruiah.
40 Ira the Ithrite and Gareb {gareb: personal name} the Ithrite {yitri: Jetherite clan}.
41 Uriah the Hittite {ha-chitti: ethnic designation}, Zabad son of Achlai {ben: direct descent}.
42 Adina, son of Shiza the Reubenite, was chief {rosh: tribal leader} of the Reubenites, and thirty {sheloshim: military unit} were with him.
43 Hanan son {ben: direct descent} of Maakah and Joshaphat the Mithnite {mitni: inhabitant of Mitha}.
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite {ashterati: native of Ashteroth}, Shama, and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite {aroeri: inhabitant of Aroer}.
45 Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother{achiv: clan sibling}, the Tizite{titsi: from Tiz}.
46 Eliel the Mahavite {machavim: Machah clansman}, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons {benei: family descendants} of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite.
47 Eliel {Eliel: My God is God}, Oved, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite {metsovayah: person from Mezoba}.