1 Chronicles 11

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

Every person in Israel came together in Hebron, uniting with David. They declared, "David, we are one with you, connected by blood and body."

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.

In the past, even during Saul's reign, you were the one guiding Israel. God told you, "You will care for my people, Israel, and you will lead them."

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.

In a heartfelt gathering at Hebron, Israel's elders met with David. There, under God's watchful eye, they forged a sacred pact. Embracing God's word spoken through Samuel, they joyfully crowned David as Israel's king.

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

David and all of Israel journeyed to Jerusalem, then known as Jebus, home to the Jebusites, the original dwellers of the land.

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.

The people of Jebus warned David, "You can't enter here." But David, undeterred, bravely captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the city of David.

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.

David declared, "The first to defeat the Jebusites will be our leader." So, Joab, Zeruiah's son, bravely stepped up, led the charge, and earned his place as the chief.

And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.

David made the castle his home, and so it became known as David's city.

And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

With great dedication, he constructed the city, encircling it from Millo and beyond. Joab, with equal fervor, restored the remaining parts of the city.

So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.

David's strength and influence grew immensely, fueled by the unwavering support of the Lord.

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.

These were David's bravest warriors, who stood by him as he rose to kingship, uniting Israel, all in accordance with God's divine plan for the nation.

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.

David had a group of strong warriors, among them was Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, their leader. He was so fierce and brave that he single-handedly defeated three hundred enemies in one battle.

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.

Following him was Eleazar, Dodo's son, from the Ahohite clan, one of the three bravest warriors.

He was with David at Pasdammim, 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.

Eleazar was with David at Pasdammim, facing a horde of Philistines ready for war. The battlefield was a barley field, waving in the wind. Fear gripped the people, and they ran from the Philistines.

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.

In the heart of the battlefield, they bravely stood their ground, defeating the Philistines. In this intense moment, they felt the divine intervention of the Lord, who rescued them with a miraculous victory.

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.

Three of the thirty brave leaders journeyed to meet David, hidden in the depths of Adullam's cave. Meanwhile, the mighty Philistine army set up camp in the shadowy valley of Rephaim.

And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem.

At that time, David was in hiding, while the Philistines had set up camp in Bethlehem.

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!

David yearned deeply, wishing for just a sip of the refreshing water from Bethlehem's well, located right at the city's entrance.

And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, 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.

Three brave souls broke through the enemy lines of the Philistines, risking their lives to draw water from the Bethlehem well near the gate. They carried this precious gift back to David. Yet, David, moved by their sacrifice, couldn't bring himself to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

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.

With a heavy heart, he pleaded, "God, keep me from such an act. How can I drink the blood of these brave men who risked their lives for me?" Their sacrifice was too great, he couldn't bear to drink it. Such were the deeds of the three mightiest.

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.

Abishai, Joab's brother, was a leader among the trio. He bravely fought against three hundred with his spear, defeating them all. His courage earned him a reputation among his peers.

Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.

Among the trio, he was the most respected; he led them, yet he couldn't quite reach the level of the top three.

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.

Benaiah, son of the brave Jehoiada from Kabzeel, was a man of many heroic deeds. He courageously defeated two fierce warriors from Moab, and on a chilling, snowy day, he descended into a pit to slay a mighty lion.

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.

He bravely faced a towering Egyptian, as tall as five cubits, who held a spear as massive as a weaver's beam. With only a staff in his hand, he courageously approached the giant, snatched the spear from his grip, and defeated him with his own weapon.

These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.

Benaiah, Jehoiada's son, accomplished great deeds and won a name alongside the three most revered warriors.

Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.

Indeed, he was respected among the thirty, yet he didn't reach the top three. Still, David made him the leader of his guards.

Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

The brave warriors of the armies included Asahel, Joab's brother, and Elhanan, Dodo's son from Bethlehem.

Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth, the passionate Harorite, and Helez, the steadfast Pelonite.

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,

Ira, the child of Ikkesh from Tekoa, and Abiezer from Anathoth, were both significant figures.

Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

Sibbecai, a man of Hushathite lineage, and Ilai, a descendant of the Ahohites, were two individuals deeply rooted in their faith and heritage.

Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Maharai from Netophah, and Heled, the son of Baanah also from Netophah,

Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Ithai, Ribai's son from Gibeah, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and Benaiah from Pirathon, felt a profound sense of belonging and purpose.

Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Hurai, who dwells by the peaceful streams of Gaash, and Abiel, the humble man from Arbath.

Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

Azmaveth, the one from Baharum, and Eliahba, the man of Shaalbon, both carried their heritage with pride and honor.

The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,

The children of Hashem the Gizonite, and Jonathan, the offspring of Shage the Hararite,

Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

Ahiam, the passionate son of Sacar the Hararite, and Eliphal, the thoughtful son of Ur,

Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hepher, the one from Mecherath, and Ahijah, the one from Pelon, were both individuals of deep faith and devotion.

Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

Hezro, the humble man from Carmel, and Naarai, the brave son of Ezbai,

Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,

Joel, Nathan's sibling, and Mibhar, Haggeri's offspring,

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

Zelek from Ammon, Naharai from Beroth, the trusted shield-bearer of Joab, Zeruiah's son.

Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

Ira and Gareb, both from the tribe of Ithrite, carried a deep sense of loyalty and pride for their heritage.

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

Uriah the Hittite, a man of honor and Zabad, the son of Ahlai, a child born of love.

Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

Adina, the passionate leader of the Reubenites, son of Shiza, was accompanied by his loyal thirty companions.

Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Hanan, Maachah's son, and Joshaphat from Mithnite, both carried a deep sense of purpose and a strong bond of brotherhood.

Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,

Uzzia from Ashterath, along with Shama and Jehiel, the children of Hothan from Aroer, all shared a deep bond of brotherhood and faith.

Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

Jediael, Shimri's son, and his brother Joha, both from Tiz, felt a deep bond of brotherhood and shared heritage.

Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

Eliel from Mahavite, along with Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah from Moab, all shared a deep bond of brotherhood.

Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Eliel, Obed, and Jasiel of Mesoba, each with their own unique spirit and purpose.