1 Chronicles 11:2–16

2 “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘aYou shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’ ”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and athey anointed David king over Israel, baccording to the word of the Lord through Samuel.

Jerusalem, Capital City

4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (athat is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David).

6 Now David had said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” aJoab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.

7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.

8 He 1built the city all around, from the 2Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab 3repaired the rest of the city.

9 aDavid became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

10 aNow these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, baccording to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: aJashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, bthe chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred 1whom he killed at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of aDodo, the Ahohite, who was 1one of the three mighty men.

13 He was with David at 1Pasdammim awhen the Philistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines.

14 They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great 1victory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while athe army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim.

16 David was then in the stronghold, while athe garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.