וַיִּקָּבְצ֧וּ כׇֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־דָּוִ֖יד חֶבְר֣וֹנָה לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֛ה עַצְמְךָ֥ וּֽבְשָׂרְךָ֖ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ aWith vv. 1–9, cf. 2 Sam. 5.1–10, and with vv. 11–41, cf. 2 Sam. 23.8–39.All Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.
גַּם־תְּמ֣וֹל גַּם־שִׁלְשׁ֗וֹם גַּ֚ם בִּֽהְי֣וֹת שָׁא֣וּל מֶ֔לֶךְ אַתָּ֛ה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא וְהַמֵּבִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אַתָּ֨ה תִרְעֶ֤ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאַתָּה֙ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה נָגִ֔יד עַ֖ל עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Long before now, even when Saul was king, you were the leader of Israel; and the LORD your God said to you: You shall shepherd My people Israel; you shall be ruler of My people Israel.”
וַ֠יָּבֹ֠אוּ כׇּל־זִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חֶבְר֔וֹנָה וַיִּכְרֹת֩ לָהֶ֨ם דָּוִ֥יד בְּרִ֛ית בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּמְשְׁח֨וּ אֶת־דָּוִ֤יד לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃ {ס} All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a pact with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ דָּוִ֧יד וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם הִ֣יא יְב֑וּס וְשָׁם֙ הַיְבוּסִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ David and all Israel set out for Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusite inhabitants of the land lived.
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ יֹשְׁבֵ֤י יְבוּס֙ לְדָוִ֔יד לֹ֥א תָב֖וֹא הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד דָּוִיד֙ אֶת־מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֔וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃ David was told by the inhabitants of Jebus, “You will never get in here!” But David captured the stronghold of Zion; it is now the City of David.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔יד כׇּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבוּסִי֙ בָּרִ֣אשׁוֹנָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְרֹ֖אשׁ וּלְשָׂ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַל בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֛ה יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה וַיְהִ֥י לְרֹֽאשׁ׃ David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will be the chief officer”; Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, and became the chief.
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב דָּוִ֖יד בַּמְצָ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרְאוּ־ל֖וֹ עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃ David occupied the stronghold; therefore it was renamed the City of David.
וַיִּ֤בֶן הָעִיר֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב מִן־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וְעַד־הַסָּבִ֑יב וְיוֹאָ֕ב יְחַיֶּ֖ה אֶת־שְׁאָ֥ר הָעִֽיר׃ David also fortified the surrounding area, from the Millo round about, and Joab rebuilt the rest of the city.
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖יד הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֑וֹל וַיהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
David kept growing stronger, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
וְאֵ֨לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֤י הַגִּבֹּרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֔יד הַמִּתְחַזְּקִ֨ים עִמּ֧וֹ בְמַלְכוּת֛וֹ עִם־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִיכ֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס} And these were David’s chief warriors who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
וְאֵ֛לֶּה מִסְפַּ֥ר הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑יד יָֽשׇׁבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִ֗י רֹ֚אשׁ (השלושים) [הַשָּׁ֣לִישִׁ֔ים] הֽוּא־עוֹרֵ֧ר אֶת־חֲנִית֛וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם אֶחָֽת׃ This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni, the chief officer; he wielded his spear against three hundred and slew them all on one occasion.
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ הָאֲחוֹחִ֑י ה֖וּא בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite; he was one of the three warriors.
הֽוּא־הָיָ֨ה עִם־דָּוִ֜יד בַּפַּ֣ס דַּמִּ֗ים וְהַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַתְּהִ֛י חֶלְקַ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה מְלֵאָ֣ה שְׂעוֹרִ֑ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖סוּ מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley there; the troops had fled from the Philistines,
וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֤וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַֽחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּיל֔וּהָ וַיַּכּ֖וּ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיּ֥וֹשַׁע יְהֹוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ but they took their stand in the middle of the plot and defended it, and they routed the Philistines. Thus the LORD wrought a great victory.
וַיֵּרְד֡וּ שְֽׁלוֹשָׁה֩ מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים רֹ֤אשׁ עַל־הַצֻּר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔יד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃ Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David, at the cave of Adullam, while a force of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
וְדָוִ֖יד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּנְצִ֣יב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
וַיִּתְאָ֥ו דָּוִ֖יד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבּ֥וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ David felt a craving and said, “If only I could get a drink of water from the cistern which is by the gate of Bethlehem!”
וַיִּבְקְע֨וּ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֜ה בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבּ֤וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וְלֹא־אָבָ֤ה דָוִיד֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיְנַסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהֹוָֽה׃ So the three got through the Philistine camp, and drew water from the cistern which is by the gate of Bethlehem, and they carried it back to David. But David would not drink it, and he poured it out as a libation to the LORD.
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִ֩ילָה֩ לִּ֨י מֵאֱלֹהַ֜י מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת זֹ֗את הֲדַ֣ם הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ הָאֵ֨לֶּה אֶשְׁתֶּ֤ה בְנַפְשׁוֹתָם֙ כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁוֹתָ֣ם הֱבִיא֔וּם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ For he said, “God forbid that I should do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?”—for they had brought it at the risk of their lives, and he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
וְאַבְשַׁ֣י אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֗ב ה֤וּא הָיָה֙ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֔ה וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל (ולא) [וְלוֹ־]שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלוֹשָֽׁה׃ Abshai, the brother of Joab, was head of another three. He once wielded his spear against three hundred and slew them. He won a name among the three;
מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֤ה בַשְּׁנַ֙יִם֙ נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָֽא׃ {ס} among the three he was more highly regarded than the other two, and so he became their commander. However, he did not attain to the other three.
בְּנָיָ֨ה בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽן־קַבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִיאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠ה֠וּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבּ֖וֹר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃ Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a brave soldier who performed great deeds. He killed the two [sons] of Ariel of Moab. Once, on a snowy day, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
וְהֽוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־הָאִ֨ישׁ הַמִּצְרִ֜י אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה ׀ חָמֵ֣שׁ בָּאַמָּ֗ה וּבְיַ֨ד הַמִּצְרִ֤י חֲנִית֙ כִּמְנ֣וֹר אֹֽרְגִ֔ים וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃ He also killed an Egyptian, a giant of a man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, like a weaver’s beam, yet [Benaiah] went down against him with a club, wrenched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
אֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he won a name among the three warriors.
מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֗ים הִנּ֤וֹ נִכְבָּד֙ ה֔וּא וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂימֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖יד עַל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ {ס} He was highly regarded among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.
וְגִבּוֹרֵ֖י הַחֲיָלִ֑ים עֲשָׂהאֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב {ס} אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ מִבֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ {ס} The valiant warriors: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
שַׁמּוֹת֙ הַהֲרוֹרִ֔י {ס} חֶ֖לֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִֽי׃ {ס} Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
עִירָ֤א בֶן־עִקֵּשׁ֙ הַתְּקוֹעִ֔י {ס} אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר הָעַנְּתוֹתִֽי׃ {ס} Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,
סִבְּכַי֙ הַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔י {ס} עִילַ֖י הָאֲחוֹחִֽי׃ {ס} Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
מַהְרַי֙ הַנְּטֹ֣פָתִ֔י {ס} חֵ֥לֶד בֶּֽן־בַּעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטוֹפָתִֽי׃ {ס} Mahrai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
אִיתַ֣י בֶּן־רִיבַ֗י מִגִּבְעַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן {ס} בְּנָיָ֖ה הַפִּרְעָתֹנִֽי׃ {ס} Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah of Pirathon,
חוּרַי֙ מִנַּ֣חֲלֵי גָ֔עַשׁ {ס} אֲבִיאֵ֖ל הָעַרְבָתִֽי׃ {ס} Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
עַזְמָ֙וֶת֙ הַבַּ֣חֲרוּמִ֔י {ס} אֶלְיַחְבָּ֖א הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִֽי׃ {ס} Azmaveth the Bahrumite, Eliahba of Shaalbon,
בְּנֵ֗י הָשֵׁם֙ הַגִּ֣זוֹנִ֔י {ס} יוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־שָׁגֵ֖ה הַהֲרָרִֽי׃ {ס} the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,
אֲחִיאָ֧ם בֶּן־שָׂכָ֛ר הַהֲרָרִ֖י {ס} אֱלִיפַ֥ל בֶּן־אֽוּר׃ {ס} Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
חֵ֚פֶר הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י אֲחִיָּ֖ה הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃ {ס} Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
חֶצְרוֹ֙ הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י {ס} נַעֲרַ֖י בֶּן־אֶזְבָּֽי׃ {ס} Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
יוֹאֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י נָתָ֔ן {ס} מִבְחָ֖ר בֶּן־הַגְרִֽי׃ {ס} Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
צֶ֖לֶק הָעַמּוֹנִ֑י נַחְרַי֙ הַבֵּ֣רֹתִ֔י נֹשֵׂ֕א כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃ {ס} Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite—the arms-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah—
עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י {ס} גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ {ס} Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַחִתִּ֔י {ס} זָבָ֖ד בֶּן־אַחְלָֽי׃ {ס} Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai.
עֲדִינָ֨א בֶן־שִׁיזָ֜א הָראוּבֵנִ֗י רֹ֛אשׁ לָראוּבֵנִ֖י וְעָלָ֥יו שְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃ {ס} Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him;
חָנָן֙ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה וְיוֹשָׁפָ֖ט הַמִּתְנִֽי׃ {ס} Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite;
עֻזִּיָּ֖א הָעַשְׁתְּרָתִ֑י {ס} שָׁמָע֙ (ויעואל) [וִיעִיאֵ֔ל] בְּנֵ֖י חוֹתָ֥ם הָעֲרֹעֵרִֽי׃ {ס} Uzziah the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite;
יְדִֽיעֲאֵל֙ בֶּן־שִׁמְרִ֔י וְיֹחָ֥א אָחִ֖יו הַתִּיצִֽי׃ {ס} Jedaiael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite;
אֱלִיאֵל֙ הַֽמַּחֲוִ֔ים וִירִיבַ֥י וְיוֹשַׁוְיָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְנָ֑עַם {ס} וְיִתְמָ֖ה הַמּוֹאָבִֽי׃ Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite;
אֱלִיאֵ֣ל וְעוֹבֵ֔ד {ס} וְיַעֲשִׂיאֵ֖ל הַמְּצֹבָיָֽה׃ {פ}
Eliel, Obed, and Jaassiel the Mezobaite.