UNROLL
First light on the fortress of Zion seen from the Kidron valley: the steep rocky eastern slope with its stepped stone terraces, and on top the plain thick wall and flat roofs of the small town catching the sun while the valley lies in blue shadow, under a calm pale dawn sky.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 11

All Israel comes to Hebron. Then David takes the fortress no one could take, and the men who stood with him are named.

47 verses≈ 7 min6 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathersChapter 11
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

David Anointed King of All Israel

The Israelites
The Israelites

Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.

Reflect

By the word of the LORD

Israel came to David because the LORD had said, “You will shepherd My people Israel.” The true Shepherd-King is Jesus, David’s Son. Is there a place in your life where you still hold out against His rule? Write it down, and what it would mean to come to Him and say, ‘Here I am.’

David Conquers Jerusalem

Valley of RephaimHebronJerusalemBethlehemAdullam

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Hebron to Jebus

All Israel made David king at Hebron. Then he marched about nineteen miles north to Jebus, the Jebusite town on its ridge, and made it the City of David. The stories of the mighty men go back to the hard years: the cave of Adullam in the low hills to the southwest, Bethlehem, and the Valley of Rephaim just southwest of Jerusalem (a probable site).

The small Jebusite town at evening on its narrow ridge above a deep valley, a thick wall of rough stone following the slope, flat-roofed houses inside, terraced olive groves on the slopes below.

Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.

The Jebusites

The people of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.”

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

David

Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.”

Gray first light on the steep, rocky slope below the Jebusite town: Joab climbs ahead of everyone, one hand on the rock and a spear slung across his back, while a line of David's men starts up the slope below him toward the plain stone wall.

And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

Morning inside the small town on the ridge: Joab stands on a heap of fallen stones directing workmen who reset a broken stretch of the town wall and lift a new wooden beam onto a flat-roofed house, baskets of rubble passed hand to hand.

So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

1 Chronicles 11:9

Question

Quick question

David promised the command of his army to the first man to strike down a Jebusite.

Who went up first against Jebus and became chief commander?

David’s Mighty Men

Dawn on a stony rise: Josheb-basshebeth, a broad-shouldered fighting man seen from behind with his long spear grounded upright beside him, faces a great host of Philistines spread across the valley far below.

Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.

David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

A rare snowy day in the Judean hills: a line of large lion's tracks crosses thin snow to the dark mouth of an old cistern pit, where Benaiah, club in hand, lowers himself over the edge.

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men. He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

0:38

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Mighty men

The Thirty

  1. Joab’s brother

    Asahel and Elhanan

    Now these were the mighty men:

    Asahel the brother of Joab,

    Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

  2. Shammoth and Helez

    Shammoth the Harorite,

    Helez the Pelonite,

  3. Ira and Abiezer

    Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

    Abiezer the Anathothite,

  4. Sibbecai and Ilai

    Sibbecai the Hushathite,

    Ilai the Ahohite,

  5. Maharai and Heled

    Maharai the Netophathite,

    Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

  6. Ithai and Benaiah the Pirathonite

    Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

    Benaiah the Pirathonite,

  7. Hurai and Abiel

    Hurai from the brooks of Gaash,

    Abiel the Arbathite,

  8. Azmaveth and Eliahba

    Azmaveth the Baharumite,

    Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

Dusk at a stronghold in the hills: a band of David's men of every age and kind, some foreign-born in different dress, sit and stand around a cooking fire with spears and shields, talking and laughing.

Mighty men

Faithful men

  1. Hashem’s sons and Jonathan

    the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,

    Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

  2. Ahiam and Eliphal

    Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite,

    Eliphal son of Ur,

  3. Hepher and Ahijah

    Hepher the Mecherathite,

    Ahijah the Pelonite,

  4. Hezro and Naarai

    Hezro the Carmelite,

    Naarai son of Ezbai,

  5. Joel and Mibhar

    Joel the brother of Nathan,

    Mibhar son of Hagri,

  6. Joab’s armor-bearer

    Zelek and Naharai

    Zelek the Ammonite,

    Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

  7. Ira and Gareb

    Ira the Ithrite,

    Gareb the Ithrite,

  8. Uriah the Hittite and Zabad

    Uriah the Hittite,

    Zabad son of Ahlai,

Dawn on the high plateau east of the Dead Sea: a band of fighting men from the tribes beyond the Jordan sets out west along a track, led by a broad, gray-bearded Reubenite chief with a staff, the Dead Sea a silver sheet far below.

Mighty men

More names

  1. With his thirty

    Adina, chief of the Reubenites

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

  2. Hanan and Joshaphat

    Hanan son of Maacah,

    Joshaphat the Mithnite,

  3. Uzzia, Shama and Jeiel

    Uzzia the Ashterathite,

    Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

  4. Jediael and Joha

    Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

  5. Ithmah the Moabite

    Eliel, Jeribai, Joshaviah, Ithmah

    Eliel the Mahavite,

    Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

    Ithmah the Moabite,

  6. Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel

    Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

Pray

Those who stood with him

Thank the Lord for the people He has given to stand with you, and for Jesus, the King who gave His own life for His people. Ask for courage to hold your ground where others run. And pray that, like David with the water, you would offer to the Lord what love has given you. Amen.

You’ve experienced

1 Chronicles 11

0 of 29 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

1 Chronicles 11:9

or swipe left