1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.'" 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel. 4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the city of David. 6 David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. 7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. 8 He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him. 10 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. 11 This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time. 12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory. 15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 18 The three broke through the army 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 Yahweh, 19 and said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. 20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the (first) three. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two (sons of) Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 23 He killed 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 killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the (first) three: and David set him over his guard. 26 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
David is anointed king in Hebron, 1-Chronicles 11:1-3. He wars against the Jebusites, and takes their city, 1-Chronicles 11:4-9. An account of David's three mightiest heroes; and particularly of their hazardous exploit in bringing water from the well of Beth-lehem, 1-Chronicles 11:10-19. A list of the rest, and an account of their acts, vv. 20-47.
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 11
This chapter treats of David's being anointed king by all Israel, 1-Chronicles 11:1, which agrees with 2-Samuel 5:1 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:1 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:2 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:3 and of his taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites, 1-Chronicles 11:4 the account of which we have 2-Samuel 5:6. See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:6 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:7 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:8 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:9 See Gill on 2-Samuel 5:10 only here we are told, that it was Joab that smote the Jebusites first, and so was made chief captain according to David's promise; and that he also repaired the rest of the city David built round about; perhaps the fortifications demolished in taking it, 1-Chronicles 11:6 or rather, as others give the sense, he "saved alive" (b) those that remained in the city, after he had slain the lame and the blind; though a learned (d) writer conjectures it should be read, "and Joab was made the governor of the city"; and the Targum is,"Joab governed the rest of the city.''And then follows an account of David's mighty men and worthies, 1-Chronicles 11:10 of whom see the notes on 2-Samuel 23:8, 2-Samuel 23:9, 2-Samuel 23:10, 2-Samuel 23:11, 2-Samuel 23:12, 2-Samuel 23:13, 2-Samuel 23:14, 2-Samuel 23:15, 2-Samuel 23:16, 2-Samuel 23:17, 2-Samuel 23:18, 2-Samuel 23:19, 2-Samuel 23:20, 2-Samuel 23:21, 2-Samuel 23:22, 2-Samuel 23:23, 2-Samuel 23:24, 2-Samuel 23:25, 2-Samuel 23:26, 2-Samuel 23:27, 2-Samuel 23:28, 2-Samuel 23:29, 2-Samuel 23:30, 2-Samuel 23:31, 2-Samuel 23:32, 2-Samuel 23:33, 2-Samuel 23:34, 2-Samuel 23:35, 2-Samuel 23:36, 2-Samuel 23:37, 2-Samuel 23:38, 2-Samuel 23:39 and others are added here, 1-Chronicles 11:42 of whom we know no more than their names.
(b) "vivas conservavit urbis reliquias", Junius & Tremellius; Strigelius in Poli Synops. in loc. (d) Dr. Kennicot's State of the Hebrew Text, dissert. 1. p. 54.
(1-Chronicles 11:1-9) David raised to the throne.
(v. 10-47) A list of David's mighty men.
The Anointing of David to be King in Hebron, and the Conquest of Jerusalem. A List of David's Heroes - 1-Chronicles 11
In the second book of Samuel there are passages parallel to both sections of this chapter; 1-Chronicles 11:1-9 corresponding to the narrative in 2-Samuel 5:1-10, and vv. 10-47 to the register in 2 Sam 23:8-39.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.