New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Chronicles 11
1
The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said, "We are your own flesh and blood.
2
In the past, Saul was our king. But you led the men of Israel in battle. The Lord your God said to you, 'You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.' "
Reference
3
All of the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There he made a covenant with them in the sight of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel. It happened just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
Reference
4
David and all of the men of Israel marched to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also called Jebus. The Jebusites who lived there
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 15:21
References David
1 Chronicles 11:5
References Jerusalem
Judges 1:21
Joshua 15:8
Joshua 15:63
5
spoke to David. They said, "You won't get in here." But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.
6
David had said, "Anyone who leads the attack against the Jebusites will become the commander of Israel's army." Joab went up first. So he became the commander of the army. He was the son of Zeruiah.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 8:16
7
David moved into the fort. So it was called the City of David.
8
He built up the city around the fort. He filled in the low places. He built a wall around it. During that time, Joab built up the rest of the city.
9
David became more and more powerful. That's because the Lord who rules over all was with him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 8:31
Esther 9:4
References David
2 Samuel 3:1
References Lord
Isaiah 41:14
1 Chronicles 9:20
2 Samuel 5:10
Psalm 46:7
Psalm 46:11
10
The chiefs of David's mighty men and the whole community of Israel helped David greatly. They helped him become king over the entire land. That's exactly what the Lord had promised him.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Chronicles 11:3
11
Here is a list of David's mighty men. Jashobeam was chief of the officers. He was a Hacmonite. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them at one time.
Reference
References David
2 Samuel 23:8
12
Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty men. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 27:4
13
Jashobeam was with David at Pas Dammim. The Philistines had gathered there for battle. Israel's troops ran away from the Philistines. At the place where that happened, there was a field that was full of barley.
📍 Pas-dammim
14
The three mighty men took their stand in the middle of the field. They didn't let the Philistines capture it. They struck them down. The Lord helped them win a great battle.
Reference
Salvation
Psalm 144:10
15
David was near the rock at the cave of Adullam. Three of the 30 chiefs came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
Reference
16
At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem.
Reference
17
David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem!"
Reference
18
So the Three fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.
19
"I would never drink that water!" David said. "It would be like drinking the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem." The men had put their lives in danger by bringing the water back. So David wouldn't drink it. Those were some of the brave things the three mighty men did.
Reference
20
Abishai was chief over the Three. He was the brother of Joab. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the Three were.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 26:6
21
He was honored twice as much as the Three. He became their commander. But he wasn't included among them.
22
Benaiah was a great hero from Kabzeel. He was the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah did many brave things. He struck down two of Moab's best fighting men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day. He killed a lion there.
Reference
23
And Benaiah struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian was holding a spear as big as a weaver's rod. Benaiah went out to fight against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand. Then he killed him with it.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 17:7
24
Those were some of the brave things Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did. He too was as famous as the three mighty men were.
25
He was honored more than any of the Thirty. But he wasn't included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his own personal guards.
26
Here is a list of David's mighty men. Asahel, the brother of Joab Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 27:7
28
Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa Abiezer from Anathoth
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 27:12
29
Sibbecai, the Hushathite Ilai, the Ahohite
30
Maharai from Netophah Heled, the son of Baanah, from Netophah
31
Ithai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah in Benjamin Benaiah from Pirathon
32
Hurai from the valleys of Gaash Abiel, the Arbathite
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
38
Joel, the brother of Nathan Mibhar, the son of Hagri
39
Zelek from Ammon Naharai, from Beeroth, who carried the armor of Joab, the son of Zeruiah
40
Ira, the Ithrite Gareb, the Ithrite
42
Adina, the son of Shiza, the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites and the 30 men with him
People
Summary of 1 Chronicles 11
This chapter marks the beginning of the Chronicler's account of David's reign. After the death of Saul described in the previous chapter, all the tribes of Israel gathered at Hebron and recognized David as their king. The elders made a covenant with him and anointed him king over all Israel. This was the beginning of the united monarchy under David.
David's first major political and military achievement was the capture of Jerusalem. The city was controlled by the Jebusites and had a strong defensive position. David and his men captured the stronghold of Zion, and Jerusalem became known as the City of David. David established his royal residence there, while Joab repaired and developed the city. Jerusalem would remain the capital of the Davidic dynasty for centuries.
The chapter then introduces David's mighty warriors. These men were essential to the establishment and defense of David's kingdom. Some were famous for extraordinary feats of courage. Jashobeam killed hundreds of enemies, while Eleazar continued fighting against the Philistines when others had retreated. Three warriors once broke through a Philistine camp to bring David water from Bethlehem. David refused to drink it because he considered their sacrifice too valuable to consume casually.
Benaiah is another important warrior. He killed powerful enemies and even killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. His military reputation eventually led to a high position in David's administration and later under Solomon.
The chapter concludes with a long list of David's warriors. These men came from many different regions and backgrounds. Their service demonstrates that David's kingdom depended upon a broad network of military leaders rather than only the king himself.
Overall, the chapter presents David's rise as both a political unification of Israel and a military consolidation of the kingdom. Jerusalem becomes the new capital, David becomes the recognized king, and a powerful group of warriors provides the foundation for his expanding rule.
Main Message:
David's kingdom was established through the unity of Israel, the capture of Jerusalem, courageous leadership, and the loyal service of the warriors who stood with him.
David's first major political and military achievement was the capture of Jerusalem. The city was controlled by the Jebusites and had a strong defensive position. David and his men captured the stronghold of Zion, and Jerusalem became known as the City of David. David established his royal residence there, while Joab repaired and developed the city. Jerusalem would remain the capital of the Davidic dynasty for centuries.
The chapter then introduces David's mighty warriors. These men were essential to the establishment and defense of David's kingdom. Some were famous for extraordinary feats of courage. Jashobeam killed hundreds of enemies, while Eleazar continued fighting against the Philistines when others had retreated. Three warriors once broke through a Philistine camp to bring David water from Bethlehem. David refused to drink it because he considered their sacrifice too valuable to consume casually.
Benaiah is another important warrior. He killed powerful enemies and even killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. His military reputation eventually led to a high position in David's administration and later under Solomon.
The chapter concludes with a long list of David's warriors. These men came from many different regions and backgrounds. Their service demonstrates that David's kingdom depended upon a broad network of military leaders rather than only the king himself.
Overall, the chapter presents David's rise as both a political unification of Israel and a military consolidation of the kingdom. Jerusalem becomes the new capital, David becomes the recognized king, and a powerful group of warriors provides the foundation for his expanding rule.
Main Message:
David's kingdom was established through the unity of Israel, the capture of Jerusalem, courageous leadership, and the loyal service of the warriors who stood with him.