1 Chronicles 11

The Book of 1 Chronicles

God rules History

1 Chronicles

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 11

All *Israel accepts David as king – 1 Chronicles 11:1-12

v1 Then all the *Israelites came to David at Hebron town. They said to him, ‘We are like your own family. v2 In the past, even when Saul was still our king, you led *Israel in battle. The *LORD your God said to you, “You will be the leader of my people, that is, *Israel. You will lead them as a *shepherd leads sheep. You will be their ruler.” ’

v3 So, all the leaders of *Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made an agreement with them in Hebron and the *LORD was witness to it. Then they poured oil on David to make him king over all *Israel. The *LORD had promised by means of Samuel that this would happen.

v4 David and all the *Israelites went to the city called Jerusalem. At that time, the name of Jerusalem was Jebus. And the people who lived there were the *Jebusites. v5 They said to David, ‘You cannot come into our city.’ But David fought and he took the castle called Zion. And Jerusalem became David’s city.

v6 David had said this to his soldiers. ‘The man who attacks the *Jebusites first shall become the chief officer of my army.’ Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first. So, he became the chief officer of the army.

v7 Then David made his home in the castle. That is why the city was called David’s city. v8 David built the city round the castle. He built from the Millo to the walls round it. Joab repaired the rest of the city. v9 The *LORD, who is most powerful, was with David. So David became stronger and stronger.

v10 These were the leaders of David’s soldiers. They helped to make David’s *kingdom strong. And with all the *Israelites, they made him king over the whole country as the *LORD had promised. v11 This is a list of the leaders of David’s soldiers. Jashobeam was from the *clan of Hacmon. He was the head over all of David’s most powerful men. With his *spear, he fought 300 men at one time, and he killed them all. v12 Then there was Eleazar. He was one of the three most powerful soldiers. Eleazar was Dodai’s son from the *clan of Ahoh. v13 Eleazar was with David at Pas-Dammim when the *Philistines came there to fight. There was a field of barley (a kind of grain) at that place. The *Israelites ran away from the *Philistines. v14 But David and Eleazar stopped in the middle of that field. They fought to keep that field. They killed the *Philistines. The *LORD brought about their great success in that battle.

v15 Three of the 30 of David’s most powerful leaders came down to him at the rock by Adullam’s cave. An army of the *Philistines had a camp in the Rephaim Valley. v16 David was in his camp that his army defended. A group of *Philistines was in control of Bethlehem. v17 David had a strong desire for some water. He spoke about this desire. ‘Oh, I wish that someone would get me water from Bethlehem! There is a well near the city gate there.’ v18 The three famous soldiers broke through the *Philistine camp. And they took water from the well that is near the city gate in Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a gift to the *LORD. v19 This is what he said. ‘God knows that I cannot drink this water. It would be as if I drank the blood of these men. They risked their lives to bring it to me.’ So, David refused to drink the water because the men risked their lives to bring it. Such were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.

v20 Abishai brother of Joab was the captain of the 30 famous soldiers. Abishai fought 300 soldiers with his *spear and he killed them. He became as famous as those three soldiers were. v21 He had more honour than the 30. He became their leader but he was not one of the three famous soldiers.

v22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave soldier from Kabzeel. He did great deeds. He killed two of the best soldiers from Moab. Also, he went down into a hole where he killed a lion on a snowy day. v23 Benaiah killed an *Egyptian who was 5 cubits (7½ feet or 2.3 metres) tall. The *Egyptian had an enormous *spear. It was as large as the beam that people use to make cloth. Benaiah only had a heavy stick, but he took the *spear from the *Egyptian’s hand. And he killed the *Egyptian with his own *spear. v24 Such were the deeds that Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the three famous soldiers. v25 He received more honour than the 30 brave soldiers. But he did not become one of the three famous soldiers. David made him the leader of his personal guards.

v26-47 These men were also brave soldiers:

• Asahel brother of Joab;

• Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

• Shammoth from the town called Harod;

• Helez from the place called Pelon;

• Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

• Abiezer from the town called Anathoth;

• Sibbecai from the area called Hushah;

• Ilai a *descendant of Ahoh;

• Maharai from the town called Netophah;

• Heled son of Baanah also from the town called Netophah;

• Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;

• Benaiah from the town called Pirathon;

• Hurai from the valleys of Gaash;

• Abiel from the district called the Arabah;

• Azmaveth from the town called Bahurim;

• Eliahba from the town called Shaalbon;

• the sons of Hashem the Gizonite;

• Jonathan son of Shagee, who was from Harar (in the hill country of Judah);

• Ahiam son of Sacar also from Harar (in the hill country of Judah);

• Eliphal son of Ur;

• Hepher from the town called Mekarah;

• Ahijah from the town called Pelon;

• Hezro from the town called Carmel (in Judah);

• Naarai son of Ezbai;

• Joel brother of Nathan;

• Mibhar son of Hagri;

• Zelek who was from Ammon;

• Naharai from the city called Beeroth, the officer who carried the *armour for Joab son of Zeruiah;

• Ira, who was from the Ithrite family;

• Gareb, who was also from the Ithrite family;

• Uriah, who came from the people called Hittites;

• Zabad son of Ahlai;

• Adina son of Shiza from the *tribe of Reuben. He was the leader of the men from the *tribe of Reuben. And he was the leader of 30 brave soldiers;

• Hanan son of Maacah;

• Joshaphat, who was called the Mithnite;

• Uzzia from the town called Ashtaroth;

• Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham from the town called Aroer;

• Jediael son of Shimri;

• Joha, Jediael’s brother, who was called the Tizite;

• Eliel, who was called the Mahavite;

• Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;

• Ithmah from the country called Moab;

• Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel, who were called the Mezobaites.

We do not know the meaning of Gizonite. The Ithrite family lived in the city called Kiriath Jearim. The Hittites were an ancient nation. Some of them were in the country called Canaan at the time of Joshua. The *Israelites defeated them. Although Uriah was a foreigner, he accepted the beliefs of Israel. Zelek and Ithmah were also foreigners. We do not know the meaning of Mithnite, of Tizite or of Mahavite. We do not know the meaning of Mezobaite.

Verses 1-3 The next ten Chapter s (Chapter s 11 to 20) describe the period between 1003 and about 995 *BC. This was the period of David’s rule when he became most powerful.

David had been the king of the *tribe of Judah for 7 years. He was ruling from the town called Hebron. When Ish-Bosheth died, all the *tribes came to David.

The *LORD had appointed David as the future king of *Israel about 20 years earlier. Samuel put oil on his head in private at the home of David’s parents (1 Samuel 16:1-13). That was the ceremony to appoint a king. But David did not become king at once. However, he became a great leader in *Israel even while Saul was the king. Saul knew that one day David would be king. When Saul died, the people in Judah made David their king (2 Samuel 2:4).

The *LORD said that David would be the ‘*shepherd’ of his people. A *shepherd looks after sheep. So, David would look after the *LORD’s people.

After Ish-Bosheth died, all the leaders of *Israel came to David in Hebron. They poured oil on his head and so they made him king of all *Israel. They made an agreement with David and with the *LORD. The *LORD had said that David would be king. And the people knew that the *LORD had chosen David.

Verses 4-7 After the death of Joshua, the *tribe of Judah had taken the city called Jerusalem. But the *Jebusites soon came back and they lived in the city. They called the city Jebus. Then for almost 400 years, Judah could not defeat the *Jebusites. They could not take the city.

The castle of Jebus was on a steep cliff. There seemed to be no way that an army could climb up to the castle. There was a water supply passage. But the people in Jebus did not think that this was a way for soldiers to attack. It was too difficult an entrance for an army to attack them. So, the *Jebusites were sure that David would not be able to get into Jebus. They said that even blind and weak persons could defend the city. But Joab led the way up the water supply passage. He got into the city and he defeated the *Jebusites (2 Samuel 5:6-8). So, the city became Jerusalem and it became David’s city. Joab, who was David’s nephew, became the chief officer of the army.

The change of the capital city to Jerusalem was a wise one. It was a good political thing to do. Jerusalem was on the border between Judah and the northern *tribes. And the city was easy to defend.

David built a new town to the north of the old one on *Mount Zion. Joab repaired the old town. He repaired the damage that he had caused during the battle.

Verses 10-11 The rest of this chapter is a list of David’s most powerful men. These men had fought with David and they helped to make him the king of all *Israel.

David had a group of 30 special soldiers. Jashobeam was the leader over the 30. Later he was the leader of the first group of soldiers who were on duty in the first month (27:2). He killed 300 men at one time with his *spear. The number that he killed in one day in 2 Samuel 23:8 was 800. It is possible that 300 is an error in a copy of the text.

Verses 12-14 The three most powerful soldiers were Jashobeam, Eleazar and Shammah. These three soldiers were not in the 30 special soldiers. They were of a superior rank. Jashobeam was the chief of the three of them. Shammah is not in this list but he is in 2 Samuel 23:11-12.

Eleazar was with David’s army at the place called Pas-Dammim. The *Philistine army attacked them. David’s army ran away but Eleazar did not run. He fought against the *Philistines until his arm grew tired. But with the help of the *LORD, he beat them (2 Samuel 23:10). There was a battle in a barley field. (Barley is a type of grain.) Again, the *Israelites ran away. But David, Eleazar and Shammah fought and they beat the *Philistines. The account of this event in 2 Samuel 23:11-12 mentions only Shammah. It is possible that these passages are describing a series of different battles.

Verses 15-19 Three of the most powerful soldiers came to David at his camp by Adullam’s cave. These three men are called ‘the three’ famous soldiers (verse 18). This seems to mean that these three were Jashobeam, Eleazar and Shammah.

The Rephaim Valley, where the *Philistines camped, was to the west of Jerusalem. They also controlled the city called Bethlehem. When David desired water from the well at Bethlehem, these three soldiers went there. They were so loyal to David that they risked their lives to get the water. They fought with the *Philistines and they escaped with some water.

David poured out the water that he so desired as a gift to God. This showed how much he appreciated these men. And it showed how important God was to David. David wanted to give the most precious thing that he had to God.

This event was an act of extreme courage by the three men. David was such a great leader that people were loyal to him. He poured out the water as an act of *worship to God.

Verses 20-21 Abishai was as famous as the three famous soldiers were. But he was not one of the three. The translation of the numbers in these verses is not certain. Some Bibles have three rather than 30. If they are correct, then there was a second group of three soldiers. And Abishai was the leader of the second three. But 2 Samuel 23:18 says that Abishai was chief of the 30.

Verses 22-25 Benaiah came from Kabzeel, a town in the south of Judah. He was a very brave soldier but here there are just three of his deeds. He killed two of the strongest soldiers from the army of Moab. Then he killed a lion. And he killed the giant *Egyptian. This man was 5 cubits tall (about 7 foot 6 inches or 233 centimetres) and he had a very large *spear. But Benaiah overcame him.

Benaiah did not become one of the three special soldiers. But David chose him to lead his own guards. When Solomon became king, he made Benaiah the leader of his army (1 Kings 4:4).

Verses 26-47 The rest of the chapter is a list of David’s chief soldiers. There are more than the 30 names in this list. Not all of these men were alive when David became king of all *Israel. For example, Abner killed Asahel in the battle between David and Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 2:18-23).

Joab is not in this list. This may be because he had become the leader of them all (verse 6).

Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
lord ~ someone with authority such as the king.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. The name probably means: ‘He is always God.’ This name has a relationship with God’s special promises to his people.
shepherd ~ a person who takes care of sheep.
Jebusites ~ people who lived in the city called Jebus. David defeated them and he changed the name of the city to Jerusalem.
kingdom ~ the place or territory where a king rules and the people over whom a king rules.
clan ~ part of a tribe, a group of families.
tribe ~ The Israelites originally consisted of the 12 large families of the sons of Jacob. These families became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
spears ~ long sticks with sharp ends that soldiers used as weapons during battles.
weapon ~ a tool of war that soldiers use in attack or defence during a battle, for example: swords, spears and slings.
sling ~ The sling was a weapon. It was a bit of leather with two strings. The soldier would put a smooth stone in the leather bit. Then he would swing it round above his head by the strings. Finally, he would let the stone fly out of the sling.
Philistines ~ a group of people who lived to the south-west of Judah. They were a nation that frequently fought against the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Egyptian ~ a person from the country called Egypt, or a description of anything that has a relationship with Egypt.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
armour ~ special clothes that protected soldiers.
tribe ~ The Israelites originally consisted of the 12 large families of the sons of Jacob. These families became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
BC ~ years before Christ was born.
Mount ~ mountain.
worship ~ acts to show honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.