3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.11:3 1Sm 16:1–13

6David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander.” Joab11:6 2Sm 8:16; 1Ch 18:15 son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.

7Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David.

8He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city.

9David steadily grew more powerful,11:9 2Sm 3:1 and the Lord of Armies was with him.

12After him, Eleazar son of Dodo11:12 1Ch 27:4 the Ahohite was one of the three warriors.

13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines.11:13 2Sm 23:11–12

14But Eleazar and David11:14 Lit But they took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.

15Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam,11:15 1Sm 22:1 while the Philistine army was encamped in Rephaim Valley.11:15 1Ch 14:9

16At that time David was in the stronghold,11:16 1Sm 22:4–5; 2Sm 5:9 and a Philistine garrison11:16 1Sm 10:5 was at Bethlehem.

17David was extremely thirsty11:17 Lit And David craved and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!”

18So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.

19David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

20Abishai,11:20 1Sm 26:6; 2Sm 18:2 Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three.11:20 Syr reads Thirty He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.

21He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

22Benaiah son of Jehoiada11:22 2Sm 8:18; 20:23; 23:20–23; 1Kg 1:8; 1Ch 18:17; 27:5–6,34 was the son of a brave man11:22 Or was a valiant man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab,11:22 Or He killed two Moabite warriors and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

23He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall.11:23 Lit who measured five cubits Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam,11:23 1Sm 17:7; 1Ch 20:5 Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.

24These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors.

25He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26The best soldiers11:26–47 2Sm 23:24–39 were