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Texts -- 1 Chronicles 11:1-32 (NET)

Context
David Becomes King
11:1 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said , “Look , we are your very flesh and blood ! 11:2 In the past , even when Saul was king , you were Israel’s commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel ; you will rule over my people Israel .’” 11:3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron , David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord . They anointed David king over Israel , just as the Lord had announced through Samuel .
David Conquers Jerusalem
11:4 David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus ). (The Jebusites , the land’s original inhabitants, lived there .) 11:5 The residents of Jebus said to David , “You cannot invade this place !” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David ). 11:6 David said , “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general !” So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander . 11:7 David lived in the fortress ; for this reason it is called the City of David . 11:8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city . 11:9 David’s power steadily grew , for the Lord who commands armies was with him.
David’s Warriors
11:10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel , in accordance with the Lord’s word . 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors : Jashobeam , a Hacmonite , was head of the officers . He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. 11:12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite . He was one of the three elite warriors . 11:13 He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle . In an area of the field that was full of barley , the army retreated before the Philistines , 11:14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area . They defended it and defeated the Philistines ; the Lord gave them a great victory . 11:15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam , while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim . 11:16 David was in the stronghold at the time , while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem . 11:17 David was thirsty and said , “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate !” 11:18 So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate . They carried it back to David , but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 11:19 and said , “God forbid that I should do this ! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives ?” Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors . 11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:21 From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer , even though he was not one of them . 11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits . He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab ; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day . 11:23 He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall . The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club . He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear . 11:24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada , who gained fame along with the three elite warriors . 11:25 He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard . 11:26 The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab , Elhanan son of Dodo , from Bethlehem , 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite , Helez the Pelonite , 11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite , Abiezer the Anathothite , 11:29 Sibbekai the Hushathite , Ilai the Ahohite , 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite , Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite , 11:31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Benaiah the Pirathonite , 11:32 Hurai from the valleys of Gaash , Abiel the Arbathite ,

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Bible Dictionary

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...
    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [smith] (well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul; His relations with Saul; His reign. The early life of David contains in many important re...
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

    [isbe] TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - || I. EARLIEST FORM OF WRITING IN ISRAEL 1. Invention of Alphabet 2. The Cuneiform 3. References to Writing in the Old Testament 4. Inscriptions after Settlement in Canaan 5. Orthography of the Pe...

  • Captain

    [nave] CAPTAIN Commander-in-chief of an army, Deut. 20:9; Judg. 4:2; 1 Sam. 14:50; 1 Kin. 2:35; 16:16; 1 Chr. 27:34. Of the tribes, Num. 2. Of thousands, Num. 31:48; 1 Sam. 17:18; 1 Chr. 28:1. Of hundreds, 2 Kin. 11:15. See: Ce...

  • AMASAI

    [isbe] AMASAI - a-ma'-si (`amasay, perhaps rather to be read `ammishay; so Wellhausen, IJG, II, 24, n.2): (1) A name in the genealogy of Kohath, son of Elkanah, a Levite of the Kohathite family (compare 1 Ch 6:25; 2 Ch 29:12). (2) ...

  • GIANTS

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monste...
    [smith] men of extraordinary size or height. They are first spoken of in (Genesis 6:4) under the name Nephilim. We are told in (Genesis 6:1-4) that "there were Nephilim in the earth," and that afterwards the "sons of God" mingling w...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • Benaiah

    [ebd] built up by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest (1 Chr. 27:5). He was set by David over his body-guard of Cherethites and Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18; 1 Kings 1:32; 1 Chr. 18:17). His exploits are enumerated in 2 Sam...
    [isbe] BENAIAH - be-na'-ya, be-ni'-a (benayah, benayahu, "Yahweh has built." Compare HPN, 182, 265, 268): (1) Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel (compare Josh 15:21), was a man of "mighty deeds" and was more honorable than any...
    [smith] (made by the Lord). The son of Jehoiada the chief priest, (1 Chronicles 27:5) of the tribe of Levi, though a native of Kabzeel, (2 Samuel 23:20) set by David, (1 Chronicles 11:25) over his body-guard. (2 Samuel 8...
    [nave] BENAIAH 1. Son of Jehoiada, commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites, 2 Sam. 8:18; 1 Kin. 1:38. A distinguished warrior, 2 Sam. 23:20-23; 1 Chr. 11:22-25; 27:5, 6. Loyal to Solomon, 1 Kin. 1:2; 4:4. 2. An Ephraimite, a...

  • Jerusalem

    [ebd] called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the "holy city;" by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning "the holy;" once "the city of Judah" (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means "posses...
    [nave] JERUSALEM Called Jebus, Josh. 18:28; Judg. 19:10; Zion, 1 Kin. 8:1; Zech. 9:13; City of David, 2 Sam. 5:7; Isa. 22:9; Salem, Gen. 14:18; Psa. 76:2; Ariel, Isa. 29:1; City of God, Psa. 46:4; City of the Great King, Psa. 48:2;...

  • Abishai

    [ebd] father of (i.e., "desirous of") a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 2:16). Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of ...
    [nave] ABISHAI Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. One of David's chief men, 2 Sam. 23:18. Seeks Saul's life, 1 Sam. 26:6-8. Pursues and slays Abner, 2 Sam. 2:24; 3:30. Defeats the Edomites, 1 Chr. 18:12; the Ammonites...

  • Adullam

    [isbe] ADULLAM - a-dul'-am (`adhullam): (1) A city, with dependencies, and in ancient times having a king, mentioned five times in the Old Testament, each time in a list with other cities (Josh 12:15; 15:35; 2 Ch 11:7; Mic 1:15; Ne...
    [smith] (justice of the people), Apocr. ODOLLAM, a city of Judah int he lowland of the Shefelah, (Joshua 15:35) the seat of a Canaanite king, (Joshua 12:15) and evidently a place of great antiquity. (Genesis 38:1,12,20) Fortified by ...
    [nave] ADULLAM 1. A cave near the Dead Sea. David takes refuge in, 1 Sam. 22:1; 2 Sam. 23:13; 1 Chr. 11:15. See titles of Psalms 57 and 142. 2. An ancient city of Canaan, Gen. 38:1; Josh. 12:15; 15:35; 2 Chr. 11:7; Neh. 11:30; Mic...

  • Jashobeam

    [ebd] dweller among the people; or to whom the people turn, the Hachmonite (1 Chr. 11:11), one of David's chief heroes who joined him at Ziklag (12:6). He was the first of the three who broke through the host of the Philistines to...
    [isbe] JASHOBEAM - ja-sho'-be-am (yashobh`am, probably "people will return"; see discussion of names compounded with `am, in HPN, 41-59): Jashobeam is mentioned in three passages (1 Ch 11:11; 12:6 (Hebrew 7); 27:2 f), but opinions ...
    [smith] (to whom the people turn), named first among the chief of the mighty men of David. (1 Chronicles 11:11) (B.C. 1046.) He came to David at Ziklag. His distinguishing exploit was that he slew 300 (or 800,) (2 Samuel 23:8) ...
    [nave] JASHOBEAM, 1. One of David's warriors, 2 Sam. 23:8; 1 Chr. 11:11; 27:2. 2. A Korhite Levite, 1 Chr. 12:6.

  • JEBUS

    [ebd] trodden hard, or fastness, or "the waterless hill", the name of the Canaanitish city which stood on Mount Zion (Josh. 15:8; 18:16, 28). It is identified with Jerusalem (q.v.) in Judg. 19:10, and with the castle or city of Da...
    [isbe] JEBUS - je'-bus (yebhuc; Iebous): In Jdg 19:10,11, "Jebus (the same is Jerusalem)"; 1 Ch 11:4,5, "Jerusalem (the same is Jebus)." It was once thought that this was the first name of Jerusalem, as indeed might be suggested by...
    [smith] (threshing-floor), one of the names of Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites, are called JEBUSI. (Joshua 15:8; 18:16,28; Judges 19:10,11; 1 Chronicles 11:4,5) [JERUSALEM]

  • Shammah

    [ebd] desert. (1.) One of the "dukes" of Edom (Gen. 36:13, 17). (2.) One of the sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:9). He is also called Shimeah (2 Sam. 13:3) and Shimma (1 Chr. 2:13). (3.) One of David's three mighty men (2 Sam. 23:11, 12)...
    [isbe] SHAMMAH - sham'-a (shammah): (1) The son of Reuel, the son of Esau, a tribal chief of Edom (Gen 36:13,17; 1 Ch 1:37, Some). (2) The third son of Jesse and brother of David. Together with his two other brothers he fought unde...
    [smith] (astonishment). The son of Reuel the son of Esau. (Genesis 36:13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:37) (B.C. about 1700.) The third son of Jesse, and brother of David. (1 Samuel 16:9; 17:13) Called also Shimea., Shimeah and Shimma. O...
    [nave] SHAMMAH 1. Son of Reuel, Gen. 36:13, 17; 1 Chr. 1:37. 2. David's brother, 1 Sam. 16:9; 17:13. Called Shimeah, 2 Sam. 13:3, 32; 21:21; Shimma, 1 Chr. 2:13; Shimea, 1 Chr. 20:7. 3. One of David's mighty men, son of Agee, 2 ...

  • Dodo

    [ebd] amatory; loving. (1.) A descendant of Issachar (Judg. 10:1). (2.) An Ahohite, father of Eleazar, who was one of David's three heroes (2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chr. 11:12). He was the same with Dodai mentioned in 1 Chr. 27:4. (3.) A Be...
    [smith] (loving). A man of Bethlehem, father of Elhanan, who was one of David?s thirty captains. (2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26) He is a different person from DODO THE AHOHITE, father of Eleazar, the second of the three m...
    [nave] DODO 1. A descendant of Issachar, Judg. 10:1. 2. One of David's heroes, 2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chr. 11:12. Called Dodai, 1 Chr. 27:4. 3. A Bethlehemite, 2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chr. 11:26.

  • Hareth

    [ebd] thicket, a wood in the mountains of Judah where David hid when pursued by Saul (1 Sam. 22:5). It was possibly while he was here that the memorable incident narrated in 2 Sam. 23:14-17, 1 Chr. 11:16-19 occurred. This place ha...

  • Ilai

    [ebd] an Ahohite, one of David's chief warriors (1 Chr. 11:29); called also Zalmon (2 Sam. 23:28).
    [isbe] ILAI - i'-la-i, i'-li (`ilay): A mighty man of David (1 Ch 11:29); called Zalmon in 2 Sam 23:28.
    [smith] (exalted), an Ahohite, one of the heroes of David?s guard (1 Chronicles 11:29) (B.C. 1046.)
    [nave] ILAI, an Ahohite, 1 Chr. 11:29.

  • Arbathite

    [ebd] a name given to Abi-albon, or, as elsewhere called, Abiel, one of David's warriors (2 Sam. 23:31; 1 Chr. 11:32), probably as being an inhabitant of Arabah (Josh. 15:61), a town in the wilderness of Judah.
    [isbe] ARBATHITE - ar'-bath-it (ha-`arbhathi): Perhaps "a native of the Arabah." Klostermann suggests "a native of Beth-arabah." The Arbathite is Abi-albon (2 Sam 23:31), also named Abiel (1 Ch 11:32), one of David's heroes.
    [smith] a native of the Arabah or Ghor . [ARABAH] Abi-albon the Arbathite was one of David?s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:31; 1 Chronicles 11:32)
    [nave] ARBATHITE 2 Sam. 23:31; 1 Chr. 11:32

  • Baanah

    [ebd] son of affliction. (1.) One of the two sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, a captain in Saul's army. He and his brother Rechab assassinated Ishbosheth (2 Sam. 4:2), and were on this account slain by David, and their mutilated bod...
    [isbe] BAANAH - ba'-a-na ba`anah, "son of oppression"): (1) Captain in the army of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 4:2 ff). (2) Father of Iteleb, one of David's mighty men (2 Sam 23:29; 1 Ch 11:30). (3) Returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem; a ...
    [smith] Son of Rimmon, a Benjamite, who with his brother Rechab murdered Ishbosheth For this they were killed by David; and their mutilated bodies hung up over the pool at Hebron. (2 Samuel 4:2,5,6,9) (B.C. 1046.) A Netophathite,...
    [nave] BAANAH 1. A captain of Ish-bosheth's army, 2 Sam. 4:2, 5, 6, 9. 2. Father of Heleb, 2 Sam. 23:29; 1 Chr. 11:30. 3. A chief Jew of the exile, Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7; 10:27. 4. Son of Hushai, 1 Kin. 4:16.

  • Kabzeel

    [ebd] gathering of God, a city in the extreme south of Judah, near to Idumaea (Josh. 15:21), the birthplace of Benaiah, one of David's chief warriors (2 Sam. 23:20; 1 Chr. 11:22). It was called also Jekabzeel (Neh. 11:25), after t...
    [isbe] KABZEEL - kab'-ze-el, kab'-zel (kabhtse'el "(whom) God collects"): One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South (Negeb) (Josh 15:21). It was the native place of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, ...
    [smith] (gathered by God), one of the "cities" of the tribe of Judah, (Joshua 15:21) the native place of the great hero Benaiah ben-Jehoiada. (2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Chronicles 11:22) After the captivity it was reinhabited by the Je...
    [nave] KABZEEL, a city of Judah, Josh. 15:21; 2 Sam. 23:20; 1 Chr. 11:22.

  • Zion

    [ebd] sunny; height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon (q.v.) separating it from Moriah (q.v.), which it surpasses in height...
    [nave] ZION, called also Sion, stronghold of Jerusalem. Taken from the Jebusites by David, 2 Sam. 5:6-9; 1 Chr. 11:5-7. Called thereafter "the city of David,'' 2 Sam. 5:7, 9; 6:12, 16; 1 Kin. 8:1; 1 Chr. 11:5, 7; 15:1, 29; 2 Chr. 5...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • In 1004 B.C. David became king of all Israel and Judah.50This was his third anointing (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4). The people acknowledged David's previous military leadership of all Israel as well as God's choice of him t...
  • Again David sinned by multiplying wives (Deut. 17:17). Nevertheless in spite of this sin God continued to bless him with fertility because he was God's elect and, for the most part, God's obedient servant. Fortunately God doe...
  • Thirty-two more soldiers obtained special distinction (vv. 24-39), including Uriah the Hittite (v. 39). The writer referred to them as "The Thirty."This designation seems to have been a title for their exclusive group (cf. v....
  • The central subject of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the temple of God. Someone evidently wrote these books at the end of the Babylonian exile to encourage the Israelites to reestablish Israel's national life in the Promised Land. In...
  • I. Israel's historical roots chs. 1-9A. The lineage of David chs. 1-3B. The house of Israel chs. 4-71. The family of Judah 4:1-232. The family of Simeon 4:24-433. The families of Transjordan ch. 54. The family of Levi ch. 65....
  • "Having established the remnant's genealogical link with the Davidic and priestly lines, he [the writer] focused on the groundwork of the Davidic promises. His design was to show how the kingly and priestly concerns came toge...
  • David is really the hero of both 1 and 2 Chronicles. The heart of Chronicles is the rise of David and the establishment of the Davidic kingdom, which begins with chapter 11."They [1 and 2 Chronicles] look forwardwith anticipa...
  • This list of great warriors reflects the greatness of David. We know something about a man or woman by the company he or she keeps. The writer identified three groups: the chiefs among David's mighty men (11:10-25), the might...
  • Numbers in Chronicles That Disagree With Their Old Testament Parallels89HigherSameLowerParallel PassageEvaluation of ChroniclesA.1 Chron. 11:11300 slain by Jashobeam, not 8002 Sam. 23:8Scribal errorB.1 Chron. 18:4Hadadezer's ...
  • 11:32 The Old Testament is full of good examples of persevering, living faith. The writer selected these few for brief mention along with what such faith accomplished.372Each individual that the writer mentioned was less than...
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