The King and the Warriors Who Made It Happen.

וַיִּקָּבְצ֧וּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־דָּוִ֖יד חֶבְר֣וֹנָה לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֛ה עַצְמְךָ֥ וּֽבְשָׂרְךָ֖ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

גַּם־תְּמ֣וֹל גַּם־שִׁלְשׁ֗וֹם גַּ֚ם בִּהְי֣וֹת שָׁא֣וּל מֶ֔לֶךְ אַתָּ֛ה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא וְהַמֵּבִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּאמֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אַתָּ֨ה תִרְעֶ֤ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאַתָּה֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה נָגִ֔יד עַ֖ל עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[2] In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”

וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ כָּל־זִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חֶבְר֔וֹנָה וַיִּכְרֹת֩ לָהֶ֨ם דָּוִ֥יד בְּרִ֛ית בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּמְשְׁח֨וּ אֶת־דָּוִ֤יד לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃ ס

[3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord . And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ דָּוִ֧יד וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם הִ֣יא יְב֑וּס וְשָׁם֙ הַיְבוּסִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

[4] And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ יֹשְׁבֵ֤י יְבוּס֙ לְדָוִ֔יד לֹ֥א תָב֖וֹא הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד דָּוִיד֙ אֶת־מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֔וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃

[5] The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔יד כָּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבוּסִי֙ בָּרִ֣אשׁוֹנָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְרֹ֖אשׁ וּלְשָׂ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַל בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֛ה יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה וַיְהִ֥י לְרֹֽאשׁ׃

[6] David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.

וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב דָּוִ֖יד בַּמְצָ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרְאוּ־ל֖וֹ עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃

[7] And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.

וַיִּ֤בֶן הָעִיר֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב מִן־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וְעַד־הַסָּבִ֑יב וְיוֹאָ֕ב יְחַיֶּ֖ה אֶת־שְׁאָ֥ר הָעִֽיר׃

[8] And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖יד הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֑וֹל וַיהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃ פ

[9] And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

וְאֵ֨לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֤י הַגִּבּוֹרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֔יד הַמִּתְחַזְּקִ֨ים עִמּ֧וֹ בְמַלְכוּת֛וֹ עִם־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִיכ֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

[10] Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

וְאֵ֛לֶּה מִסְפַּ֥ר הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑יד יָשָׁבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִ֗י רֹ֚אשׁ ׳הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁים׳ ״הַשָּׁ֣לִישִׁ֔ים״ הֽוּא־עוֹרֵ֧ר אֶת־חֲנִית֛וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם אֶחָֽת׃

[11] This is an account of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

וְאַחֲרָ֛יו אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ הָאֲחוֹחִ֑י ה֖וּא בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

[12] And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite.

הֽוּא־הָיָ֨ה עִם־דָּוִ֜יד בַּפַּ֣ס דַּמִּ֗ים וְהַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֱסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַתְּהִ֛י חֶלְקַ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה מְלֵאָ֣ה שְׂעוֹרִ֑ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖סוּ מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

[13] He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines.

וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֤וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּיל֔וּהָ וַיַּכּ֖וּ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיּ֥וֹשַׁע יְהוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

[14] But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.

וַיֵּרְד֡וּ שְֽׁלוֹשָׁה֩ מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים רֹ֤אשׁ עַל־הַצֻּר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔יד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃

[15] Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

וְדָוִ֖יד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּנְצִ֣יב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

[16] David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.

׳וַיִּתְאָו׳ ״וַיִּתְאָ֥יו״ דָּוִ֖יד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבּ֥וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃

[17] And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

וַיִּבְקְע֨וּ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֜ה בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבּ֤וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֤ה דָוִיד֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיְנַסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃

[18] Then the three mighty men broke through the camp 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 it. He poured it out to the Lord

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י מֵאֱלֹהַ֜י מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת זֹ֗את הֲדַ֣ם הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ הָאֵ֨לֶּה אֶשְׁתֶּ֤ה בְנַפְשׁוֹתָם֙ כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁוֹתָ֣ם הֱבִיא֔וּם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃

[19] and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

וְאַבְשַׁ֣י אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֗ב ה֚וּא הָיָה֙ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֔ה וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל ׳וְלֹא־וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם׳ בַּשְּׁלוֹשָֽׁה׃

[20] Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three.

מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֤ה בַשְּׁנַ֙יִם֙ נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה לֹֽא־בָֽא׃ ס

[21] He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

בְּנָיָ֨ה בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽן־קַבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִיאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבּ֖וֹר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃

[22] And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.

וְהֽוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־הָאִ֨ישׁ הַמִּצְרִ֜י אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה׀ חָמֵ֣שׁ בָּאַמָּ֗ה וּבְיַ֨ד הַמִּצְרִ֤י חֲנִית֙ כִּמְנ֣וֹר אֹרְגִ֔ים וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃

[23] And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

אֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

[24] These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men.

מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֗ים הִנּ֤וֹ נִכְבָּד֙ ה֔וּא וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂימֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖יד עַל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ ס

[25] He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

וְגִבּוֹרֵ֖י הַחֲיָלִ֑ים עֲשָׂה־אֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ מִבֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ ס

[26] The mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

שַׁמּוֹת֙ הַהֲרוֹרִ֔י חֶ֖לֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִֽי׃ ס

[27] Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite,

עִירָ֤א בֶן־עִקֵּשׁ֙ הַתְּקוֹעִ֔י אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר הָעֲנְּתוֹתִֽי׃ ס

[28] Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,

סִבְּכַי֙ הַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔י עִילַ֖י הָאֲחוֹחִֽי׃ ס

[29] Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

מַהְרַי֙ הַנְּטֹ֣פָתִ֔י חֵ֥לֶד בֶּֽן־בַּֽעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטוֹפָתִֽי׃ ס

[30] Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah,

אִיתַ֣י בֶּן־רִיבַ֗י מִגִּבְעַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן ס בְּנָיָ֖ה הַפִּרְעָתֹנִֽי׃

[31] Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon,

חוּרַי֙ מִנַּ֣חֲלֵי גָ֔עַשׁ ס אֲבִיאֵ֖ל הָעַרְבָתִֽי׃ ס

[32] Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

עַזְמָ֙וֶת֙ הַבַּ֣חֲרוּמִ֔י אֶלְיַחְבָּ֖א הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִֽי׃ ס

[33] Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

בְּנֵ֗י הָשֵׁם֙ הַגִּ֣זוֹנִ֔י יוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־שָׁגֵ֖ה הַהֲרָרִֽי׃ ס

[34] Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

אֲחִיאָ֧ם בֶּן־שָׂכָ֛ר הַהֲרָרִ֖י אֱלִיפַ֥ל בֶּן־אֽוּר׃ ס

[35] Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

חֵ֚פֶר הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י אֲחִיָּ֖ה הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃ ס

[36] Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

חֶצְרוֹ֙ הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י נַעֲרַ֖י בֶּן־אֶזְבָּֽי׃ ס

[37] Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

יוֹאֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י נָתָ֔ן מִבְחָ֖ר בֶּן־הַגְרִֽי׃ ס

[38] Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

צֶ֖לֶק הָעַמּוֹנִ֑י נַחְרַי֙ הַבֵּ֣רֹתִ֔י נֹשֵׂ֕א כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃ ס

[39] Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס

[40] Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַחִתִּ֔י זָבָ֖ד בֶּן־אַחְלָֽי׃ ס

[41] Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

עֲדִינָ֨א בֶן־שִׁיזָ֜א הָרֽאוּבֵנִ֗י רֹ֛אשׁ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְעָלָ֥יו שְׁלוֹשִֽׁים׃ ס

[42] Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

חָנָן֙ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה וְיוֹשָׁפָ֖ט הַמִּתְנִֽי׃ ס

[43] Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

עֻזִיָּ֖א הָעֲשְׁתְּרָתִ֑י שָׁמָע֙ ׳וִיעוּאֵל׳ ״וִֽיעִיאֵ֔ל״ ס בְּנֵ֖י חוֹתָ֥ם הָעֲרֹעֵרִֽי׃ ס

[44] Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

יְדִֽיעֲאֵל֙ בֶּן־שִׁמְרִ֔י וְיֹחָ֥א אָחִ֖יו הַתִּיצִֽי׃ ס

[45] Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

אֱלִיאֵל֙ הַֽמַּחֲוִ֔ים וִירִיבַ֥י וְיוֹשַׁוְיָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְנָ֑עַם וְיִתְמָ֖ה הַמּוֹאָבִֽי׃

[46] Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

אֱלִיאֵ֣ל וְעוֹבֵ֔ד וְיַעֲשִׂיאֵ֖ל הַמְּצֹבָיָֽה׃ פ

[47] Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.