1. Then all Israel gathered around David in Hebron, and they said: “Look! We are your bone and your flesh.
2. In days past, when Saul was still the king, it was you who led Israel in all its battles. And now the Lord, your God, has said to you: You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over my people Israel.”
3. Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and at Hebron David made a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the Lord given through Samuel.
4. Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the inhabitants of the land were called Jebusites.
5. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” David nevertheless captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David.
6. David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be made chief and captain.” Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first to attack; and so he became chief.
7. David took up residence in the fortress, which therefore was called the City of David.
8. He built up the city on all sides, from the Millo all the way around, while Joab restored the rest of the city.
9. David became ever more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him.
10. These were David’s chief warriors who, together with all Israel, supported him in his reign in order to make him king, according to the Lord’s word concerning Israel.
11. Here is the list of David’s warriors:Ishbaal, the son of Hachamoni, chief of the Three. He brandished his spear over three hundred, whom he had slain in a single encounter.
12. Next to him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three warriors.
13. He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had massed for battle. There was a plot of land full of barley. The people were fleeing before the Philistines,
14. but he took his stand in the middle of the plot, kept it safe, and cut down the Philistines. Thus the Lord brought about a great victory.
15. Three of the Thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, who was in the cave of Adullam while the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16. David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
17. David had a strong craving, and said, “If only someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem!”