Old Testament

New Testament

1 Chronicles 11:5-20 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

5. spoke to David. They said, "You won't get in here." But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.

6. David had said, "Anyone who leads the attack against the Jebusites will become the commander of Israel's army." Joab went up first. So he became the commander of the army. He was the son of Zeruiah.

7. David moved into the fort. So it was called the City of David.

8. He built up the city around the fort. He filled in the low places. He built a wall around it. During that time, Joab built up the rest of the city.

9. David became more and more powerful. That's because the Lord who rules over all was with him.

10. The chiefs of David's mighty men and the whole community of Israel helped David greatly. They helped him become king over the entire land. That's exactly what the Lord had promised him.

11. Here is a list of David's mighty men. Jashobeam was chief of the officers. He was a Hacmonite. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them at one time.

12. Next to him was Eleazar. He was one of the three mighty men. He was the son of Dodai, the Ahohite.

13. Jashobeam was with David at Pas Dammim. The Philistines had gathered there for battle. Israel's troops ran away from the Philistines. At the place where that happened, there was a field that was full of barley.

14. The three mighty men took their stand in the middle of the field. They didn't let the Philistines capture it. They struck them down. The Lord helped them win a great battle.

15. David was near the rock at the cave of Adullam. Three of the 30 chiefs came down to him there. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

16. At that time David was in his usual place of safety. Some Philistine troops were stationed at Bethlehem.

17. David longed for water. He said, "I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem!"

18. So the Three fought their way past the Philistine guards. They got some water from the well that was near the gate of Bethlehem. They took the water back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.

19. "I would never drink that water!" David said. "It would be like drinking the blood of these men. They put their lives in danger by going to Bethlehem." The men had put their lives in danger by bringing the water back. So David wouldn't drink it. Those were some of the brave things the three mighty men did.

20. Abishai was chief over the Three. He was the brother of Joab. He used his spear against 300 men. He killed all of them. So he became as famous as the Three were.

Read complete chapter 1 Chronicles 11