History · Chapter 11 of 29

1 Chronicles 11

All Israel gathers to David at Hebron and anoints him king, fulfilling the word of the LORD by Samuel. David captures the stronghold of Zion and makes Jerusalem the city of David. The chapter then celebrates his mighty men, recounting their exploits, including the three who broke through enemy lines to bring David water from the well of Bethlehem, which he poured out to the LORD.

What happens in 1 Chronicles 11

All Israel gathers to David at Hebron, acknowledging that even under Saul he had led them and that the LORD had appointed him to shepherd Israel. The elders anoint David king according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. David and all Israel march on Jerusalem, then held by the Jebusites, and David captures the stronghold of Zion, which becomes the city of David, with Joab distinguishing himself in the assault. David grows greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

The chapter then honors his mighty men and their deeds: Jashobeam, Eleazar, and others. It tells how three of them broke through the Philistine camp to draw water from the well of Bethlehem for David, who refused to drink it and poured it out to the LORD, unwilling to drink what had cost such risk. Benaiah's exploits and a long roll of valiant warriors follow.

1 Chronicles 11 in context

This chapter marks the true beginning of David's reign over all Israel, uniting the tribes and establishing Jerusalem as the capital. The Chronicler presents David's kingship as the fulfillment of God's word through Samuel and the fruit of God's presence with him.

The catalog of mighty men shows a king surrounded by devoted, courageous followers, and the Bethlehem water episode reveals David's own heart of reverence toward God.

Main themes of 1 Chronicles 11

1 Chronicles 11 (KJV)

1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel. 3Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. 4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. 6And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. 7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. 10These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. 12And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. 13He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance. 15Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! 18And the three brake through the host 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 of it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest. 20And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three. 21Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three. 22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day. 23And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. 25Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard. 26Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Verses to carry from 1 Chronicles 11

“Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.”1 Chronicles 11:3

“So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.”1 Chronicles 11:9

“And the three brake through the host 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 of it, but poured it out to the LORD,”1 Chronicles 11:18

Reflection

David refused to consume what had cost others so dearly, lifting it up to God instead. Consider how you treat the sacrifices others make for you, and whether costly gifts move you to worship. A reverent heart turns even a drink of water into an offering.

A prayer from 1 Chronicles 11