1 Chronicles 11

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 11?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 11 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as Saul’s death. First Chronicles surveys Israel through genealogies and then retells David’s reign with special attention to worship, Levites, and preparations for the temple. Read this chapter with the wider themes of memory, worship, and genealogy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. ² And 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. ³ 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. ⁴ And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. ⁵ And 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. ⁶ And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. ⁷ And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. ⁸ And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. ¹⁰ These 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. ¹¹ And 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. ¹² And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. ¹³ He 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. ¹⁴ And 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. ¹⁵ Now 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. ¹⁶ And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! ¹⁸ 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, ¹⁹ And 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. ²⁰ And 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. ²¹ Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three. ²² Benaiah 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. ²³ And 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. ²⁴ These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. ²⁵ Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard. ²⁶ Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, ²⁸ Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, ²⁹ Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰ Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, ³¹ Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, ³² Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷ Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, ⁴³ Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, ⁴⁵ Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷ Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Study helps

Glossary

David Person v. 1, 3-7, 9-11, 13, 15-18, 25: 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 .
Hebron Place v. 1, 3: A community; alliance. (1. ) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. Modern identification: Tel Rumeida.
Saul Person v. 2: Asked for. (1. ) A king of Edom ( Gen. 36:37 , 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48 .
Samuel Person v. 3: Heard of God. The peculiar circumstances connected with his birth are recorded in 1 Sam. 1:20 .
Jebus Place v. 4-5: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Place v. 4, 8: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
City People v. 5, 7-8: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
City of David Place v. 5, 7: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: City of David.
Zion Place v. 5: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Joab Person v. 6, 8, 20, 26, 39: Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).
Zeruiah Person v. 6, 39: Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
Millo Place v. 8: Biblical fortification. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Dodo Person v. 12, 26: 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 .
Eleazar Person v. 12: God has helped. (1. ) The third son of Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas ( Ex. 6:25 ). After the death of Nadab and Abihu.
Ephes-dammim Place v. 13: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Damun.
Adullam Place v. 15: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet esh Sheikh Madhkur.
Valley of Rephaim Place v. 15: Biblical valley. Modern identification: Valley of Rephaim.
Bethlehem Place v. 16-18, 26: House of bread. (1. ) A city in the “hill country” of Judah. It was originally called Ephrath ( Gen. 35:16 , 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11 ). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah ( Micah 5:2 ), Beth-lehem-judah. Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Abishai Person v. 20: 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 ).
Benaiah Person v. 22, 24, 31: 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 ).
Jehoiada Person v. 22, 24: Jehovah-known. (1. ) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David’s chief warriors ( 2 Sam. 8:18 ; 20:23 ). (2. ) The high priest at the time of Athaliah’s usurpation of the throne of Judah.
Kabzeel Place v. 22: 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. Modern identification: Khirbet Hora.
Moab Place v. 22, 46: Biblical region. Modern identification: Kerak.
Asahel Person v. 26: Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.
Elhanan Person v. 26: Whom God has graciously bestowed. (1. ) A warrior of the time of David famed for his exploits. In the Authorized Version.
Harod Place v. 27: Palpitation, a fountain near which Gideon and his army encamped on the morning of the day when they encountered and routed the Midianites (Judg. 7). It was south of the hill Moreh. Modern identification: Khirbet el Harazan.
Anathoth Place v. 28: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ras el Kharruba.
Tekoa Place v. 28: Pitching of tents; fastening down, a town of Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and visible from the city. Modern identification: Khirbet Teku’a.
Hushah Place v. 29: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Husan.
Baanah Person v. 30: 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.
Netophah Place v. 30: Distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood, probably, of Bethlehem ( Neh. 7:26 ; 1 Chr. 2:54 ). Two of David’s guards were Netophathites ( 1 Chr. 27:13 , 15). Modern identification: Khirbet Badd Faluh.
Benjamin Person v. 31: Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.
Gibeah Place v. 31: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel el Ful.
Pirathon Place v. 31: Prince, or summit, a place “in the land of Ephraim” ( Judg. 12:15 ), now Fer’on, some 10 miles south-west of Shechem. This was the home of Abdon the judge. Modern identification: Farata.
Abiel Person v. 32: Father (i. e., “possessor”) of God = “pious. ” (1. ) The son of Zeror and father of Ner, who was the grandfather of Saul ( 1 Sam. 14:51 ; 1 Chr. 8:33 ; 9:39 ). In 1 Sam.
Arabah Place v. 32: 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.
Gaash Place v. 32: A shaking, a hill, on the north side of which Joshua was buried ( Josh. 24:30 ; Judg. 2:9 ), in the territory of Ephraim. (See TIMNATH-SERAH. ). Modern identification: Khirbet Tibnah.
Bahurim Place v. 33: Young men, a place east of Jerusalem ( 2 Sam. 3:16 ; 19:16 ), on the road to the Jordan valley. Modern identification: Ras Tumeim.
Shaalbon Place v. 33: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Salbit.
Jonathan Person v. 34: Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1. ) A Levite descended from Gershom ( Judg. 18:30 ). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30.
Ahijah Person v. 36: Brother (i. e., “friend”) of Jehovah. (1. ) One of the sons of Bela ( 1 Chr. 8:7 , R. V. ). In A. V. called “Ahiah. ” (2. ) One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:25 ).
Carmel Place v. 37: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Kirmil.
Joel Person v. 38: Jehovah is his God. (1. ) The oldest of Samuel’s two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba ( 1 Sam. 8:2 ). (See VASHNI. ) (2. ) A descendant of Reuben ( 1 Chr. 5:4 , 8). (3. ) One of David’s famous warriors.
Nathan Person v. 38: Given. (1. ) A prophet in the reigns of David and Solomon ( 2 Chr. 9:29 ). He is first spoken of in connection with the arrangements David made for the building of the temple.
Ammon Place v. 39: Biblical region. Modern identification: Amman.
Beeroth Place v. 39: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Burj.
Jattir Place v. 40: Pre-eminent, a city in the mountains of Judah ( Josh. 15:48 ; 21:14 ). Modern identification: Khirbet Attir.
Uriah Person v. 41: The Lord is my light. (1. ) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first seduced, and then after Uriah’s death married. He was one of the band of David’s.
Zabad Person v. 41: Gift. (1. ) One of David’s valiant men ( 1 Chr. 11:41 ), the descendant of Ahlai, of the “children of Sheshan” (2:31). (2. ) A descendant of Tahath (7:21). (3. ) The son of Shemath.
Hanan Person v. 43: Merciful. (1. ) A Benjamite ( 1 Chr. 8:23 ). (2. ) One of David’s heroes ( 1 Chr. 11:43 ). (3. ) Jer. 35:4 . (4. ) A descendant of Saul ( 1 Chr. 8:38 ). (5. ) One of the Nethinim ( Ezra 2:46 ).
Aroer Place v. 44: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Aro’er.
Ashtaroth Place v. 44: A city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og ( Deut. 1:4 ; Josh. 12:4 ; 13:12 ; 9:10 ). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh ( Josh. 13:12 ), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites ( 1 Chr. 6:71 ). Modern identification: Tell Ashtara.
Shimri Person v. 45: Watchman. (1. ) A Simeonite ( 1 Chr. 4:37 ). (2. ) The father of one of the “valiant men” of David’s armies ( 1 Chr. 11:45 ). (3. ) Assisted at the purification of the temple in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Chr. 29:13 ).
Eliel Person v. 46-47: To whom God is might. (1. ) A chief of Manasseh, on the east of Jordan ( 1 Chr. 5:24 ). (2. ) A Gadite who joined David in the hold at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:11 ).
Obed Person v. 47: Serving; worshipping. (1. ) A son of Boaz and Ruth ( Ruth 4:21 , 22), and the grandfather of David ( Matt. 1:5 ). (2. ) 1 Chr. 2:34-38 . (3. ) 1 Chr. 26:7 . (4. ) 2 Chr. 23:1 .
Zobah Place v. 47: Biblical region. Modern identification: Brital.