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1 Crónicas 11

VBL · Chapter 11/29

1Entonces todos los israelitas se reunieron con David en Hebrón. Y le dijeron: “Somos tu carne y tu sangre.

2En los últimos tiempos, aunque Saúl era el rey, tú eras el verdadero líder de Israel. El Señor, tu Dios, te ha dicho: ‘Tú serás el pastor de mi pueblo, y tú serás el jefe de mi pueblo Israel’”.

3Todos los ancianos de Israel acudieron ante el rey en Hebrón, y David hizo un acuerdo solemne con ellos ante el Señor. Allí ungieron a David como rey de Israel, tal como el Señor lo había prometido por medio de Samuel.

4Entonces David y todos los israelitas fueron a Jerusalén (antes conocida como Jebús), donde vivían los jebuseos.

5Pero los jebuseos le dijeron a David: “No entrarás aquí”. Sin embargo, David capturó la fortaleza de Sión, ahora conocida como la Ciudad de David.

6Y David había dicho: “El primero que ataque a los jebuseos será mi comandante en jefe”. Como Joab, hijo de Sarvia, fue el primero, se convirtió en el comandante en jefe.

7David decidió habitar en la fortaleza, por eso la llamaron Ciudad de David.

8Entonces construyó la ciudad a su alrededor, desde el Milo e hizo un circuito alrededor, mientras que Joab reparaba el resto de la ciudad.

9David se hizo cada vez más poderoso, porque el Señor Todopoderoso estaba con él.

10Estos fueron los líderes de los poderosos guerreros de David que, junto con todos los israelitas, le dieron un fuerte apoyo para que se convirtiera en rey, tal como el Señor había prometido que sucedería con Israel.

11Esta es la lista de los principales guerreros que apoyaron a David: Jasobeam, hijo de Hacmoni, líder de los Tres. Con su lanza, una vez mató a 300 hombres en una sola batalla.

12Después de él vino Eleazar, hijo de Dodo, descendiente de Ahoha, uno de los Tres guerreros principales.

13Estaba con David en Pasdamin cuando los filisteos se reunieron para la batalla que tuvo lugar en un campo de cebada. El ejército israelita huyó cuando los filisteos atacaron,

14pero David y Eleazar se apostaron en medio del campo, defendiendo su terreno y matando a los filisteos. El Señor los salvó dándoles una gran victoria.

15En otra ocasión, los Tres, que formaban parte de los Treinta guerreros principales, bajaron a recibir a David cuando estaba en la cueva de Adulam. El ejército filisteo estaba acampado en el valle de Refaim.

16En ese momento David estaba en la fortaleza, y la guarnición filistea estaba en Belén.

17David tenía mucha sed y dijo: “¡Ojalá alguien pudiera traerme un trago de agua del pozo que está junto a la puerta de la entrada de Belén!”

18Los Tres atravesaron las defensas filisteas, tomaron un poco de agua del pozo de la puerta de Belén y se la llevaron a David. Pero David se negó a beberla y la vertió como ofrenda al Señor.

19“¡Dios me libre de hacer esto!”, dijo. “Sería como beber la sangre de esos hombres que arriesgaron sus vidas. Ellos arriesgaron sus vidas para traerme una bebida”. Así que no la bebió. Estas son algunas de las cosas que hicieron los tres guerreros principales.

20Abisai, hermano de Joab, era el líder de los segundos Tres. Usando su lanza, una vez mató a 300 hombres, y se hizo famoso entre los Tres.

21Era el más apreciado de los Tres y era su comandante, aunque no fue uno de los primeros Tres.

22Benaía, hijo de Joiada, un fuerte guerrero de Cabseel, hizo muchas cosas sorprendentes. Mató a dos hijos de Ariel de Moab. También fue tras un león a un pozo en la nieve y lo mató.

23En otra ocasión mató a un egipcio, un hombre enorme que medía dos metros y medio. El egipcio tenía una lanza cuyo asta era tan gruesa como la vara de un tejedor. Benaía lo atacó sólo con un garrote, pero pudo agarrar la lanza de la mano del egipcio, y lo mató con su propia lanza.

24Este fue el tipo de cosas que hizo Benaía y que lo hicieron tan famoso como los tres guerreros principales.

25Era el más apreciado de los Treinta, aunque no era uno de los Tres. David lo puso a cargo de su guardia personal.

26Otros guerreros principales eran: Asael, hermano de Joab; Elhanán, hijo de Dodo, de Belén;

27Sama el harodita; Heles el pelonita;

28Ira, hijo de Iques, de Tecoa; Abiezer, de Anatot;

29Sibecai el husatita; Ilai el ahohita;

30Maharai, de Netofa; Heled, hijo de Baana, de Netofa;

31Itai, hijo de Ribai, de Guibeá, de los benjamitas; Benaía el Piratonita;

32Hurai de los valles de Gaas; Abiel de Arabá;

33Azmavet de Bahurim; Eliaba el Saalbonita;

34Los hijos de Jasén el Gizonita; Jonatán, hijo de Sage el Ararita;

35Ahíam, hijo de Sacar el Ararita; Elifal, hijo de Ur;

36Hefer de Mequer; Ahías el pelonita;

37Hezro el Carmelita; Naarai, hijo de Ezbai;

38Joel, hermano de Natán; Mibhar, hijo de Hagri;

39Zelek, el amonita; Naharai, de Beerot; el escudero de Joab, hijo de Sarvia;

40Ira, de Jatir; Gareb, de Jatir;

41Urías, el hitita; Zabad, hijo de Ahlai;

42Adina, hijo de Siza, rubenita, jefe de los rubenitas, y los treinta que estaban con él;

43Hanán, hijo de Maaca; Josafat mitnita;

44Uzías de Astarot; Sama y Jeiel, los hijos de Hotam de Aroer;

45Jediael, hijo de Simri, y su hermano, Joha el tizita;

46Eliel de Mahava; Jerebai y Josavía, los hijos de Elnaam; Itma el moabita;

47Eliel; Obed y Jaasiel, todos ellos de Soba.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

All the tribes of Israel gather to anoint David as king over the whole nation. He conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites, making it his capital, and the chapter lists his mightiest warriors and their heroic deeds.

Explanation

After Saul's tragic death, the people recognize David as the leader chosen by God, something that had already been announced years earlier through the prophet Samuel. The conquest of Jerusalem is a fundamental geographic and political milestone, turning a city that until then was neutral and belonged to no particular tribe into the unifying capital of the whole kingdom. The list of David's mighty warriors, with near-legendary feats such as facing hundreds of enemies alone, celebrates the loyalty and courage of those who supported David even before he officially became king, including during the difficult period when he was pursued by Saul.

Fun facts

  • Jerusalem, formerly called Jebus, was considered nearly unconquerable by its Jebusite inhabitants, who mocked David by saying that even the blind and the lame could defend it — making its conquest all the more remarkable.
  • The story of the three warriors who risked their lives to bring water from the well of Bethlehem to David, and his refusal to drink it, pouring it out instead as an offering to God, is considered one of the most beautiful examples of leadership that honors the sacrifice of others.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 1 Crónicas 11:1All Israel comes to David at Hebron saying, “we are thy bone and thy flesh” — an expression of kinship and total loyalty, not just a formality. The Chronicler insists on this unanimous support from all the tribes because he wants to make clear that David did not seize the throne by force; he was called by the consensus of the people themselves.
  2. 1 Crónicas 11:2The elders remind David that he was already leading Israel in practice even while Saul was still king, and they cite a direct promise from God: that he would shepherd and rule the people — the basis that justifies choosing him as king.
  3. 1 Crónicas 11:3At Hebron, the elders make a formal covenant with David before the Lord and anoint him king — fulfilling, years later, the same secret anointing the prophet Samuel had already performed in private, while Saul was still alive.
  4. 1 Crónicas 11:4David and all Israel march to Jerusalem, then called Jebus, because the Jebusites, one of the Canaanite peoples from the list in chapter 1, had still been living there for centuries.
  5. 1 Crónicas 11:5The inhabitants of Jebus feel so secure in their fortress that they tell David he’ll never come in — but he takes the stronghold of Zion anyway, and it comes to be called the City of David.
  6. 1 Crónicas 11:6Joab becomes commander of the army for being the first to attack the Jebusites in the conquest of Jerusalem — a promise of David’s fulfilled on the spot. That’s how Joab, who will appear throughout the book as David’s heavy hand in war, wins the army’s top post right at the start of the reign.
  7. 1 Crónicas 11:7After the conquest, David goes to live in the very stronghold he captured, which is why the place gets this name, the City of David, that will carry through the rest of the Bible.
  8. 1 Crónicas 11:8David expands the city’s construction all around, from the Millo, a kind of landfill or supporting wall, while Joab takes care of repairing the rest — the two of them working together to raise up the new capital.
  9. 1 Crónicas 11:9A simple summary explains the success of the new reign: David grew greater and greater, because the Lord of hosts was with him — not just military strategy, but divine favor.
  10. 1 Crónicas 11:10Before listing the names, the text explains the reason: these were the chiefs who supported David with full strength to make him king, fulfilling the word of the Lord concerning Israel — the list that follows isn’t decoration, it’s proof of unanimous support.
  11. 1 Crónicas 11:11Jashobeam opens the list of David’s warriors with an almost unbelievable feat: alone, he lifted up his spear against three hundred men and killed them in a single strike.
  12. 1 Crónicas 11:12Eleazar, son of Dodo, is the second of the so-called “three mighties” — the elite group within the elite group, reserved only for the most extraordinary feats.
  13. 1 Crónicas 11:13Eleazar fights alongside David at Pas-dammim, in a field full of barley, at the very moment the rest of Israel’s army flees in terror from the Philistines.
  14. 1 Crónicas 11:14Instead of fleeing along with the rest, he plants himself in the middle of the field, defends that patch of ground alone, and the Lord grants a great deliverance there — individual courage turning into a collective rescue.
  15. 1 Crónicas 11:15Three of the thirty warriors go down to the cave of Adullam to meet David, while the Philistine army camps close by, in the valley of Rephaim — the setting that sets up the famous story of the well water.
  16. 1 Crónicas 11:16David is hiding in a stronghold, while the Philistines occupy none other than Bethlehem, his own hometown — a detail that explains why he longs so much for that specific water.
  17. 1 Crónicas 11:17In a moment of longing or exhaustion, David just says out loud his wish to drink from the water of the well by the gate of Bethlehem — it isn’t even an order, just something said out loud.
  18. 1 Crónicas 11:18Three warriors risk their lives crossing the Philistine camp just to bring back water from the well of Bethlehem that David had wished to drink — but David refuses to drink it, and pours it out as an offering to God. To him, drinking it would be like drinking the blood of men who nearly died over a whim of his.
  19. 1 Crónicas 11:19David refuses to drink the water the three brought at such risk, and explains why: to him, drinking it would be like drinking the very blood of the men who nearly died just to satisfy a wish of his.
  20. 1 Crónicas 11:20Abishai, Joab’s brother, leads another elite group also known as “the three” — a name that repeats because there was more than one group of honor among David’s warriors — and he lifts up his spear against three hundred men and kills them.
  21. 1 Crónicas 11:21Abishai stands out more than the other two in his group, and so he becomes their captain — but the text makes clear that even so, he doesn’t reach the level of the first three mentioned earlier.
  22. 1 Crónicas 11:22Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, has an impressive record of deeds: he kills two lionlike men of Moab, and even goes down alone into a pit to kill a lion, on a snowy day.
  23. 1 Crónicas 11:23Benaiah also takes on an Egyptian giant of great stature, some five cubits tall, armed with a spear like a weaver’s beam — he goes down against him with only a staff, plucks the spear out of the giant’s hand, and kills him with his own weapon.
  24. 1 Crónicas 11:24These deeds of Benaiah are the reason he earns a name among David’s most respected warriors — the explanation, in a single verse, of everything the two previous verses just told.
  25. 1 Crónicas 11:25Benaiah is more honorable than the group of thirty, though he doesn’t reach the level of the first three — and because of that David puts him in command of his own personal guard, a post of the highest trust.
  26. 1 Crónicas 11:26The list of David’s thirty warriors begins: Asahel, Joab’s brother — the same Asahel who, in a story told in Samuel but not here, dies chasing after Abner following a battle between the two royal houses.
  27. 1 Crónicas 11:27Two more names from the list of the thirty, each identified by their city or clan of origin — a common way of naming warriors at the time, almost like a surname.
  28. 1 Crónicas 11:28Ira of Tekoa — a city that reappears much later as the hometown of the prophet Amos — and Abiezer, from the same clan that centuries later will give rise to the judge Gideon.
  29. 1 Crónicas 11:29Two more warriors from the list, each with their city of origin marked next to their name, the way the Chronicler organizes the entire list.
  30. 1 Crónicas 11:30Two warriors from Netophah, a small town near Bethlehem that also appears as the hometown of several Levites throughout the book.
  31. 1 Crónicas 11:31Ithai, of the tribe of Benjamin, and Benaiah — a namesake of the famous lion-killer, but a different man, from Pirathon — showing how names repeated among the warriors.
  32. 1 Crónicas 11:32Two more names tied to specific places — the list keeps treating each warrior as worthy of individual record, not just a number within the army.
  33. 1 Crónicas 11:33Two more warriors from the list of thirty, each identified by their city of origin, following the same pattern as the rest of the chapter.
  34. 1 Crónicas 11:34Jonathan, son of Shage — another name within the extensive list of elite warriors who helped David consolidate the kingdom.
  35. 1 Crónicas 11:35Two more warriors, Ahiam and Eliphal — the list has already passed the halfway mark, showing the real size of the elite group gathered around David.
  36. 1 Crónicas 11:36Hepher and Ahijah complete another pair of names in the extensive list of David’s thirty warriors.
  37. 1 Crónicas 11:37Hezro of Carmel — the same region where Nabal, Abigail’s first husband, lived — and Naarai, son of Ezbai.
  38. 1 Crónicas 11:38Joel, brother of Nathan, and Mibhar, son of Haggeri — two more names that close out this part of the list before reaching a notable foreign warrior.
  39. 1 Crónicas 11:39Zelek the Ammonite appears on David’s elite list even though he’s a foreigner — proof that the king’s army recruited talent wherever it found it, without limiting itself to Israelites by birth.
  40. 1 Crónicas 11:40Two warriors from Jattir, a city that had already appeared earlier as one of the cities given to the priestly descendants of Aaron.
  41. 1 Crónicas 11:41Here’s a heavy name: Uriah the Hittite — the same husband of Bathsheba whom David sends to the front line of battle to die, a story told in detail in Samuel but that Chronicles never mentions directly.
  42. 1 Crónicas 11:42Adina, son of Shiza, is described as a chief of the Reubenites within this group — even though he’s a weighty leader in his own tribe, he still falls under the authority of the group of thirty.
  43. 1 Crónicas 11:43Hanan, son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite — two more warriors who close out this part of the list.
  44. 1 Crónicas 11:44Uzzia the Ashterathite, and two brothers, Shama and Jehiel, sons of Hothan — the list keeps detailing right down to each warrior’s exact family origin.
  45. 1 Crónicas 11:45Jediael, son of Shimri, and his brother Joha — another pair of blood-related warriors within the elite group.
  46. 1 Crónicas 11:46Several names come together in this verse, including Ithmah the Moabite — another foreigner, like Zelek before, showing once again the diversity of origins among David’s most trusted warriors.
  47. 1 Crónicas 11:47The last four names close out the long list of the thirty warriors — a monument of names that Chronicles preserves to make sure every man who helped build up David’s kingdom would be remembered.

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