1. Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, “We are your relatives,
2. and we know that you have led our army into battle, even when Saul was still our king. The Lord God has promised that you would rule our country and take care of us like a shepherd.
3. So we have come to crown you king of Israel.”David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the Lord to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David's head to show that he was now king of Israel. This happened just as the Lord's prophet Samuel had said.
4. Jerusalem was called Jebus at the time, and David led Israel's army to attack the town.
5. The Jebusites said, “You won't be able to get in here!” But David captured the fortress of Mount Zion, which is now called the City of David.
6. David had told his troops, “The first soldier to kill a Jebusite will become my army commander.” And since Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, he became commander.
7. Later, David moved to the fortress—that's why it's called the City of David.
8. He had the city rebuilt, starting at the landfill on the east side. Meanwhile, Joab supervised the repairs to the rest of the city.
9. David became a great and strong ruler, because the Lord All-Powerful was on his side.
10. The Lord had promised that David would become king, and so everyone in Israel gave David their support. Certain warriors also helped keep his kingdom strong.
11. The first of these warriors was Jashobeam the son of Hachmoni, the leader of the Three Warriors. In one battle he killed three hundred men with his spear.
12. Another one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite.
13. During a battle against the Philistines at Pas-Dammim, all the Israelite soldiers ran away,
14. except Eleazar, who stayed with David. They took their positions in a nearby barley field and defeated the Philistines! The Lord gave Israel a great victory that day.