1. The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said, "We are your own flesh and blood.
2. In the past, Saul was our king. But you led the men of Israel in battle. The Lord your God said to you, 'You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.' "
3. All of the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There he made a covenant with them in the sight of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel. It happened just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
4. David and all of the men of Israel marched to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also called Jebus. The Jebusites who lived there
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.