David Anointed King

11 ^(A)Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. ² In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ^(B)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, ^(C)according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

David Takes Jerusalem

⁴ And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, ^(D)that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, ^(E)the inhabitants of the land. ⁵ The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. ⁶ David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first ^(F)shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. ⁷ And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. ⁸ And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ And David ^(G)became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David's Mighty Men

^10 (H)Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, ^(I)according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. ¹¹ This is an account of David's mighty men: ^(J)Jashobeam, a ^(K)Hachmonite, was ^(L)chief of the three.^[a] He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

¹² And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of ^(M)Dodo, the Ahohite. ¹³ He was with David at Pas-dammim ^(N)when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. ¹⁴ But he took his^[b] stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the ^(O)Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold, and the ^(P)garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” ¹⁸ Then the three mighty men broke through the camp 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 it. He poured it out to the Lord ¹⁹ and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

²⁰ Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty.^[c] And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. ²¹ He was the most renowned^[d] of the thirty^[e] and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

²² And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man^[f] of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. ²³ And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits^[g] tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear ^(Q)like a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. ²⁵ He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

²⁶ The mighty men were ^(R)Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth of Harod,^[h] Helez the Pelonite, ²⁸ Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, ²⁹ Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰ Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, ³¹ Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, ³² Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ Hashem^[i] the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷ Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of ^(S)Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, ^(T)Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, ⁴³ Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham 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 Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

The Mighty Men Join David

12 ^(U)Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. ² They ^(V)were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the ^(W)left hand; they were Benjaminites, ^(X)Saul's kinsmen. ³ The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of ^(Y)Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of ^(Z)Anathoth, ⁴ Ishmaiah of ^(AA)Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,^[j] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, ⁵ Eluzai,^[k] Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁶ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the ^(AB)Korahites; ⁷ And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸ From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were ^(AC)swift as gazelles upon the mountains: ⁹ Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, ¹⁰ Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹¹ Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, ¹² Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. ¹⁴ These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a ^(AD)match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. ¹⁵ These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was ^(AE)overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

¹⁶ And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” ¹⁸ Then ^(AF)the Spirit clothed ^(AG)Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

¹⁹ Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David ^(AI)when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, ^(AJ)“At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) ²⁰ As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. ²¹ They helped David against ^(AK)the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. ²² For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

²³ These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops ^(AL)who came to David in Hebron ^(AM)to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, ^(AN)according to the word of the Lord. ²⁴ The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. ²⁵ Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. ²⁶ Of the Levites 4,600. ²⁷ The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. ^28 (AO)Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. ²⁹ Of the Benjaminites, ^(AP)the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the ^(AQ)majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³⁰ Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. ³¹ Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were ^(AR)expressly named to come and make David king. ³² Of Issachar, men who ^(AS)had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. ³³ Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, ^(AT)equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David^[l] with ^(AU)singleness of purpose. ³⁴ Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. ³⁵ Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. ³⁶ Of ^(AV)Asher 40,000 ^(AW)seasoned troops ^(AX)ready for battle. ³⁷ Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

³⁸ All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with ^(AY)a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a ^(AZ)single mind to make David king. ³⁹ And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. ⁴⁰ And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, ^(BA)cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, ^(A)be subject to your own husbands, so that ^(B)even if some do not obey the word, ^(C)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your ^(D)respectful and pure conduct. ^3 (E)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be ^(F)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(G)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and ^(H)do not fear anything that is frightening.

⁷ Likewise, ^(I)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker ^(J)vessel, since they are heirs with you^[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(K)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(L)brotherly love, ^(M)a tender heart, and ^(N)a humble mind. ^9 (O)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(P)bless, for ^(Q)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(S)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (T)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(U)Have no fear of them, ^(V)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(W)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(X)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(Y)respect, ^16 (Z)having a good conscience, so that, ^(AA)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(AB)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(AC)suffered^{[b] (AD)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(AE)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(AF)in the flesh but made alive ^(AG)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[c] he went and ^(AH)proclaimed^[d] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[e] they formerly did not obey, ^(AI)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(AJ)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(AK)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(AL)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(AM)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(AN)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(AO)is at the right hand of God, ^(AP)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(AQ)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[f] (AR)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(AS)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(AT)has ceased from sin, ^2 (AU)so as to live for ^(AV)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(AW)no longer for human passions but ^(AX)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(AY)suffices ^(AZ)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^(BA)debauchery, and ^(BB)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(BC)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why ^(BD)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

^7 (BE)The end of all things is at hand; therefore ^(BF)be self-controlled and sober-minded ^(BG)for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since ^(BH)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (BI)Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ^10 (BJ)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, ^(BK)as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks ^(BL)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves ^(BM)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything ^(BN)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^(BO)To him belong glory and ^(BP)dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(BQ)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(BR)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(BS)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (BT)If you are insulted ^(BU)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[g] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(BV)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(BW)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(BX)if anyone suffers as a ^(BY)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(BZ)in that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(CA)to begin at the household of God; and ^(CB)if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who ^(CC)do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will ^(CE)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, ^(CF)as a fellow elder and ^(CG)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ^2 (CH)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,^{[i] (CI)}not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;^{[j] (CJ)}not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not ^(CK)domineering over those in your charge, but ^(CL)being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when ^(CM)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(CN)unfading ^(CO)crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^(CP)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^(CQ)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

^6 (CR)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ^7 (CS)casting all your anxieties on him, because ^(CT)he cares for you. ^8 (CU)Be sober-minded; ^(CV)be watchful. Your ^(CW)adversary the devil ^(CX)prowls around ^(CY)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 (CZ)Resist him, ^(DA)firm in your faith, knowing that ^(DB)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And ^(DC)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, ^(DD)who has called you to his ^(DE)eternal glory in Christ, will himself ^(DF)restore, ^(DG)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ^11 (DH)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹² By ^(DI)Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, ^(DJ)I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is ^(DK)the true grace of God. ^(DL)Stand firm in it. ¹³ She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does ^(DM)Mark, my son. ^14 (DN)Greet one another with the kiss of love.

^(DO)Peace to all of you who are in Christ.