1 Chronicles 11 in Hebrew & English

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Tenakh Study · Read 1 Chronicles in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link. Our Messianic Jewish notes appear below each passage; tap Commentary above to hide them. The full commentary on this chapter is on our 1 Chronicles commentary page.

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Tenakh Study · 1 Chronicles 11:1–47

1 Chronicles, Chapter 11

דברי הימים א יא

All Israel anoints David king at Chevron; David takes Yevus, the castle of Tziyon, and it is called the city of David; then the chief of his mighty men, Yashov’am, El’azar, Avshai and Benayah, with the water from the well of Beit Lechem, and the list of the valiant men of the armies.

11:1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Chevron (Hebron), saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

אוַיִּקָּבְצ֧וּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־דָּוִ֖יד חֶבְר֣וֹנָה לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֛ה עַצְמְךָ֥ וּֽבְשָׂרְךָ֖ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

11:2And moreover in time past, even when Shaul (Saul) was king, you were he that led out and brought in Israel: and Hashem your God said unto you, ‘You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.’”

בגַּם־תְּמ֣וֹל גַּם־שִׁלְשׁ֗וֹם גַּ֚ם בִּהְי֣וֹת שָׁא֣וּל מֶ֔לֶךְ אַתָּ֛ה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא וְהַמֵּבִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּאמֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אַתָּ֨ה תִרְעֶ֤ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאַתָּה֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה נָגִ֔יד עַ֖ל עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

11:3Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Chevron; and David made a covenant with them in Chevron before Hashem; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Hashem by Shmuel (Samuel).

גוַ֠יָּבֹאוּ כָּל־זִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ חֶבְר֔וֹנָה וַיִּכְרֹת֩ לָהֶ֨ם דָּוִ֥יד בְּרִ֛ית בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּמְשְׁח֨וּ אֶת־דָּוִ֤יד לְמֶ֨לֶךְ֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃

Commentary · 11:1–3

“We are your bone and your flesh”

These verses are 2 Samuel 5:1–3 almost word for word, and our 2 Samuel commentary explains them. Here we look at three small changes. Samuel says “all the tribes of Israel”; Chronicles says “all Israel,” his phrase for the nation acting as one, and repeats it at every high point of the book. For the returned exiles, a remnant mostly of Yehudah, Binyamin and Levi, the words were a promise.

Chronicles adds “according to the word of Hashem by Shmuel” (11:3), and strikes the note twice more (11:10; 12:24). David was not made king by an assembly or an army; the word came first, in Beit Lechem (1 Samuel 16:13). And the seven years and six months over Yehudah (2 Samuel 5:5) are left out, so that the whole people seem to come at once. Rabbi Palvanov, in “The Truth About the Lost Tribes of Israel”, says “King David was the first to actually unify all twelve tribes under one kingdom.” Chronicles paints that unity without seams. Samuel shows the seams. We need both books.

The first sign of David’s kingship is that Israel gathers, as Hosea says of the last days: “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Hashem their God, and David their king” (Hosea 3:5). What Shaul would not do, the nation will do under the Son of David.

Read more in the full commentary →

David takes Yerushalayim

11:4And David and all Israel went to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), which is Yevus (Jebus); where the Yevusi (Jebusites) were, the inhabitants of the land.

דוַיֵּ֨לֶךְ דָּוִ֧יד וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם הִ֣יא יְב֑וּס וְשָׁם֙ הַיְבוּסִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

11:5And the inhabitants of Yevus said to David, “You shall not come hither.” Nevertheless David took the castle of Tziyon (Zion), which is the city of David.

הוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ יֹשְׁבֵ֤י יְבוּס֙ לְדָוִ֔יד לֹ֥א תָב֖וֹא הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד דָּוִיד֙ אֶת־מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֔וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃

11:6And David said, “Whosoever strikes the Yevusi first shall be chief and captain.” So Yo’av (Joab) the son of Tzeruyah (Zeruiah) went first up, and was chief.

ווַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔יד כָּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבוּסִי֙ בָּרִ֣אשׁוֹנָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְרֹ֖אשׁ וּלְשָׂ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַל בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֛ה יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה וַיְהִ֥י לְרֹֽאשׁ׃

11:7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.

זוַיֵּ֥שֶׁב דָּוִ֖יד בַּמְצָ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרְאוּ־ל֖וֹ עִ֥יר דָּוִֽיד׃

11:8And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Yo’av repaired the rest of the city.

חוַיִּ֤בֶן הָעִיר֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב מִן־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וְעַד־הַסָּבִ֑יב וְיוֹאָ֕ב יְחַיֶּ֖ה אֶת־שְׁאָ֥ר הָעִֽיר׃

11:9So David waxed greater and greater: for Hashem of hosts was with him.

טוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖יד הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֑וֹל וַיהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃

Commentary · 11:4–9

Yerushalayim, and Yo’av goes up first

Our 2 Samuel commentary covers the city never held, the “blind and the lame,” the tzinnor and the name Tziyon. Chronicles changes four things. Samuel says “the king and his men”; here it is “David and all Israel” (11:4), so the city belongs to all Israel because all Israel won it. The Yevusi taunt about the blind and lame is gone; only the fact remains: “Nevertheless David took the castle of Tziyon” (11:5).

Yo’av is named. Samuel records David’s promise to whoever strikes first and never says who did it. Chronicles tells us: “So Yo’av the son of Tzeruyah went first up, and was chief” (11:6). Yo’av, whose killings of Avner and Amasa Chronicles never tells, is given the honor. The Talmud remembers the partnership, hard as it was: “Were it not for David, Yo’av could not have waged war; and were it not for Yo’av, David could not have engaged in Torah” (Sanhedrin 49a).

Hebrew lesson: יְחַיֶּה (yechayeh), “repaired.” “And Yo’av repaired the rest of the city” (11:8) is literally “gave life to.” The commentators understand it as rebuilding; the word choice is still striking. The capital of the Messiah’s kingdom is a city that had to be revived, and will be again: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Read more in the full commentary →

David’s mighty men

11:10These 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 Hashem concerning Israel.

יוְאֵ֨לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֤י הַגִּבּוֹרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֔יד הַמִּתְחַזְּקִ֨ים עִמּ֧וֹ בְמַלְכוּת֛וֹ עִם־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִיכ֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

11:11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Yashov’am (Jashobeam), a Chachmoni (Hachmonite), the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

יאוְאֵ֛לֶּה מִסְפַּ֥ר הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑יד יָשָׁבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִ֗י רֹ֚אשׁ הַשָּׁ֣לִישִׁ֔ים (כתיב השלושים) הֽוּא־עוֹרֵ֧ר אֶת־חֲנִית֛וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם אֶחָֽת׃

11:12And after him was El’azar (Eleazar) the son of Dodo, the Achochi (Ahohite), who was one of the three mighties.

יבוְאַחֲרָ֛יו אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ הָאֲחוֹחִ֑י ה֖וּא בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

11:13He was with David at Pas Dammim (Pas-dammim), and there the Pelishtim (Philistines) were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Pelishtim.

יגהֽוּא־הָיָ֨ה עִם־דָּוִ֜יד בַּפַּ֣ס דַּמִּ֗ים וְהַפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֱסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַתְּהִ֛י חֶלְקַ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה מְלֵאָ֣ה שְׂעוֹרִ֑ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖סוּ מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

11:14And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Pelishtim; and Hashem saved them by a great deliverance.

ידוַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֤וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּיל֔וּהָ וַיַּכּ֖וּ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיּ֥וֹשַׁע יְהוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

Water from the well of Beit Lechem

11:15Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Pelishtim encamped in the valley of Refa’im (Rephaim).

טווַיֵּרְד֡וּ שְֽׁלוֹשָׁה֩ מִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים רֹ֤אשׁ עַל־הַצֻּר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔יד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃

11:16And David was then in the hold, and the Pelishtim’s garrison was then at Beit Lechem (Bethlehem).

טזוְדָוִ֖יד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּנְצִ֣יב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

11:17And David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beit Lechem, that is at the gate!”

יזוַיִּתְאָ֥יו (כתיב ויתאו) דָּוִ֖יד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבּ֥וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃

11:18And the three broke through the host of the Pelishtim, and drew water out of the well of Beit Lechem, 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 Hashem,

יחוַיִּבְקְע֨וּ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֜ה בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֨יִם֙ מִבּ֤וֹר בֵּֽית־לֶ֨חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֤ה דָוִיד֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיְנַסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃

11:19And 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.

יטוַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י מֵאֱלֹהַ֜י מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת זֹ֗את הֲדַ֣ם הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ הָאֵ֨לֶּה אֶשְׁתֶּ֤ה בְנַפְשׁוֹתָם֙ כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁוֹתָ֣ם הֱבִיא֔וּם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃

11:20And Avshai (Abishai) the brother of Yo’av, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

כוְאַבְשַׁ֣י אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֗ב ה֤וּא הָיָה֙ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֔ה וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ (כתיב ולא)־שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלוֹשָֽׁה׃

11:21Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.

כאמִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֤ה בַשְּׁנַ֨יִם֙ נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה לֹֽא־בָֽא׃

11:22Benayah (Benaiah) the son of Yehoyada (Jehoiada), the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el (Kabzeel), who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Mo’av (Moab): also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.

כבבְּנָיָ֨ה בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽן־קַבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִיאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבּ֖וֹר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃

11:23And he slew a Mitzri (Egyptian), a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Mitzri’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 Mitzri’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.

כגוְהֽוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־הָאִ֨ישׁ הַמִּצְרִ֜י אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה ׀ חָמֵ֣שׁ בָּאַמָּ֗ה וּבְיַ֨ד הַמִּצְרִ֤י חֲנִית֙ כִּמְנ֣וֹר אֹרְגִ֔ים וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃

11:24These things did Benayahu the son of Yehoyada, and had the name among the three mighties.

כדאֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

11:25Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.

כהמִן־הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁ֗ים הִנּ֤וֹ נִכְבָּד֙ ה֔וּא וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂימֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖יד עַל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃

Commentary · 11:10–25

The three, and what Chronicles does with them

In Samuel the list of the mighty men stands near the end, after David’s last words (2 Samuel 23:8–39). Chronicles moves it to the beginning of the reign and gives it a heading: these men “strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king” (11:10). The roll of honor becomes a list of the men who carried out the word of Hashem.

Where Samuel’s first hero is “the Tachkemoni that sat in the seat,” whom the Talmud reads as David himself (Moed Katan 16b; see our 2 Samuel commentary), Chronicles gives the plain name, “Yashov’am, a Chachmoni,” with three hundred slain instead of eight hundred (11:11). El’azar son of Dodo stands in “a parcel of ground full of barley” (11:13); in Samuel the field is lentils and belongs to Shammah, whose name does not appear here, and some lines appear to have dropped out. The point survives the gap: “Hashem saved them by a great deliverance” (11:14). Later Chronicles adds that Benayah’s father Yehoyada was “the leader of the Aharoni” (12:28). The man who kept David’s guard was a kohen’s son; in the Chronicler’s Israel, priests and soldiers are not two worlds.

Messianic reading. “You are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom… that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” (Luke 22:28–30). The ones who stand with the king in the wilderness sit with him when he reigns.

Read more in the full commentary →

The valiant men of the armies

11:26Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asah’el (Asahel) the brother of Yo’av, Elchanan (Elhanan) the son of Dodo of Beit Lechem,

כווְגִבּוֹרֵ֖י הַחֲיָלִ֑ים עֲשָׂה־אֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דּוֹד֖וֹ מִבֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

11:27Shammot (Shammoth) the Harori (Harorite), Chelletz (Helez) the Peloni (Pelonite),

כזשַׁמּוֹת֙ הַהֲרוֹרִ֔י חֶ֖לֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִֽי׃

11:28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Teko’i (Tekoite), Avi’ezer (Abi-ezer) the Anetoti (Antothite),

כחעִירָ֤א בֶן־עִקֵּשׁ֙ הַתְּקוֹעִ֔י אֲבִיעֶ֖זֶר הָעֲנְּתוֹתִֽי׃

11:29Sibbechai (Sibbecai) the Chushati (Hushathite), Ilai the Achochi,

כטסִבְּכַי֙ הַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔י עִילַ֖י הָאֲחוֹחִֽי׃

11:30Mahrai (Maharai) the Netofati (Netophathite), Cheled (Heled) the son of Ba’anah (Baanah) the Netofati,

למַהְרַי֙ הַנְּטֹ֣פָתִ֔י חֵ֥לֶד בֶּֽן־בַּֽעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטוֹפָתִֽי׃

11:31Itai (Ithai) the son of Rivai (Ribai) of Giv’ah (Gibeah), that pertained to the children of Binyamin (Benjamin), Benayah the Pir’atoni (Pirathonite),

לאאִיתַ֣י בֶּן־רִיבַ֗י מִגִּבְעַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן ס בְּנָיָ֖ה הַפִּרְעָתֹנִֽי׃

11:32Churai (Hurai) of the brooks of Ga’ash (Gaash), Avi’el (Abiel) the Arvati (Arbathite),

לבחוּרַי֙ מִנַּ֣חֲלֵי גָ֔עַשׁ ס אֲבִיאֵ֖ל הָעַרְבָתִֽי׃

11:33Azmavet (Azmaveth) the Bacharumi (Baharumite), Elyachba (Eliahba) the Sha’alvoni (Shaalbonite),

לגעַזְמָ֨וֶת֙ הַבַּ֣חֲרוּמִ֔י אֶלְיַחְבָּ֖א הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִֽי׃

11:34The sons of Ha-shem the Gizoni (Hashem the Gizonite), Yonatan (Jonathan) the son of Shageh (Shage) the Harari (Hararite),

לדבְּנֵ֗י הָשֵׁם֙ הַגִּ֣זוֹנִ֔י יוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־שָׁגֵ֖ה הַהֲרָרִֽי׃

11:35Achi’am (Ahiam) the son of Sachar (Sacar) the Harari, Elifal (Eliphal) the son of Ur,

להאֲחִיאָ֧ם בֶּן־שָׂכָ֛ר הַהֲרָרִ֖י אֱלִיפַ֥ל בֶּן־אֽוּר׃

11:36Chefer (Hepher) the Mecherati (Mecherathite), Achiyah (Ahijah) the Peloni,

לוחֵ֚פֶר הַמְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י אֲחִיָּ֖ה הַפְּלֹנִֽי׃

11:37Chetzro (Hezro) the Karmeli (Carmelite), Na’arai (Naarai) the son of Ezbai,

לזחֶצְרוֹ֙ הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י נַעֲרַ֖י בֶּן־אֶזְבָּֽי׃

11:38Yo’el (Joel) the brother of Natan (Nathan), Mivchar (Mibhar) the son of Hagri (Haggeri),

לחיוֹאֵל֙ אֲחִ֣י נָתָ֔ן מִבְחָ֖ר בֶּן־הַגְרִֽי׃

11:39Tzelek (Zelek) the Ammoni (Ammonite), Nachrai (Naharai) the Beroti (Berothite), the armourbearer of Yo’av the son of Tzeruyah,

לטצֶ֖לֶק הָעַמּוֹנִ֑י נַחְרַי֙ הַבֵּ֣רֹתִ֔י נֹשֵׂ֕א כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃

11:40Ira the Yitri (Ithrite), Garev (Gareb) the Yitri,

מעִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃

11:41Uriyah (Uriah) the Chitti (Hittite), Zavad (Zabad) the son of Achlai (Ahlai),

מאאֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַחִתִּ֔י זָבָ֖ד בֶּן־אַחְלָֽי׃

11:42Adina the son of Shiza the Re’uveni (Reubenite), a captain of the Re’uveni, and thirty with him,

מבעֲדִינָ֨א בֶן־שִׁיזָ֜א הָרֽאוּבֵנִ֗י רֹ֛אשׁ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְעָלָ֥יו שְׁלוֹשִֽׁים׃

11:43Chanan (Hanan) the son of Ma’achah (Maachah), and Yoshafat (Joshaphat) the Mitni (Mithnite),

מגחָנָן֙ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה וְיוֹשָׁפָ֖ט הַמִּתְנִֽי׃

11:44Uziya (Uzzia) the Ashterati (Ashterathite), Shama and Ye’i’el (Jehiel) the sons of Chotam (Hothan) the Aro’eri (Aroerite),

מדעֻזִיָּ֖א הָעֲשְׁתְּרָתִ֑י שָׁמָע֙ וִֽיעִיאֵ֔ל (כתיב ויעואל) ס בְּנֵ֖י חוֹתָ֥ם הָעֲרֹעֵרִֽי׃

11:45Yedia’el (Jediael) the son of Shimri, and Yocha (Joha) his brother, the Titzi (Tizite),

מהיְדִֽיעֲאֵל֙ בֶּן־שִׁמְרִ֔י וְיֹחָ֥א אָחִ֖יו הַתִּיצִֽי׃

11:46Eli’el (Eliel) the Machavi (Mahavite), and Yerivai (Jeribai), and Yoshavyah (Joshaviah), the sons of Elna’am (Elnaam), and Yitmah (Ithmah) the Mo’avi (Moabite),

מואֱלִיאֵל֙ הַֽמַּחֲוִ֔ים וִירִיבַ֥י וְיוֹשַׁוְיָ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְנָ֑עַם וְיִתְמָ֖ה הַמּוֹאָבִֽי׃

11:47Eli’el, and Oved (Obed), and Ya’asi’el (Jasiel) the Metzovayah (Mesobaite).

מזאֱלִיאֵ֣ל וְעוֹבֵ֔ד וְיַעֲשִׂיאֵ֖ל הַמְּצֹבָיָֽה׃

Commentary · 11:26–47

The thirty, and the names after Uriyah

Uriyah the Chitti (11:41). In Samuel the list ends with his name, and our 2 Samuel commentary observed that Scripture lets the last word of David’s roll of honor be the name of the man David killed. Chronicles tells no story of Bat-Sheva, of Natan’s rebuke, of Amnon or of Avshalom. Is this a cover-up? We do not think so: Uriyah’s name is still on the list. The Chronicler could have dropped it as easily as he dropped the story, and he left it for every reader who knows Samuel to find. Chronicles was written to be read alongside the rest of the Tenakh, not instead of it. Uriyah’s name is his footnote to Samuel. We offer this as our own reading, for Rav Reuven and Morah to weigh.

Sixteen more names. Samuel stops at Uriyah. Chronicles adds sixteen, and they tell a story: Adina the Re’uveni (11:42), Uziya the Ashterati from Bashan (11:44), Yitmah the Mo’avi (11:46), and already Tzelek the Ammoni (11:39). Men from the two nations the Torah barred from the assembly (Deuteronomy 23:3) fight for the great-grandson of Ruth. The Chronicler is quietly telling a small remnant how wide David’s camp was.

Hebrew lesson: גִּבּוֹרִים (gibborim), “mighty men.” The word is used of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8); the Chronicler fills it with strength that serves the word of Hashem. FFOZ describes the 144,000 of Revelation 7 as “an elite band of warriors, comparable to David’s mighty men” (End of Days, Lesson 49, “Day of Harvest”).

Read more in the full commentary →

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers: Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Chronicles they differ from most English Bibles in chapters 5, 6 and 12; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. The notes here are short versions of our full 1 Chronicles commentary, which is a draft for our teachers to review. They are shown by default; tap Commentary to hide them.
Quiz: Written by Benei Avraham for young readers (about 11 and up). Every answer is in the chapter on this page. Answers and scores are kept only in this browser (local storage) and can be cleared with Start over.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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1 Chronicles 11 (Divrei HaYamim Alef) in Hebrew and English

1 Chronicles, Chapter 11

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