A reading from the book of First Chronicles.

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said,

Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who

let out and brought in Israel. And the Lord or God said to you, you shall be shepherd of my people

Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel, and you shall be

prince over my people Israel.

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, according to the word

of the Lord by Samuel.

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that as Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the Lord by Samuel. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites

were, the inhabitants of the land. 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. David said,

whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.

And Joab, the son of Ziruah, went up first, so he became chief.

And David lived in the stronghold.

Therefore it was called the city of David.

And he built the city all around from the mellow and complete circuit.

And Joab repaired the rest of the city.

And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

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, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

This is an account of David's mighty men.

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