13 Then (A)three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at (B)the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in (C)the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in (D)the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not (E)the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.

These things were done by the three mighty men.

18 Now (F)Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of [a]another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 19 Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from (G)Kabzeel, [b]who had done many deeds. (H)He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, [c]a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him (I)over his guard.

24 (J)Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (K)Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of (L)Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, 33 (M)Shammah the [d]Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of (N)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 [e]Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (O)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38 (P)Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and (Q)Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:18 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; some Heb. mss., Syr. thirty; Tg. the mighty men
  2. 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit. great of acts
  3. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit. a man of appearance
  4. 2 Samuel 23:33 Or Ararite
  5. 2 Samuel 23:35 Hezro, 1 Chr. 11:37

13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam,(A) while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.(B) 14 At that time David was in the stronghold,(C) and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.(D) 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured(E) it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood(F) of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

18 Abishai(G) the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[a] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

20 Benaiah(H) son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,(I) performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 Among the Thirty were:

Asahel(J) the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite,(K)

Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez(L) the Paltite,

Ira(M) son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

27 Abiezer(N) from Anathoth,(O)

Sibbekai[b] the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai(P) the Netophathite,(Q)

29 Heled[c](R) son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah(S) in Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,(T)

Hiddai[d] from the ravines of Gaash,(U)

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,(V)

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan 33 son of[e] Shammah the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Sharar[f] the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,(W)

Eliam(X) son of Ahithophel(Y) the Gilonite,

35 Hezro the Carmelite,(Z)

Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,(AA)

the son of Hagri,[g]

37 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite,(AB) the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite,(AC)

Gareb the Ithrite

39 and Uriah(AD) the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Thirty
  2. 2 Samuel 23:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew Mebunnai
  3. 2 Samuel 23:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Heleb
  4. 2 Samuel 23:30 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) Hurai
  5. 2 Samuel 23:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have son of.
  6. 2 Samuel 23:33 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) Sakar
  7. 2 Samuel 23:36 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew Haggadi