²⁰ Benaiah^(A) son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,^(B) 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.

David’s Officials

²³ Joab^(A) was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;

¹⁸ Benaiah^(A) son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites^(B) and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^[a]

²¹ The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev^(A) toward the boundary of Edom were:

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,^(A) 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.^{(B) 23} And he struck down an Egyptian who was five cubits^[a] tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s rod^(C) 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. ²⁴ Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.

⁴⁶ Then the king gave the order to Benaiah^(A) son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei^(B) down and he died.

The kingdom was now established^(C) in Solomon’s hands.

²⁹ King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar.^(A) Then Solomon ordered Benaiah^(B) son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

³⁰ So Benaiah entered the tent^(C) of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!^(D)’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

³¹ Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood^(E) that Joab shed. ³² The Lord will repay^(F) him for the blood he shed,^(G) because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa^(H) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better^(I) men and more upright than he. ³³ May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

³⁴ So Benaiah^(J) son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab^(K) and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. ³⁵ The king put Benaiah^(L) son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok^(M) the priest.

³⁸ So Zadok^(A) the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites^(B) and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.^(C)

²⁶ But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.^(A)