Exploits of David’s Warriors

⁸ These are the names of David’s warriors:^(A)

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers.^[a] He wielded his spear^[b] against eight hundred men that he killed at one time.

⁹ After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, ¹⁰ but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.

¹¹ After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, ¹² but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹³ Three of the thirty leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,^(B) while a company of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. ¹⁴ At that time David was in the stronghold,^(C) and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁵ David was extremely thirsty^[c] and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁶ So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. ¹⁷ David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

¹⁸ Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah,^(D) was leader of the Three.^[d] He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. ¹⁹ Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.^(E)

²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada^(F) was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons^[e] of Ariel^[f] of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²¹ He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. ²² These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. ²³ He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁴ Among the Thirty were

¹¹ This^(A) is the list of David’s warriors:

Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief^(B) of the Thirty;^[a] he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.

¹² After him, Eleazar son of Dodo^(C) the Ahohite was one of the three warriors. ¹³ He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines.^{(D) 14} But Eleazar and David^[b] took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam,^(E) while the Philistine army was encamped in Rephaim Valley.^{(F) 16} At that time David was in the stronghold,^(G) and a Philistine garrison^(H) was at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David was extremely thirsty^[c] and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁸ So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. ¹⁹ David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

²⁰ Abishai,^(I) Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three.^[d] He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. ²¹ He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada^(J) was the son of a brave man^[e] from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab,^[f] and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²³ He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall.^[g] Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam,^(K) Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. ²⁵ He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁶ The best soldiers^(L) were