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2 Samuel 23:8-39
Legacy Standard Bible

David’s Mighty Men

8 (A)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the [a]captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; 9 and after him was Eleazar the son of (B)Dodo the (C)son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they [b]reproached the Philistines who were gathered together there to battle and the men of Israel had gone up to retreat. 10 (D)He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and [c]clung to the sword, and (E)Yahweh brought about a great salvation that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a (F)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered [d]into a troop where there was a portion of the field full of lentils; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of that portion and delivered it and struck down the Philistines. So (G)Yahweh brought about a great salvation.

13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the (H)cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in (I)the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then (J)in the fortress, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 (K)Then David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 (L)So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he was not willing to drink it, but (M)poured it out to Yahweh; 17 and he said, “Be it far from me, O Yahweh, that I should do this. (N)Shall I drink the blood of the men who went [e]at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 (O)Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was (P)chief of the [f]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [g]who were slain by him; and he had a name as well as the three. 19 Of the thirty he was most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

20 Then (Q)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of (R)Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the [h]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 He had also struck down an Egyptian, [i]an impressive man. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things (S)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

24 (T)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (U)Shammah the (V)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the (W)Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the (X)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the (Y)Netophathite, 29 (Z)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of (AA)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a (AB)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of (AC)Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the (AD)Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the (AE)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 (AF)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of (AG)the Maacathite, (AH)Eliam the son of (AI)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 (AJ)Hezro the (AK)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (AL)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the (AM)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the (AN)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 (AO)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or 3
  2. 2 Samuel 23:9 Or defied
  3. 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit his hand clung
  4. 2 Samuel 23:11 Possibly, at Lehi
  5. 2 Samuel 23:17 Lit with their souls
  6. 2 Samuel 23:18 As in two Heb mss and Syr; M.T. 3
  7. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit slain ones
  8. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or two lion-like heroes
  9. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit a man of appearance
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2 Samuel 23:8-39
English Standard Version

David's Mighty Men

8 (A)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: (B)Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three.[a] He wielded his spear[b] against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of (C)Dodo, son of (D)Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the (E)Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi,[c] where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the (F)cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped (G)in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then (H)in the stronghold, and (I)the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink (J)the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty.[d] And he wielded his spear against three hundred men[e] and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty[f] and became their commander, but he did not attain to (K)the three.

20 And (L)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man[g] of (M)Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels[h] of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

24 (N)Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (O)Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh (P)of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer (Q)of Anathoth, Mebunnai (R)the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon (S)the Ahohite, Maharai (T)of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah (U)of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of (V)Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah (W)of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of (X)Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of (Y)Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 (Z)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai (AA)of Maacah, (AB)Eliam the son of (AC)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro[i] (AD)of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan (AE)of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai (AF)of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 (AG)Ira the (AH)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 (AI)Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or of the captains
  2. 2 Samuel 23:8 Compare 1 Chronicles 11:11; the meaning of the Hebrew expression is uncertain
  3. 2 Samuel 23:11 Or gathered together as a camp
  4. 2 Samuel 23:18 Two Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts three
  5. 2 Samuel 23:18 Or slain ones
  6. 2 Samuel 23:19 Compare 1 Chronicles 11:21; Hebrew Was he the most renowned of the three?
  7. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or the son of Ishhai
  8. 2 Samuel 23:20 The meaning of the word ariel is unknown
  9. 2 Samuel 23:35 Or Hezrai
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