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2 Samuel 23:8-39
Amplified Bible

His Mighty Men

8 These are the names of the mighty men (warriors) whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the [a]captains, also called Adino the Eznite (spear) because of the [b]eight hundred men killed [by him] at one time.(A) 9 Next to him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted and defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone. 10 Eleazar stood up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; the people returned after him only to take the spoil [of the slain].

11 Next to Eleazar was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people [of Israel] fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the center of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time in the cave of Adullam, while an army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And 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 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out [in worship] to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should drink this. [Is it not the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the [c]three mighty men did.

18 Now Abishai the brother of Joab the son of Zeruiah was chief of the [d]thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and gained a reputation beside the three. 19 He was the most honored of the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three.

20 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, killed two [famous] warriors of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive and handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and gained a reputation beside the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. David appointed him over his guard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; then Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba of Shaalbon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Giloh, 35 Hezro (Hezrai) of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:8 The exploits of these three warriors are outlined in vv 8-11.
  2. 2 Samuel 23:8 1 Chr 11:11 lists the number as three hundred, and the number here is thought by some to be a textual error or exaggeration. But there is nothing in the text to suggest a scribal error, and if 800 slain by one man seems incredible, 300—though a much smaller number—still strains credibility. Perhaps divine intervention is the explanation (cf v 12), or Josheb was actually commanding other men but was credited with the victory as if he were alone, a common way to describe military victories.
  3. 2 Samuel 23:17 I.e. Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah.
  4. 2 Samuel 23:18 So two Hebrew mss and Syriac; MT three.
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2 Samuel 23:8-39
New American 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 who were killed by him at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of (B)Dodo the (C)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had [b]withdrawn. 10 (D)He rose up and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and [c]it clung to the sword, and (E)the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder the dead.

11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee, a (F)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered [d]into an army where there was a plot of land full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it, and struck the Philistines; and (G)the Lord brought about a great victory.

13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time to the (H)cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camping in (I)the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then (J)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And (K)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 forced their way into 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. Yet he would not drink it, but (M)poured it out as an offering to the Lord; 17 and he said, “Far be it from me, Lord, that I would do this! (N)Should I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 Now (O)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was (P)chief of the [e]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [f]and killed them, and had a name [g]as well as the three. 19 He was the most honored among the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the reputation of the three.

20 Then (Q)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of (R)Kabzeel, who had done great deeds, [h]killed the [i]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he [j]killed an Egyptian, [k]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, 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 [l]as well as the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain the reputation of the three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard.

24 (T)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; and there was 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 and (AO)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:8 Or three
  2. 2 Samuel 23:9 Lit gone up
  3. 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit his hand
  4. 2 Samuel 23:11 Or possibly, at Lehi
  5. 2 Samuel 23:18 As in two Heb mss and Syriac; MT three
  6. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit slain ones
  7. 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit among the
  8. 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit struck
  9. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or two warriors of Moab
  10. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit struck
  11. 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit a man of appearance
  12. 2 Samuel 23:22 Lit among the
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