¹⁰These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the Lord had promised concerning Israel.

¹¹Here is the record of David’s mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.

¹²Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. ¹³He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled, ¹⁴but Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.

¹⁵Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. ¹⁶David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

¹⁷David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” ¹⁸So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. ¹⁹“God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

David’s Thirty Mighty Men

²⁰Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. ²¹Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

²²There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. ²³Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7½ feet tall and who was armed with a spear as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. ²⁴Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the three mightiest warriors. ²⁵He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

²⁶David’s mighty warriors also included:

Asahel, Joab’s brother;

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

²⁷Shammah from Harod;

Helez from Pelon;

²⁸Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

Abiezer from Anathoth;

²⁹Sibbecai from Hushah;

Zalmon from Ahoah;

³⁰Maharai from Netophah;

Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;

³¹Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);

Benaiah from Pirathon;

³²Hurai from near Nahale-gaash;

Abi-albon from Arabah;

³³Azmaveth from Bahurim;

Eliahba from Shaalbon;

³⁴the sons of Jashen from Gizon;

Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar;

³⁵Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;

Eliphal son of Ur;

³⁶Hepher from Mekerah;

Ahijah from Pelon;

³⁷Hezro from Carmel;

Paarai son of Ezbai;

³⁸Joel, the brother of Nathan;

Mibhar son of Hagri;

³⁹Zelek from Ammon;

Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

⁴⁰Ira from Jattir;

Gareb from Jattir;

⁴¹Uriah the Hittite;

Zabad son of Ahlai;

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