The Mighty Men of David

10 Now jthese were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to kthe word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: lJashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, mchief of 6the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of nDodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at 7Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they 8stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men owent down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped pin the Valley of 9Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

20 qAbishai the brother of Joab was chief of another 1three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 21 rOf the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who 2had done many deeds. sHe had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, 3five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

26 Also the mighty warriors were tAsahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 4Shammoth the Harorite, uHelez the 5Pelonite, 28 vIra the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, wAbiezer the Anathothite, 29 6Sibbechai the Hushathite, 7Ilai the Ahohite, 30 xMaharai the Netophathite, 8Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 9Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, yBenaiah the Pirathonite, 32 1Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, 2Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the 3Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of 4Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of 5Sacar the Hararite, 6Eliphal the son of 7Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 8Hezro the Carmelite, 9Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the 1Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 zUriah the Hittite, 2Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.