David’s Warriors

11:10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word.17 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors:18

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers.19 He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle.20

11:12 Next in command21 was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 11:13 He was with David in Pas Dammim22 when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 11:14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it23 and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.24

11:15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 11:16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.25 11:17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink26 from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 11:18 So the three elite warriors27 broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 11:19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this!28 Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?”29 Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.30

11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three31 elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear32 and gained fame along with the three elite warriors.33 11:21 From34 the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.35

11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab;36 he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 11:23 He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet37 tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked38 him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 11:24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:25 He received honor from39 the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

11:26 The mighty warriors were:

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,40

11:27 Shammoth the Harorite,41

Helez the Pelonite,42

11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Abiezer the Anathothite,

11:29 Sibbekai43 the Hushathite,

Ilai44 the Ahohite,

11:30 Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

11:31 Ithai45 son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

11:32 Hurai46 from the valleys of Gaash,

Abiel47 the Arbathite,

11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,48

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

11:34 the sons of Hashem49 the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shageh50 the Hararite,

11:35 Ahiam son of Sakar51 the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,52

11:36 Hepher the Mekerathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

11:37 Hezro53 the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan,54

Mibhar son of Hagri,

11:39 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

11:40 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

11:41 Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad son of Achli,

11:42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,

11:43 Hanan son of Maacah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

11:45 Jediael son of Shimri,

and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

11:46 Eliel the Mahavite,

and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

and Ithmah the Moabite,

11:47 Eliel,

and Obed,

and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.