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David’s Thirty Fighting Men(A)

18 Joab’s brother Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men. He was as famous as the three 19 and was honored more than they were. So he became their captain, but he didn’t become a member of the three.

20 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a pit and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 21 And he killed a handsome Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear from him, and killed him with it. 22 These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 23 He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.

24 One of the thirty was Joab’s brother Asahel. The thirty leading men were

Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah from Harod,
Elika from Harod,
26 Helez the Paltite,
Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth,
Mebunnai (son of Hushai),
28 Zalmon (descendant of Ahohi),
Maharai from Netophah,
29 Heleb (son of Baanah) from Netophah,
Ittai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30 Benaiah from Pirathon,
Hiddai from the Gaash ravines,
31 Abi Albon from Beth Arabah,
Azmaveth from Bahurim,
32 Elihba from Shaalbon,
Bene Jashen,
33 Jonathan (son of Shammah the Hararite),
Ahiam (son of Sharar the Hararite),
34 Eliphelet (son of Ahasbai and grandson of a man from Maacah),
Eliam (son of Ahithophel) from Gilo,
35 Hezrai from Carmel,
Paarai from Arabah,
36 Igal (son of Nathan) from Zobah,
Bani from the tribe of Gad,
37 Zelek from Ammon,
Naharai from Beeroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,
38 Ira (descendant of Ithra),
Gareb (descendant of Ithra),
39 Uriah the Hittite—
37 in all.

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18 Abishai(A) the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[a] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

20 Benaiah(B) son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,(C) performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24 Among the Thirty were:

Asahel(D) the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

25 Shammah the Harodite,(E)

Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez(F) the Paltite,

Ira(G) son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

27 Abiezer(H) from Anathoth,(I)

Sibbekai[b] the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai(J) the Netophathite,(K)

29 Heled[c](L) son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah(M) in Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,(N)

Hiddai[d] from the ravines of Gaash,(O)

31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,(P)

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan 33 son of[e] Shammah the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Sharar[f] the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,(Q)

Eliam(R) son of Ahithophel(S) the Gilonite,

35 Hezro the Carmelite,(T)

Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,(U)

the son of Hagri,[g]

37 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite,(V) the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite,(W)

Gareb the Ithrite

39 and Uriah(X) the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 23:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Thirty
  2. 2 Samuel 23:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew Mebunnai
  3. 2 Samuel 23:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Heleb
  4. 2 Samuel 23:30 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) Hurai
  5. 2 Samuel 23:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have son of.
  6. 2 Samuel 23:33 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) Sakar
  7. 2 Samuel 23:36 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew Haggadi