1 Chronicles 11:10-47
Good News Translation
David's Famous Soldiers(A)
10 This is the list of David's famous soldiers. Together with the rest of the people of Israel, they helped him become king, as the Lord had promised, and they kept his kingdom strong.
11 First was Jashobeam of the clan of Hachmon, the leader of “The Three.”[a] He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them all in one battle. 12 Next among the famous “Three” was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. 13 He fought on David's side against the Philistines at the battle of Pas Dammim. He was in a barley field when the Israelites started to run away, 14 so he and his men took a stand in the middle of the field and fought the Philistines. The Lord gave him a great victory.
15 One day three of the thirty leading soldiers went to a rock where David was staying near Adullam Cave, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. 16 At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem. 17 David got homesick and said, “How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!” 18 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord 19 and said, “I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it. These were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.
20 Joab's brother Abishai was the leader of “The Famous Thirty.”[b] He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and became famous among “The Thirty.”[c] 21 He was the most famous of “The Thirty”[d] and became their leader, but he was not as famous as “The Three.”
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man seven and a half feet tall, who was armed with a gigantic spear. Benaiah attacked him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with it. 24 Those were the brave deeds of Benaiah, who was one of “The Thirty.”[e] 25 He was outstanding among “The Thirty,” but not as famous as “The Three.” David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26-47 These are the other outstanding soldiers:
Asahel, Joab's brother
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem
Shammoth from Harod
Helez from Pelet
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
Abiezer from Anathoth
Sibbecai from Hushah
Ilai from Ahoh
Maharai from Netophah
Heled son of Baanah from Netophah
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin
Benaiah from Pirathon
Hurai from the valleys near Gaash
Abiel from Arbah
Azmaveth from Bahurum
Eliahba from Shaalbon
Hashem[f] from Gizon
Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar
Ahiam son of Sachar from Harar
Eliphal son of Ur
Hepher from Mecherah
Ahijah from Pelon
Hezro from Carmel
Naarai son of Ezbai
Joel brother of Nathan
Mibhar son of Hagri
Zelek from Ammon
Naharai, Joab's armorbearer, from Beeroth
Ira and Gareb from Jattir
Uriah the Hittite
Zabad son of Ahlai
Adina son of Shiza (a leading member of the tribe of Reuben, with his own group of thirty soldiers)
Hanan son of Maacah
Joshaphat from Mithan
Uzzia from Ashterah
Shamma and Jeiel, sons of Hotham, from Aroer
Jediael and Joha, sons of Shimri, from Tiz
Eliel from Mahavah
Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam
Ithmah from Moab
Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Zobah[g]
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 11:11 One ancient translation (see also 2 S 23.8) “The Three”; Hebrew “The Thirty.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:20 One ancient translation Thirty; Hebrew Three.
- 1 Chronicles 11:20 One ancient translation (see also 2 S 23.18) “The Thirty”; Hebrew “The Three.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:21 Probable text (see 2 S 23.19) most famous of “The Thirty”; Hebrew unclear.
- 1 Chronicles 11:24 Probable text “The Thirty”; Hebrew “The Three.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:26 Probable text Hashem; Hebrew the sons of Hashem.
- 1 Chronicles 11:26 Probable text from Zobah; Hebrew unclear.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.