1 Chronicles 11:20-47

Contemporary English Version

The Thirty Warriors

(2 Samuel 23.18-39)

²⁰Joab's brother Abishai was the leader of the Thirty Warriors,^[a] and in one battle he killed 300 men with his spear. He was just as famous as the Three Warriors ²¹and was more famous than the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was their commander, but he never became one of the Three Warriors.^[b]

²²Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. One time he killed two of Moab's best fighters, and one snowy day he went into a pit and killed a lion. ²³Another time he killed an Egyptian who was over two meters tall and was armed with a spear. Benaiah only had a club, so he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it. ²⁴Benaiah did things like that; he was just as brave as the Three Warriors, ²⁵even though he never became one of them. And he was certainly as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. So David made him the leader of his own bodyguard.

^26-47Here is a list of the other famous warriors:

Asahel the brother of Joab; Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem; Shammoth from Haror; Helez from Pelon; Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai^[c] the Ahohite; Maharai from Netophah; Heled the son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai the son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin; Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai^[d] from near the streams on Mount Gaash; Abiel from Arbah; Azmaveth from Baharum; Eliahba from Shaalbon; Hashem^[e] the Gizonite; Jonathan the son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite; Eliphal the son of Ur; Hepher from Mecherah; Ahijah from Pelon; Hezro from Carmel; Naarai the son of Ezbai; Joel the brother of Nathan; Mibhar the son of Hagri; Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth who carried Joab's weapons; Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; Uriah the Hittite; Zabad the son of Ahlai; Adina the son of Shiza, a leader in the Reuben tribe, and 30 of his soldiers; Hanan the son of Maacah; Joshaphat from Mithan; Uzzia from Ashterah; Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham from Aroer; Jediael and Joha the sons of Shimri from Tiz; Eliel from Mahavah; Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam; Ithmah from Moab; Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Mezobah.

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Footnotes

11.20 the Thirty Warriors: One ancient translation; Hebrew “the Three Warriors.” The “Thirty Warriors” was the second most honored group of warriors and may have also been officers in the army.
11.20,21 Warriors: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of these verses.
11.26-47 Ilai: Or “Zalmon” (see 2 Samuel 23.24-39).
11.26-47 Hurai: Or “Hiddai” (see 2 Samuel 23.24-39).
11.26-47 Hashem: One ancient translation; Hebrew “the sons of Hashem.”