2 Samuel 23:18-39

International Standard Version

David’s Other Valiant Soldiers^(A)

¹⁸ Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the lieutenant^[a] in charge of the platoons.^[b] He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. ¹⁹ He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to^[c] the Three.

²⁰ Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named^[d] Ariel from Moab^[e] and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. ²¹ He also killed a soldier^[f] from Egypt. Of handsome appearance, the Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three warriors. ²³ He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to^[g] the Three. David placed him in charge of his security detail.

²⁴ Among the Thirty were Joab’s brother Asahel, Dodo’s son Elhanan of Bethlehem, ²⁵ Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod, ²⁶ Helez the Paltite,^[h] Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa, ²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, ²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, ²⁹ Baanah’s son Heleb from Netophah, Ribai’s son Ittai from Gibeah of the descendants of Benjamin, ³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash creeks area,^{[i] 31} Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim, ³² Eliahba from Shaalbon, Jashen’s sons, ³³ Shammah’s son from Harar, Sharar the Hararite’s son Ahiam, ³⁴ Ahasbai the Maacathite’s son Eliphelet, Ahithophel the Gilonite’s son Eliam,^{[j] 35} Hezro from Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶ Nathan’s son Igal from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, ³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth (the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab), ³⁸ Ira the Ithrite,^[k] Gareb the Ithrite, ³⁹ and Uriah the Hittite—for a total of 37.