17
saying, "There is no way, God, that I'll drink this! This isn't mere water, it's their life-blood - they risked their very lives to bring it!" So David refused to drink it. This is the sort of thing that the Three did.
18
Abishai brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah was the head of the Thirty. He once got credit for killing three hundred with his spear, but he was never named in the same breath as the Three.
19
He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three
20
Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a vigorous man who accomplished a great deal. He once killed two lion cubs in Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion.
21
Another time he killed a formidable Egyptian. The Egyptian was armed with a spear and Benaiah went against him with nothing but a walking stick; he seized the spear from his grip and killed him with his own spear
22
These are the things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada is famous for. But neither did he ever get ranked with the Three.
23
He was held in greatest respect among the Thirty, but he never got included with the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24
"The Thirty" consisted of: Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
25
Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
26
Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
27
Abiezer the Anathothite; Sibbecai the Hushathite;