2 Samuel 23:8-39

David’s Mighty Warriors

8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,[a] a Tahkemonite,[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[c] in one encounter.
9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,
10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.
17 “Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[e] 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 son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, 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 the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai[f] the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heled[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai[h] from the ravines of Gaash,
31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
33 son of[i] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar[j] the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,[k]
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite
39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

Cross References 34

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 17:10
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 27:2
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 27:4
  • 4. 1 Chronicles 8:4
  • 5. S Genesis 38:1; S Joshua 12:15; 1 Samuel 22:1
  • 6. S Joshua 17:15; 2 Samuel 5:18
  • 7. 1 Samuel 22:4-5; S 2 Samuel 5:17
  • 8. Ruth 1:19
  • 9. S Genesis 35:14
  • 10. Leviticus 17:10-12
  • 11. S 1 Samuel 26:6; 2 Samuel 10:10,14; 1 Chronicles 11:20
  • 12. S 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Chronicles 27:5
  • 13. Joshua 15:21
  • 14. S 2 Samuel 2:18
  • 15. Judges 7:1; 1 Chronicles 11:27
  • 16. 1 Chronicles 27:10
  • 17. 1 Chronicles 27:9
  • 18. 1 Chronicles 27:12
  • 19. S Joshua 21:18
  • 20. 1 Chronicles 27:13
  • 21. 2 Kings 25:23; Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26; Jeremiah 40:8
  • 22. 1 Chronicles 27:15
  • 23. S Joshua 15:57
  • 24. S Judges 12:13
  • 25. Joshua 24:30
  • 26. 2 Samuel 3:16
  • 27. S Deuteronomy 3:14
  • 28. S 2 Samuel 11:3
  • 29. S 2 Samuel 15:12
  • 30. S Joshua 12:22
  • 31. S 1 Samuel 14:47
  • 32. S Joshua 9:17
  • 33. 2 Samuel 20:26; 1 Chronicles 2:53
  • 34. 2 Samuel 11:3

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest "Ish-Bosheth," that is, "Esh-Baal" (see also 1 Chron. 11:11 "Jashobeam" ).
  • [b]. Probably a variant of "Hakmonite" (see 1 Chron. 11:11)
  • [c]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts "Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men"
  • [d]. See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew "gathered there" .
  • [e]. Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac "Thirty"
  • [f]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew "Mebunnai"
  • [g]. Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts "Heleb"
  • [h]. Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) "Hurai"
  • [i]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have "son of."
  • [j]. Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) "Sakar"
  • [k]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew "Haggadi"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.