2 Samuel 23:8–29
Translation:
8 These are the names of the heroes who belonged to David. Yeshba’al, the Hakmonite, of the ‘Third-Man Company’. He was wielding his battle axe against eight hundred slain at one time.
9 And after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was among the Three Heroes who were with David when they taunted the Philistines at Ephes Dammim and the Philistines had gathered there for battle. And the men of Israel retreated. 10 He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword and the Lord brought a great deliverance in that day. But the people returned only to strip the slain.
11 And after him was Shammah, the son of Agee, the Hararite. And the Philistines gathered together at Lehi and there was a plot of ground full of lentils and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 And he stood his ground in the middle of the plot and delivered it and struck the Philistines and the Lord brought a great deliverance.
13 And three from the Third-Man Company, a band, went down to protect the harvest, to David, to the cave of Adullam and there was a troop of Philistines camping in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 Now David was then in a stronghold (hill fort), but the outpost of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David had a craving, and he said, “O that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem which is in the gate.” 16 And the Three Heroes broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which is in the gate and they carried it and brought it to David. But he was not willing to drink it and he made them pour it out to Yahweh. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Will I drink the blood of the men who went at the cost of their lives?” And he was not willing to drink it. These things did the Three Heroes.
18 And Abishai, brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah—he belonged to the Third-Man Company. He was brandishing his spear against three hundred slain. And he had a name among the Three. 19 He was honoured more than the Thirty and he became their chief, but he did not attain to the Three.
20 And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was a daring soldier of many exploits from Kabzeel. He struck the two sons of Ariel of Moab and he struck [a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. And he struck] an Egyptian man—who was a fierce looking opponent—and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear. He went down against him with a club and stole the spear from the hand of the Egyptian and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And he had a name among the Three Heroes. He was honored more than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David appointed him to his Guard.
24 Asahel, the brother of Joab was among the Thirty. Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem. 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite. 26 Helez, the Paltite, Ira the son of Iqqesh, of Tekoa. 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Sabbecai the Hushathite. 28 Salmon the Ahohite, Mahrai of Netopha. 29 Cheleb the son of Baanah, of Netopha, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin. 30 Benaiah, the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the Wadis of Gaash 31 Abi-Albon the Arabite, Azmaweth the Barhumite. 32 Eliachba, the Shaalbonite, Yashen the Gunite, Jonathan the son of 33 Shammah the Harodite, Achiam, the son of Sarid, the Ararite. 34 Elipheleth the son of Ahasbai the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite 35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paari the Arbite. 36 Yigael the son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite?, 37 Zeleq the Ammonite, Nahrai the Beeronite, armour bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah. 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite. 39 Uriah the Hittite. In all, thirty-seven.
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