2 Samuel 23:8-39
Expanded Bible
David’s Army(A)
8 These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was ·head of the Three [chief of the captains; C David’s most prestigious soldiers; 1 Chr. 11:11]. He ·used [wielded; brandished] his spear and killed eight hundred men at one time.
9 Next was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three ·soldiers [warriors; champions; mighty men] who were with David when they ·challenged [defied; taunted] the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites ·drew back [had fled/disbanded]. 10 But Eleazar ·stayed where he was [stood his ground] and ·fought [killed; L struck] the Philistines until ·he was so tired his hand [L his hand was so stiff that it] stuck to his sword. The Lord ·gave [brought about] a great victory for the Israelites that day. The troops came back after Eleazar had won the battle, but only to ·take weapons and armor from the enemy [plunder].
11 Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight in a ·vegetable [lentil] field. Israel’s troops ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 12 but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and ·fought for [defended] it and ·killed [L struck] the Philistines. And the Lord ·gave [brought about] a great victory.
13 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief ·soldiers [warriors], came down to him at the cave of Adullam during harvest. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and ·some [L a detachment/garrison] of the Philistines were in Bethlehem.
15 David had a ·strong desire for some water [L craving; longing]. He said, “·Oh, I wish [If only] someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three warriors broke through the Philistine ·army [lines; camp] and ·took [drew] water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out before [C as an offering to] the Lord, 17 saying, “·May the Lord keep me from drinking this water [L The Lord forbid that I should do this]! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink it. ·These [Such] were the ·brave things [exploits; deeds] that the three ·warriors [champions] did.
18 Abishai, brother of Joab son of Zeruiah, was ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [won/earned a name among] the Three 19 and was ·more honored than the Three [or the most honored of the Thirty; C the Hebrew text has “Three”; the Syriac text has “Thirty” and fits the context better]. He became their commander even though he was not one of ·them [L the Three].
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a ·brave [valiant] fighter from Kabzeel who ·did mighty things [performed great/heroic exploits]. He killed two ·of the best warriors [or sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a ·pit [storage well] and killed a lion on a snowy day. 21 Benaiah killed a ·large [impressive; or handsome] Egyptian who had a spear in his hand. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name among] the Three. 23 He ·received more honor than [was honored among] the Thirty, but ·he did not become a member of [was not equal to] the Three. David ·made him leader [put him in charge/command] of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
24 The following men were among the Thirty:
Asahel 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 the Anathothite;
Mebunnai the Hushathite;
28 Zalmon the Ahohite;
Maharai the Netophathite;
29 ·Heled [or Heleb] son of Baanah the Netophathite;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite;
Hiddai 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 Shammah the Hararite;
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
35 Hezro the Carmelite;
Paarai the Arbite;
36 Igal son of Nathan of Zobah;
the son of Hagri;
37 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah;
38 Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite,
39 and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
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1 Chronicles 11:10-47
Expanded Bible
David’s Mighty Warriors(A)
10 ·This is a list of the leaders [These are the chiefs/heads] over David’s ·warriors [T mighty men] who ·helped make David’s kingdom strong [or strongly supported his kingdom]. All the people of Israel also supported David’s kingdom, ·just as the Lord had promised [L according to the word of the Lord].
11 This is a ·list [record; account; roll] of David’s ·warriors [T mighty men]:
Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people. He was the head of the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; C David’s most elite soldiers; 11:26–47; 2 Sam. 23:8–39]. He used his spear to fight three hundred men at one time, and he killed them all.
12 Next was Eleazar, one of the Three. Eleazar was Dodai’s son from the Ahohite people. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines came there to fight. There was a field of barley at that place. The Israelites ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 14 but they ·stopped [took a stand; held their ground] in the middle of that field and ·fought for [defended] it and killed the Philistines. The Lord ·gave them [rescued/saved them with] a great victory.
15 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the ·rock [cliff face] by the cave near Adullam. At the same time the Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16 At that time David was in a stronghold, and ·some of the Philistines [a Philistine detachment/garrison] were in Bethlehem. 17 David had a ·strong desire [craving; longing] for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine ·army [camp; lines] and took water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ·before [as an offering to] the Lord, 19 saying, “·May God keep me from drinking [God forbid that I drink] this water! ·It would be like drinking [L Should I drink…?] the blood of the men who risked their lives to bring it to me!” So David refused to drink it.
These were the ·brave things [kind of things] that the three warriors did.
20 Abishai brother of Joab was the ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [L had a name as did] the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; v. 11] 21 and was more honored than the ·Three [or Thirty]. He became their commander even though he was not ·one of [or equal to] them.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed ·two of the best warriors [or the two sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 Benaiah killed an Egyptian who was ·about seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] tall and had a spear ·as large as [L like] a weaver’s ·rod [beam]. Benaiah had a ·club [staff], but he ·grabbed [wrenched] the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 ·These [Such] were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name as well as] the Three. 25 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David ·made [appointed] him ·leader [captain] of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
26 These were also mighty warriors:
Asahel brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
27 ·Shammoth [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:25] the Harorite;
Helez the ·Pelonite [or Paltite; 2 Sam. 23:26];
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer the Anathothite;
29 ·Sibbecai [or Mebunnai; 2 Sam. 23:27] the Hushathite;
·Ilai [or Zalmon; 2 Sam. 23:28] the Ahohite;
30 Maharai the Netophathite;
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
Benaiah the Pirathonite;
32 ·Hurai [or Hiddai; 2 Sam. 23:30] from the ·ravines [valleys; or brooks] of Gaash;
·Abiel [or Abi-Albon; 2 Sam. 23:31] the Arbathite;
33 Azmaveth the ·Baharumite [or Barhumite; 2 Sam. 23:31];
Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34 the sons of ·Hashem [or Jashen; cf. 2 Sam. 23:32] the Gizonite;
Jonathan son of ·Shagee [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
35 Ahiam son of ·Sacar [or Sharar; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
·Eliphal son of Ur [or Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; 2 Sam. 23:34];
36 Hepher the Mekerathite;
Ahijah the Pelonite;
37 ·Hezro [or Hezrai; 2 Sam. 23:35] the Carmelite;
Naarai son of Ezbai;
38 Joel brother of ·Nathan [or Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, 2 Sam. 23:36];
Mibhar son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Berothite, the ·officer who carried the armor [armor bearer] for Joab son of Zeruiah;
40 Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite;
41 Uriah the Hittite;
Zabad son of Ahlai;
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was the ·leader [chief] of the Reubenites, and his thirty soldiers;
43 Hanan son of Maacah;
Joshaphat the Mithnite;
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite;
Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite;
45 Jediael son of Shimri;
Joha, Jediael’s brother, the Tizite;
46 Eliel the Mahavite;
Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;
Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaites.
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