Old Testament

New Testament

2 Samuel 23:14-34 Modern English Version (MEV)

14. At that time, David was in the stronghold while the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15. David said longingly, “O that someone would give me a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem by the gate!”

16. The three warriors breached the Philistine camp and drew up water from the well in Bethlehem by the gate, and they brought it to David. However, he was not willing to drink it, so he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.

17. He said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, to drink this, the blood of the men who risked their lives.” So he was not willing to drink it.These things the three warriors did.

18. Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and won a name beside the three.

19. Was he more honored than the three? He became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

20. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done great acts. He struck down two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.

21. He struck down an Egyptian, an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, seized the spear from the Egyptian, and killed him with his own spear.

22. These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did and won for himself a name alongside the three.

23. He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. So David set him over his bodyguard.

24. Among the thirty wereAsahel the brother of Joab,Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25. Shammah the Harodite,Elika the Harodite,

26. Helez the Paltite,Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27. Abiezer the Anathothite,Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28. Zalmon the Ahohite,Maharai the Netophathite,

29. Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,Ithai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin,

30. Benaiah the Pirathonite,Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

31. Abi-Albon the Arbathite,Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite,of the sons of Jashen,Jonathan,

33. Shammah the Hararite,Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34. Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maakathite,Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

Read complete chapter 2 Samuel 23