16. At that time David was in a stronghold, and some of the Philistines were in Bethlehem.
17. David had a strong desire 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 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 the Lord,
19. saying, “May God keep me from drinking this water! It would be like drinking 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 that the three warriors did.
20. Abishai brother of Joab was the captain of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He became as famous as the Three
21. and was more honored than the Three. He became their commander even though he was not one of them.
22. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed two of the best warriors 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 tall and had a spear as large as a weaver’s rod. Benaiah had a club, but he grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
24. These were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He was as famous as the Three.
25. He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguards.
26. These were also mighty warriors:Asahel brother of Joab;Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
27. Shammoth the Harorite;Helez the Pelonite;
28. Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;Abiezer the Anathothite;
29. Sibbecai the Hushathite;Ilai the Ahohite;
30. Maharai the Netophathite;Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
31. Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;Benaiah the Pirathonite;