16. So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord
17. and said, “O Lord, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.
18. Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three.
19. From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.
20. Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.
21. He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
22. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite warriors.
23. He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24. Included with the thirty were the following: 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 the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,