14. but they took a stand in the middle of the plot; they defended it and struck down the Philistines. Adonai delivered a great victory.
15. Three of the 30 leaders went down to David at the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16. At that time, David was in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem.
17. David had a craving and said, “If only someone would give me water to drink from the cistern by the gate in Bethlehem!”
18. So the three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern by the gate in Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. He poured it out to Adonai
19. and said: “Far be it for me that I should do this before my God! Can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?”—for they brought it at the risk of their lives and he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the Three mighty men.
20. Abishai, Joab’s brother, was chief of the Three. He once wielded his spear against 300 and slew them. Thus he won a name among the Three.
21. Of the Three, he was more highly esteemed than the other two and became their commander, even though he was not one of the three.
22. Beniah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man from Kabzeel who had done mighty deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab, and went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.
23. He also killed the giant Egyptian man who was five cubits tall. In his hand the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam, yet Beniah attacked him with a club. He snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
24. These were the exploits of Beniah son of Jehoiada, who gained renown among the three mighty men.
25. Behold, he was more honorable than the 30, yet he was not one of the Three. Nevertheless, David set him over his bodyguard.
26. The mighty men were: Asael Joab’s brother, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
27. Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28. Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29. Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30. Mahrai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31. Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,