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2 SAM UEL 24
page 295
He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.*
9 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar
son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled.
10 He killed Philistines until his hand was too
tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him
a great victory that day. The rest of the army
did not return until it was time to collect the
plunder!
11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee
from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at
Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of
lentils. The Israelite army fled, 12 but Shammah*
held his ground in the middle of the field and
beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought
about a great victory.
13 Once during the harvest, when David was
at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was
camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three
(who were among the Thirty—an elite group
among David’s fighting men) went down to
meet him there. 14 David was staying in the
stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
15 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh,
how I would love some of that good water from
the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16 So the Three
broke through the Philistine lines, drew some
water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem,
and brought it back to David. But he refused to
drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering
to the Lord. 17 “The Lord forbid that I should drink
this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as
the blood of these men* who risked their lives to
bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These
are examples of the exploits of the Three.
20 There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada,
a valiant warrior* from Kabzeel. He did many
heroic deeds, which included killing two champions* of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day,
he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.
21 Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with
a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the
Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. 22 Deeds
like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three
mightiest warriors. 23 He was more honored than
the other members of the Thirty, though he was
not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.
24 Other members of the Thirty included:
David’s Thirty Mighty Men
18 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab,
was the leader of the Thirty.* He once used
his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single
battle. It was by such feats that he became as
famous as the Three. 19 Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty* and was their commander,
though he was not one of the Three.
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23:8c As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:11);
the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, though it might
be rendered the Three. It was Adino the Eznite who killed
800 men at one time. 23:12 Hebrew he. 23:17 Hebrew Shall
I drink the blood of these men? 23:18 As in a few Hebrew
manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts
read the Three. 23:19 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads
the Three. 23:20a Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai.
23:20b Hebrew two of Ariel. 23:26 As in parallel text at 1 Chr
11:27 (see also 1 Chr 27:10); Hebrew reads from Palti. 23:27 As
in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:29); Hebrew
reads Mebunnai. 23:29a As in some Hebrew manuscripts
(see also 1 Chr 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts read Heleb.
23:29b As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:31; Hebrew reads Ittai.
23:30a As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:32);
Hebrew reads Hiddai. 23:30b Or from the ravines of Gaash.
23:33 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:34; Hebrew reads Jonathan,
Shammah; some Greek manuscripts read Jonathan son of
Shammah. 24:2 As in Greek version (see also 24:4 and 1 Chr
21:2); Hebrew reads Joab the commander.
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Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;
Helez from Pelon*;
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai* from Hushah;
Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;
Heled* son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai* son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land
of Benjamin);
Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hurai* from Nahale-gaash*;
Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;
Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan 33 son of Shagee* from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;
Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;
Zelek from Ammon;
Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of
Joab son of Zeruiah;
Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;
Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
David Takes a Census
Once again the anger of the Lord burned
against Israel, and he caused David to
harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the
people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him.
2 So the king said to Joab and the commanders* of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes
of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba
in the south—so I may know how many people
there are.”
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