2 Samuel 23:18-39

GOD’S WORD Translation

David’s Thirty Fighting Men^(A)

¹⁸ Joab’s brother Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men. He was as famous as the three ¹⁹ and was honored more than they were. So he became their captain, but he didn’t become a member of the three.

²⁰ Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a pit and killed a lion on the day it snowed. ²¹ And he killed a handsome Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear from him, and killed him with it. ²² These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. ²³ He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.

²⁴ One of the thirty was Joab’s brother Asahel. ⌞The thirty leading men were⌟