10 The following were the leaders of David’s powerful warriors who together with all Yisrael, strengthened his kingdom and established him as king, just as Yahweh had said. 11 So these are David’s powerful warriors: Yashaveam (a Hakmonite and the leader of the thirty) once used his spear against three hundred men in a single battle and killed them all. 12 Next was Eleazar (an Ahohite, son of Dodo) who was one of the top three powerful warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-Dammim when the Philistines had assembled there for battle near a part of the countryside where barley was growing. At first, the Israelis fled from the Philistines, 14 but then they took their stand in the middle of the barley and proceeded to defeat the Philistines as Yahweh saved them through a stunning victory.

15 Then three of that top thirty went down to David, near the rock at Adullam’s cave. Meanwhile, Philistines had encamped in the Refaim Valley. 16 David was in that stronghold then, and the Philistine garrison was in Beyt-Lehem 17 and David was thirsty and asked, “Who’ll get me water to drink from the well by the Beyt-Lehem gate?” 18 So those three broke through the Philistine camp, and they drew water from the well at the Beyt-Lehem gate, and they brought it back to David. But David wasn’t willing to drink it, and he poured it out on the ground as an offering to Yahweh. 19 “Far be it from me before my God to drink this water,” he said. “Could I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it?” So he wasn’t prepared to drink it. Those were some of the things that those three powerful warriors did.

20 Yoav’s brother Abshai, was the head of a group of three. He had killed three hundred with is spear and had a reputation among the three.[fn] 21 He was honoured more than the other two and became the leader of that second group of three, but didn’t enter the first Three.

22 Yehoyada’s son Benayah from Kavtse’el was a powerful warrior who did amazing things. He struck down Ariel’s two sons from Moab. Another time, he climbed down into a pit on a snowy day and killed the lion that was trapped in the pit. 23 He also killed a huge Egyptian man—well over 2m tall. The Egyptian was carrying a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benayah went down to take him on with a staff. He forced the spear from the Egyptian’s grasp, and then killed him with it. 24 So that was what Benayah (Yehoyada’s son) did that gave him a reputation among the three powerful warriors. 25 Actually, he was honoured more than the Thirty, yet he didn’t make it to the first Three, but David appointed him over his bodyguards.

26 These are the names of the powerful warriors: Asahel (Yoav’s brother), Elhanan (Dodo’s son from Beyt-Lehem), 27 Shammot (from Haror), Helets (from Pelon), 28 Ira (Ikkesh’s son from Tekoa), Aviezer (from Anatot), 29 Sibbekai (from Hushah), Ilai (from Ahoh), 30 Maharai (from Netofah), Heled (Baanah’s son from Netofah), 31 Itai (Rivai’s son from Giveah which belonged to Benyamin’s descendants), Benayah (from Piraton), 32 Hurai (from the valleys near Mt. Gaash), Aviel (from Aravah), 33 Azmavet (from Baharum), Elyahba (from Shaalvon), 34 Hashem’s sons (from Gizon), Yonatan (Shagee’s son from Harar), 35 Ahiam (Sakar’s son from Harar), Elifal (Ur’s son), 36 Hefer (from Mekerat), Ahiyyah (from Pelon), 37 Hezro (from Karmel), Naarai (Ezbai’s son), 38 Yoel (Natan’s brother), Mivhar (Hagri’s son), 39 Tselek (the Ammonite), Naharai (from Beerot, armour bearer for Tseruyah’s son Yoav), 40 Ira (the Yitrite), Garev (the Yitrite), 41 Uryyah (Bat-Sheba’s husband the Hittite), Zavad (Ahlai’s son), 42 Adina (Shiza’s son from the tribe of Reuven, a leader from that tribe who had thirty soldiers with him), 43 Hanan (Maakah’s son), Yoshafat (from Mithna), 44 Uzziyya (from Ashterat), Shama and Yeiel (Hotam’s sons from Aroer), 45 Yediael (Shimri’s son) and his brother Yoha (from Tiz), 46 Eliel (from Mahavah), Yerivai and Yoshaviah (Elnaam’s sons), Yitmah (from Moav), 47 Eliel and Obed, and Yaasiel (from Zobah).