The list of the great warriors

18 Abishai, Joab’s younger brother, was the leader of the 30 greatest warriors. One day he fought against 300 men and killed them all with his spear. As a result, he also became famous. 19 He was the most famous of the thirty greatest warriors, and he became their leader/commander, but he was not one of the three greatest warriors.

20 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, from Kabzeel town, also did great deeds. He killed two of the best warriors from the Moab people-group. Also, he went down into a pit on a day when snow was falling, and killed a lion there. 21 He also killed a huge soldier from Egypt who carried a spear. Benaiah had only his club, but he attacked the giant with it. Then he snatched the spear from the man’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Those are some of the things that Benaiah did. As a result, he became famous, like the three greatest warriors were. 23 He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.

• 24 These are the names of the great warriors:
  • Asahel, the brother of Joab;
  • Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
  • 25 Shammah and Elika, from the Harod clan;
  • 26 Helez, from Pelet city;
  • Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa town;
  • 27 Abiezer, from Anathoth city;
  • Mebunnai whose other name was Sibbecai, from Hushah’s clan;
  • 28 Zalmon whose other name was Ilai, from Ahoh’s clan;
  • Maharai, from Netophah town;
  • 29 Heleb, the son of Baanah, also from Netophah town;
  • Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah town in the land that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin;
  • 30 Benaiah, from Pirathon town;
  • Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash Mountain;
  • 31 Abi-Albon, from the clan of Arabah;
  • Azmaveth, from Bahurim town;
  • 32 Eliahba, from Shaalbon town;
  • The sons of Jashen;
  • Jonathan;
  • 33 Shammah, from Harar town/clan;
  • Ahiam the son of Sharar, from Harar town/clan;
  • 34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, from Maacah town;
  • Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Gilo town;
  • 35 Hezro, from Carmel city;
  • Paarai, from Arba city;
  • 36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah city;
  • Bani, from the tribe of Gad;
  • 37 Zelek, from the Ammon people-group;
  • Naharai, the man who carried Joab’s weapons, from Beeroth town;
  • 38 Ira and Gareb, from Jattir town;
  • 39 Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, from the Heth people-group.
• Altogether, there were 37 famous soldiers, but some of them had died and their names were not included.