NSB(i)
13 At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim.
14 David was on a fortified hill. A group of Philistines occupied Bethlehem.
15 David grew homesick. He said: »I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!«
16 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.
17 David said: »Jehovah, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!« So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.
18 Joab’s brother Abishai led the Thirty Warriors. In one battle he killed three hundred men with his spear. He was as famous as the Three Warriors.
19 In fact he was just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was the commander of the Thirty Warriors. Yet he still did not become one of the Three Warriors.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. He killed two of Moab’s best fighters. On a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
21 He killed an Egyptian as big as a giant. The Egyptian was armed with a spear. Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah grabbed the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it.
22 Benaiah never became one of the Three Warriors. He was just as famous as they were and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. David made him the leader of his bodyguard.
23 He was honored over the rest of the Thirty Warriors. But he was not equal to the first three. David made him in charge over the fighting men who kept him safe.
24 One of the thirty was Joab’s brother Asahel. The thirty leading men were Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25 Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai son of Hushai,
28 Zalmon descendant of Ahohi, Maharai from Netophah,
29 Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30 Benaiah from Pirathon, Hiddai from the Gaash ravines,
31 Abi Albon from Beth Arabah, Azmaveth from Bahurim,
32 Elihba from Shaalbon, Bene Jashen,
33 Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai and grandson of a man from Maacah, Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo,
35 Hezrai from Carmel, Paarai from Arabah,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani from the tribe of Gad,
37 Zelek from Ammon, Naharai from Beeroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,
38 Ira descendant of Ithra, Gareb descendant of Ithra,
39 and Uriah the Hittite, thirty-seven in all.