2 Samuel 23:11-33

11The third of the ‘Three Brave Soldiers’ was Shammah, the son of Agee, who belonged to Harar's clan. The Philistine soldiers had come together in a field of beans. The Israelite soldiers ran away from them.

12But Shammah stood in the middle of the field to stop the Philistines taking it for themselves. He killed the Philistines. The Lord caused him to win a great battle.

13At the time of the harvest, three of David's 30 bravest soldiers went to be with David near Adullam. He was hiding there in a cave. A group of Philistine soldiers had made their camp in Rephaim valley.

14David was in his strong safe place. A group of Philistine soldiers had made their home in Bethlehem.

15David was very thirsty. He said, ‘I want someone to bring water from the well near Bethlehem's gate for me to drink.’

16So the three brave soldiers fought through the Philistine camp and they reached Bethlehem's gate. They took some water from the well there and they carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering to the Lord.

17He said, ‘Lord, it is not right for me to drink this water. It would seem like the blood of the men who fetched it for me. The Philistines might have killed them on the way.’ So David refused to drink it. Those were some of the great things that the three brave soldiers did.

18Abishai was the leader of David's 30 great soldiers. He was the brother of Zeruiah's son Joab. One time, he used his spear to fight 300 men and he killed them all. So he became as famous as the ‘Three Brave Soldiers’.

19He was not one of the ‘Three Brave Soldiers’ but he received more honour than the other 30 great soldiers. So he became their leader.

20Jehoiada's son, Benaiah, was also one of David's brave soldiers. He came from Kabzeel and he did many great things. He killed two of Moab's best soldiers. He also went down into a deep hole to kill a lion when snow was on the ground.

21Benaiah also killed a great Egyptian man who held a spear. Benaiah attacked him with a heavy stick. He took the spear from the Egyptian's hand and he used it to kill him.

22Those were some things that Jehoiada's son Benaiah did. He became as famous as the ‘Three Brave Soldiers’.

23He received more honour than the other 30 great soldiers, but he did not belong to the ‘Three Brave Soldiers’. David made him the leader of his own special soldiers who were his guards.

24These men were among David's 30 great soldiers: Joab's brother Asahel, Elhanan, Dodo's son, from Bethlehem,

25Shammah and Elika, from Harod's clan,

26Helez, from Pelet, Ira, Ikkesh's son, from Tekoa,

27Abiezer, from Anathoth, Mebunnai, from Hushah's clan,

28Zalmon, from Ahoh's clan, Maharai, from Netophah,

29Heleb, Baanah's son, from Netophah, Ittai, Ribai's son, from Gibeah in the land that belonged to Benjamin's tribe,

30Benaiah, from Pirathon, Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash,

31Abi-Albon from Arabah's clan, Azmaveth, from Bahurim,

32Eliahba, from Shaalbon, Jashen's sons, Jonathan,

33Shammah's son, from Harar, Ahiam, Sharar's son, from Harar,