15. Once David was at the cave of Adullam, and three of the Thirty Heroes went down to meet him by a rock near the cave. At the same time the Philistine army was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16. Another time David was in the fortress, and a group of Philistine soldiers was stationed in Bethlehem.
17. David was thirsty for some water from his hometown, so he said, “Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem.”
18. So the Three Heroes fought their way through the Philistine army and got some water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. They took it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it on the ground as an offering to the Lord.
19. David said, “God, I cannot drink this water. It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives to get this water for me.” That is why David refused to drink the water. The Three Heroes did many brave things like that.
20. Joab’s brother, Abishai, was the leader of the Three Heroes. Abishai used his spear against 300 enemies and killed them. He was as famous as the Three Heroes.
21. Abishai was even more famous than the Three Heroes. He became their leader, even though he was not one of the Three Heroes.
22. Then there was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel. He was the son of a powerful man. Benaiah did many brave things. He killed two of the best soldiers in Moab. One day when it was snowing, Benaiah went down into a hole in the ground and killed a lion.
23. And Benaiah killed a big Egyptian soldier. That man was about 7 1/2 feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear that was very large and heavy. It was as big as the pole on a weaver’s loom. Benaiah had only a club. He grabbed the spear in the Egyptian’s hands and took it away from him. Then Benaiah killed the Egyptian with his own spear.
24. Benaiah son of Jehoiada did many brave things like that. He was as famous as the Three Heroes.
25. Benaiah was even more famous than the Thirty Heroes, but he was not one of the Three Heroes. David made Benaiah the leader of his bodyguards.
26. The following men were among the king’s special forces: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodai from Bethlehem;
27. Shammoth the Harodite; Helez the Pelonite;
28. Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth;
29. Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai from Ahoah;
30. Maharai from Netophah; Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;
31. Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin; Benaiah the Pirathonite;