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;
32. Hurai from the Brooks of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;
33. Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34. the sons of Hashem the Gizonite; Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite;