New American Bible, Revised Edition

2 Samuel 23:11-23 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

11. Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. The people were fleeing before the Philistines,

12. but he took his stand in the middle of the plot, kept it safe, and cut down the Philistines. Thus the Lord brought about a great victory. Such deeds as these the Three warriors performed.

13. Three of the Thirty chiefs went down to David in the cave of Adullam during the harvest, while a Philistine clan was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14. David was then in the stronghold, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem.

15. Now David had a craving and said, “If only someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem!”

16. Thereupon the three warriors broke through the encampment of the Philistines, drew water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it, and instead poured it out to the Lord,

17. saying: “The Lord forbid that I do such a thing! Could I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he refused to drink it.

18. Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was the chief of the Thirty; he brandished his spear over three hundred whom he had slain. He made a name among the Thirty,

19. but was more famous than any of the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.

20. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of mighty deeds, from Kabzeel, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. Also, he went down and killed the lion in the cistern on a snowy day.

21. He likewise slew an Egyptian, a huge man. The Egyptian carried a spear, but Benaiah came against him with a staff; he wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with that spear.

22. Such deeds as these Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, performed; and he made a name among the Thirty warriors

23. but was more famous than any of the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.