9After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle,

10but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.

11After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,

12but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

13Three of the thirty leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,23:13 1Sm 22:1 while a company of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley.

14At that time David was in the stronghold,23:14 1Sm 22:4–5 and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

15David was extremely thirsty23:15 Lit And David craved and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!”

16So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.

17David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.

18Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah,23:18 1Sm 26:3–6 was leader of the Three.23:18 Some Hb mss, Syr read the Thirty He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.

19Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.23:19 1Ch 11:21

20Benaiah son of Jehoiada23:20 2Sm 8:18; 20:23 was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons23:20 LXX; MT omits sons of Ariel23:20 Or two warriors of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

21He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.

22These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors.

23He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

24Among the Thirty were