David’s Mighty Men (4)—Courageous, Devoted, and Ready - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.
1 Chronicles 11:22

David's Mighty Men (4)—Courageous, Devoted, and Ready
The name Benaiah means "Yah has built up," and his father Jehoiada, "Yahweh knows." He was from Kabzeel ("God gathers"), the southernmost town in Judah, close to Edom. Our text says that he had done many deeds, or was a doer of great deeds. He had struck down two heroes of Moab and a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. In other words, he was an amazing fighter.

"He killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, five cubits tall" (almost 2.5 meters, or 8 feet). This giant had in his hand "a spear like a weaver's beam; and [Benaiah] went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear" (v. 23). Benaiah was very courageous and won a name among the three mighty men, but was not ranked with them. He was counted with the thirty, probably their most honorable one, a warrior David could always rely on.

David appointed him over his guard corps, the Cherethites and the Pelethites (1 Chr. 18:17). After Absalom's rebellion and Ahithophel's death, Benaiah became David's counselor (27:34). Benaiah was marked by integrity, commitment, and faithfulness: what an example to follow! He was always ready to serve and was also an able administrator, as we may conclude from his position described next. "The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand" (27:5). He was involved in Solomon's coronation (1 Ki. 1:44) and functioned as executioner of those who opposed God's chosen king (2:25, 30). What a man!

Alfred E. Bouter