Benaiah
“Yahweh has built, or whom Yahweh has built up”
Summary
The captain of David's bodyguard and one of his mightiest warriors, who remained loyal to Solomon and was rewarded with command of the entire army.
☩Origin and Service to David
Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada the chief priest, from Kabzeel in southern Judah. David set him over his personal bodyguard, the Cherethites and Pelethites, and he held a rank between the three greatest mighty men and the thirty valiant warriors. He served as captain of the host for the third month.
☩Heroic Exploits
Three exploits earned Benaiah his legendary status: he slew two 'lion-like men' (champions) of Moab, descended into a pit on a snowy day to kill a lion that had fallen in, and killed an Egyptian giant five cubits tall by wresting away the man's own spear—'like a weaver's beam'—and slaying him with it.
☩Loyalty to Solomon
When Adonijah attempted to seize the throne, Benaiah remained faithful to David and Solomon. He escorted Solomon to his anointing at Gihon. After Solomon became king, Benaiah executed Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei at the king's command. As reward for his loyalty, Solomon elevated Benaiah to Joab's position as commander-in-chief of the entire army.
Related Verses41 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Benaiah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Benaiah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Benaiah," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. II (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).