If you hang out with Bible geeks, you’ll eventually hear someone bring up Benaiah, the man in the Bible who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. That’s a pretty legendary feat—but it’s not the only crazy accomplishment Benaiah pulled off.
My friend Jon Deviny made this piece of art. He’s crazy talented: you should follow him on Twitter and check out more of his work!
In fact, Benaiah is one of those cool background characters that’s only mentioned a few times in the Bible, but whenever he shows up, he’s doing something incredible.
I pulled together a list of Benaiah’s feats.
1. Benaiah was in charge of David’s guard
The President of the United States has the Secret Service, and David had a personal guard as well. Benaiah was honored among David’s mighty men, and so David puts him over the bodyguards (2 Sa 23:23).
And boy, did David need bodyguards. There’s always going to be someone who wants the king dead, but David had some high-profile enemies. For example, half the book of First Samuel is about king Saul hunting David down. Saul knows God plans to give the kingdom to David, so Saul tries to kill off the threat to his throne.
And even after Saul dies, Benaiah has his work cut out for him. David’s son Absalom tries to steal the kingdom, and for a while David is on the run again.
But David lives. Benaiah does his job well.
2. Benaiah commands David’s mercenary forces
He didn’t oversee the Hebrew army (that was Joab’s job), but Benaiah did oversee the Cherethites and Pelethites: some nonJewish mercenary forces who fought for David.
Benaiah does, however, take a one-month shift once a year as the leader of David’s army (1 Ch 27:5–6).
3. Benaiah’s father is a priest
Jehoida was a leader among the priests, and had rallied 3,700 men to support David when he was crowned at Hebron (1 Ch 12:21). This means Benaiah is from the tribe of Levi, and a descendant of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel.
4. Benaiah’s grandfather was a valiant man, too
The authors of both Samuel and Chronicles tell us that Benaiah’s grandfather was a valiant man from the town of Kabzeel (2 Sa 23:20; 1 Ch 11:22). We don’t know anything else about him, though.
5. Benaiah killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day
That’s the part everyone remembers about Benaiah (2 Sa 23:20; 1 Ch 11:22), but there’s more to it than that. Right before telling us about the lion, the authors tell us something else Benaiah did …
6. Benaiah killed two Moabite heroes (Ariel)
Here’s where we miss some of the cool wordplay in the Bible. Our English versions will say something like, “he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab” (2 Sa 23:20). That makes us think, “Oh, yeah. Some guy named Ariel had two sons, and Benaiah killed them.”
But OT scholars are still divided on what “sons of Ariel” means. The word Ariel is very similar to the Hebrew word for “lion,” aryeh. The KJV even translates Ariel as “lionlike men.”
If the word is related to lions, then that makes the passage about Benaiah even more epic: “Benaiah was a mighty man. He killed two heroes that were as strong and brave as lions. Also, the dude killed an actual lion.”
7. Benaiah killed an Egyptian giant
David killed Goliath, but he’s not the only giant slayer in the group. Benaiah kills a pretty tall Egyptian—five cubits, or about seven feet tall (1 Ch 11:23).
And he does it in a pretty impressive way, too. The Egyptian has an enormous spear (weaver’s beam–sized), and Benaiah has nothing but a little club. But no worries: Benaiah just snatches the spear from the Egyptian and kills him with that instead.
That’s hardcore.
8. Benaiah makes Solomon king
David had sworn that his son Solomon would be king in his place, but not everyone is rooting for Solomon.
In fact, one of Solomon’s good-looking half-brothers , Adonijah, declares himself king … while David is still alive. Of course, Adonijah is out of line.
Benaiah, however, is loyal to David, and fully backs Solomon (1 Ki 1:36–37). His mercenary army parades Solomon to his coronation (1 Ki 1:38–40). And Benaiah is the one who kills off the men who oppose Solomon (1 Ki 2:24–25, 34, 46), including David’s treacherous army commander Joab.
9. Benaiah becomes Solomon’s general
Having secured the throne for Solomon, Benaiah receives a place of even higher honor in the kingdom. Solomon gives Benaiah Joab’s old position: commander of the king’s army (1 Ki 2:35, 4:4).
Very interesting article. I like the insight you have shared around one of the most talked about Bible heroes. Great article!!!
I recently decided to give myself an English name, and I felt inspired by “In a Pit, With a Lion, On a Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson to choose the name Benaiah; I just felt led to it by God. Thank you so much for expanding my knowledge on my namesake and pointing out the other less famous things he did; I now am a lot prouder to be named after him.
Thanks for this! After walking with God for over 30 years I NEVER saw this story…amazing..
Having the name Benaiah means that you will often need to resubmit documents and forms because someone fillling them out on the other end typically mixes ul that ‘i’ and the two ‘a’s, or they leave out an ‘a’.
“Benaih”
And you’ll get mistaken for a girl by people who haven’t ever seen or heard you.
“Calling Number 185 to the counter, Miss Benaiah?”
People will also sometimes think your Amish.
“Isaiah and Benaiah sound alike, are you Amish?”
I have twin boys aged 3. I called one them Benaiah simply because I liked them meaning, ‘God builds’ At the time I felt God was rebuilding my life after I had waited o Him for 10 years without a child!
This article has given me more insight into this name & Im glad I called him that. It has given me more prayer points for him & will keep prophesying this into his life. Thank you Jesus!
That’s a unique name—I imagine it will start a lot of fun conversations for him in the future.
Just curious: do you call him “Beniah” or do you shorten it in everyday speech (e.g., “Ben,” or “Beni,”)?
From reading the bible old testament it is clear that David and his companions The mighty men ( The three) and the 30 + others who were his commanders “Joab” was an unbelievably strong and powerful warrior that these men were the strongest bravest and most skillful warriors the world has ever known, and i believe because of The deeds of King David killing Goliath ( 12 feet tall) as a 17 year old shepherd boy was the greatest Warrior to ever live just how many deeds he did we arn’t given knowledge of but with all these mighty warriors around him ,he was The best of them all, just a mention to, about Jonathan the bowman who was Davids best friend, He witnessed David slaying Goliath he took on the philistines with his armor-bearer and they killed 20 in one encounter, after climbing a cliff to get to them,he was a very brave and skillful warrior who gave David his weapons and armor after he saw what David did to Goliath ( A tribute of respect for his friend) Eleazar was also very strong he fought a whole army of philistines after Israel fled from them His sword cleaved to his hand he had killed so many for so long. These are not fictional characters from the bible they were real men Warriors with superhuman strength that only God could give them in a time when Warriors were needed to support The Warrior King ( David)who was Gods annointed “A man after god’s own heart “
Wonderful recap of a true example of what it means to follow the LORD.
This is fantastic work!!!! Thanks.
You’ve written the best article on Benaiah. My husband and I are adopting a boy from Korea. When he said he wanted to name him Benaiah, I wasn’t aware of who Benaiah was in the Bible. I’ve shared your post in our adoption FB group to help our supporters connect the name with our hopes and prayers to who our son becomes. Thank you for the well written article!
I liked how Benehiah assisted King Solomon in “cleaning house” I Kings 2:25, 34 and 46″…
For the casual reader…If your dream doesn’t scare you, it probably isn’t big enough.
Reading M. Battersons “Chase the Lion”. Makes ones God sized dreams, even bigger.
Thanks
Thanks, this helped some with my sermon prep.
I am currently reading “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson. I am leading a Bible Study in two weeks about Benaiah and was wondering how you structured your sermon. Any advice would be great.
Thank you,
Mark Batterson’s. Book In a Pit with a lion on a snowy day is amazing. I got to meet him some years back at his church in DC. An incredible guy. Benaiah has become one of my favorite people in the bible
Thank you, Sir! I am SO there!!!
Hey Jeff, thanks for the great article. Quick question: is this Benaiah the father of Pelatiah Eze 11:1?
Good background info, thanks!
Keep it up :) Great stuff! Moar emails please!!!
Wow You are a great teacher.I had no idea who Benaiah even was.Thanks so much!!
elvismarisa1@gmail.com
Thank you for this inside scoop of Benaiah’s life! Geez, what an accomplishment!