Benaiah בְּנָיָ֫הוּ
Son of Jehoiada, a mighty warrior and loyal supporter of David and Solomon.
Who is Benaiah in the Bible?
Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada and a mighty warrior who served as a trusted military commander under both King David and King Solomon. He gained renown for his extraordinary exploits, including killing two Moabite warriors, a lion in a pit, and an Egyptian giant (2 Samuel 23:20-22). During David's reign, Benaiah held prominent positions such as commander of the king's bodyguard (2 Samuel 8:18, 20:23), and he remained fiercely loyal to Solomon during the succession crisis, helping to secure Solomon's position as king (1 Kings 1:8, 32-44). Solomon later appointed him as commander of his entire army (1 Kings 2:35, 1 Chronicles 27:5-6), and Benaiah executed the king's orders to eliminate threats to the throne, including Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei (1 Kings 2:25, 29-46). His unwavering loyalty and military skill made him one of the most significant figures in establishing Solomon's secure reign.
Biography
Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was a prominent figure during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. He is first mentioned as one of David's mighty men, known for his bravery and military prowess (2Sa.23.20-23; 1Ch.11.22-25). Benaiah's exploits included killing two warriors of Moab, a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and an Egyptian giant. He was highly respected and held leadership positions in David's army, such as being the head of the king's bodyguard (2Sa.8.18; 20.23). During the succession crisis at the end of David's reign, Benaiah remained loyal to Solomon and played a crucial role in establishing him as king (1Ki.1.8, 10, 32-44). He carried out Solomon's orders to execute Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, effectively removing potential threats to the new king's reign (1Ki.2.25, 29-46). Under Solomon's rule, Benaiah served as the commander of the army (1Ki.4.4) and was part of the king's inner circle of advisors. His loyalty, military skills, and unwavering support for the Davidic dynasty made him an invaluable asset to both David and Solomon.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Samuel 4 verses
- 2 Samuel 8:18
"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders."
- 2 Samuel 20:23
"Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;"
- 2 Samuel 23:20
"And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion."
- 2 Samuel 23:22
"These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men."
1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 1:8
"But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah."
- 1 Kings 1:10
"But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon."
- 1 Kings 1:26
"But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon."
- 1 Kings 1:32
"Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king."
- 1 Kings 1:36
"“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it."
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 11:22
"And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion."
- 1 Chronicles 11:24
"These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men."
- 1 Chronicles 18:17
"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side."
- 1 Chronicles 27:5
"The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were 24,000 men in his division."
- 1 Chronicles 27:6
"This Benaiah was mighty among the Thirty and was over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בְּנָיָ֫הוּ |