Benaiah

Benai´ah, son of Jehoiada, and commander of David’s guard (the Cherethites and Pelethites, 2Sa 8:18). His exploits were celebrated in Israel. He overcame two Moabitish champions (’lions of God’), slew an Egyptian giant with his own spear, and went down into an exhausted cistern and destroyed a lion which had fallen into it when covered with snow (2Sa 23:21). Benaiah (doubtless with the guard he commanded) adhered to Solomon when Joab and others attempted to set up Adonijah; and when that attempt failed, he, as belonged to his office, was sent to put Joab to death, after which he was appointed commander in chief in his place (1Ki 1:36; 1Ki 2:29). Some persons named Benaiah returned from the exile with Ezra (Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43).

Son of Jehoiada, and commander of David’s bodyguards. Several instances of his rare bravery are recorded, 2Sa 8:18 2Sa 23:20-23 . He adhered to Solomon when some favored the pretensions of Adonijah, slew Joab at the command of Solomon, and was made general of the army in his stead, 1Ki 1:36 2:29-35.\par

Bena’iah. (made by the Lord).

1. The son of Jehoiada, the chief priest, 1Ch 27:5, of the tribe of Levi, though a native of Kabzeel, 2Sa 23:20, set by David, 1Ch 11:25, over his body-guard. 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ch 18:17.

One of the mighty men. 2Sa 23:22-23; 1Ch 11:25; 1Ch 27:6. The exploits which gave him this rank are narrated in 2Sa 23:20-21; 1Ch 11:22. He was captain of the host for the third month. 1Ch 27:5. Benaiah remained faithful to Solomon, during Adonijah’s attempt on the crown, 1Ki 1:8: 1Ki 1:10: 1Ki 1:32: 1Ki 1:38: 1Ki 1:44, and was raised unto the place of Joab, as commander-in-chief of the whole army. 1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 4:4. (B.C. 1005).

2. Benaiah, the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, one of David’s thirty mighty men, 2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31. And the captain of the eleventh monthly course. 1Ch 27:14.

3. A Levite, in the time of David, who "played with a psaltry on Alamoth." 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5.

4. A priest, in the time of David, appointed to blow the trumpet, before the ark. 1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:6.

5. A Levite, of the sons of Asaph. 2Ch 20:14.

6. A Levite, in the time of Hezekiah. 2Ch 31:13.

7. One of the "princes" of the families of Simeon. 1Ch 4:36.

8. Four laymen in the time of Ezra who had taken strange wives. Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43.

9. The father of Pelatiah. Eze 11:1; Eze 11:13.

("whom Jehovah builds up".) Son of Jehoiada, the chief priest (1Ch 27:5), so of the tribe of Levi, though of Kabzeel in S. Judah (2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22; 1Ch 11:25; 1Ch 18:17; 1Ch 27:6); set over David’s body guard, the Cherethites and Pelethites (2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23; 2Sa 23:20; 2Sa 23:22-23; 1Ki 1:38). Midway between the first three of "the mighty men" (gibborim), and the 30 "valiant men of the armies." "Mighty among the 30, and above the 30."

He earned his position by slaying "two lion-like men of Moab," and "a lion in a pit in a snowy day," and "an Egyptian of great stature, a goodly man (2Sa 23:21), five cubits high," out of whose hand he plucked the spear like a weaver’s beam, "and slew him with his own spear" (1Ch 11:22-23). Having remained faithful in Adonijah’s rebellion (1Ki 1:8; 1Ki 1:10; 1Ki 1:32-38; 1Ki 1:44), and having by Solomon’s command slain him and Joab, he was promoted to the latter’s post as commander in chief (1Ki 2:25; 1Ki 2:34-35; 1Ki 4:4). Jehoiada, father of Benaiah, was next after Ahithophel in David’s court (1Ch 27:34). Eight others of the name are mentioned.

1. One of David’s 30 "valiant men of the armies," the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, captain of the 11th monthly course (2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31; 1Ch 27:14).

2. A Levite of David’s time who "played with a psaltery on alamoth" (1Ch 15:18-20; 1Ch 16:5).

3. A priest in David’s time who blew the trumpet before the ark (1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:6).

4. A Levite of the sons of Asaph (2Ch 20:14).

5. A Levite overseer of offerings, under Hezekiah (2Ch 31:13).

6. A prince in the family of Simeon (1Ch 4:36).

7. Four who took strange wives (Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43).

8. Father of Pelatiah, a prince of the people, who gave presumptuous counsel against Ezekiel’s inspired warnings, and was visited with death (Ezekiel 11).

(Heb. Benayah’, בְּנָיָה, built [i.e. made or sustained] by Jehovah, 2Sa 20:23; 1Ch 4:36; 1Ch 11:22; 1Ch 11:31; 1Ch 27:14; 2Ch 20:14; Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43; Eze 11:23; elsewhere and oftener in the prolonged form, בְּנָיָהוּ, Benaya’hu; Sept. generally [also Josephus, Ant. 7, 11, 8] Βαναίας, in Chron. occasionally v. r. Βαναία, and in Ezra Βαναϊvα, rarely any other v. r., e.g. Βαναϊvας, Βαναϊv), the name of a large number of men in the O.T.

1. The son of Jehoiada a chief-priest (1Ch 27:5), and therefore of the tribe of Levi, though a native of Kabzeel (2Sa 23:20; 1Ch 11:22), in the south of Judah; set by David (1Ch 11:24) over his body-guard of Cherethites and Pelethites (2Sa 8:18; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ch 18:17; 2Sa 20:23), and occupying a middle rank between the first three of the Gibborim, or “mighty men,” and the thirty “valiant men of the armies” (2Sa 23:22; 2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:24; 1Ch 27:6; and see Kennicott, Diss. p. 177). The exploits which gave him this rank are narrated in 2Sa 23:20-21; 1Ch 11:22 : he overcame two Moabitish champions (“lions of God”), slew an Egyptian giant with his own spear, and went down into an exhausted cistern and destroyed a lion which had fallen into it when covered with snow. He was captain of the host for the third month (1Ch 27:5). B.C. 1046. Benaiah remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah’s attempt on the crown (1Ki 1:8; 1Ki 1:10; 1Ki 1:26), a matter in which he took part in his official capacity as commander of the king’s body-guard (1Ki 1:32; 1Ki 1:36; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ki 1:44); and after Adonijah and Joab had both been put to death by his hand (1Ki 2:25; 1Ki 2:29-30; 1Ki 2:34), as well as Shimei (1Ki 2:46), he was raised by Solomon into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the whole army (1 Kings 2, 35; 4, 4). B.C. 1015. SEE DAVID.

Benaiah appears to have had a son called, after his grandfather, Jehoiada, who succeeded Ahithophel about the person of the king (1Ch 27:34). But this is possibly a copyist’s mistake for “Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada.” — Smith, s.v.

2. A Pirathonite of the tribe of Ephraim, one of David’s thirty mighty men (2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31), and the captain of the eleventh monthly course (1Ch 27:14). B.C. 1044. SEE DAVID.

3. A Levite in the time of David, who “played with a psaltery on Alamoth” at the removal of the ark (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5). B.C. 1043.

4. A priest in the time of David, appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark when brought to Jerusalem (1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:6). B.C. 1043.

5. The son of Jeiel, and father of Zechariah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph (2Ch 20:14). B.C. considerably ante 890.

6. A Levite in the time of Hezekiah, one of the “overseers (פְּקַידַים) of offerings” (2Ch 31:13). B.C. 726.

7. One of the “princes” (נְשַׂיאַים) of the families of Simeon who dispossessed the Amalekites from the pasture-grounds of Gedor (1Ch 4:36). B.C. cir. 713.

8. The father of Pelatiah, which latter was “a prince of the people” in the time of Ezekiel (Eze 11:1; Eze 11:13). B.C. ante 571.

9. One of the “sons” of Parosh, who divorced his Gentile wife after the return from Babylon (Ezr 10:25). B.C. 458.

10. Another Israelite, of the “sons” of Pahathmoab, who did the same (Ezr 10:30). B.C. 458.

11. Another, of the “sons” of Bani, who did likewise (Ezr 10:35). B.C. 458.

12. A fourth, of the “sons” of Nebo, who did the same (Ezr 10:43). B.C. 458.

Benaiah (be-nâ’yah). whom Jehovah has built. One of David’s distinguished officers, who succeeded, after Joab’s death, to the command of the Hebrew army. 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 23:20-23. There are twelve persons of this name mentioned in the Bible.

[Benai’ah]

1. Son of Jehoiada, and officer in David’s and Solomon’s army, perhaps chief of their body-guard. 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23; 2Sa 23:20; 2Sa 23:22; 1Ki 1:8-44; 1Ki 2:25-46; 1Ki 4:4; 1Ch 11:24; 1Ch 18:17; 1Ch 27:5-6.

2. One of David’s valiant men, a Pirathonite. 2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31; 1Ch 27:14.

3. Prince of a family of Simeon. 1Ch 4:36.

4. Levite and ’porter,’ 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5.

5. Priest who blew the trumpet before the ark. 1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:6.

6. Father of Jehoiada, one of David’s counsellors. 1Ch 27:34.

7. Levite descendant of Asaph. 2Ch 20:14.

8. Levite, overseer of the temple-offerings. 2Ch 31:13.

9. Father of Pelatiah, prince of Judah. Eze 11:1; Eze 11:13.

10-13. Four who had married strange wives. Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43.

(Hebrew, "Benayallu" or "Benayah," "the Lord hath built").

By: Morris Jastrow, Jr., Gerson B. Levi, Marcus Jastrow, Louis Ginzberg

Table of Contents

—Biblical Data:

—In Rabbinical Literature:

—Biblical Data:

1. One of the Bene Parosh who took foreign wives (Ezra x. 25); in I Esd. ix. 26 he is called "Baanias."

2. One of the Bene Pahath-moab in the same list (Ezra x. 30), called "Naidus" in I Esd. ix. 31.

3. One of the Bene Bani in the same list (Ezra x. 35); he is called "Mabdai" in I Esd. ix. 34.

4. One of the Bene Nebo in the same list (Ezra x. 43); he is called "Banaias" in I Esd. ix. 35.

5. A. Simeonite chief (I Chron. iv. 36).

6. Son of Jeiel, and grandfather of the Jahaziel who brought a message of encouragement to Jehoshaphat (II Chron. xx. 14).

7. Father of Pelatiah, the prince of the people denounced by Ezekiel (Ezek. xi. 1, 13).

8. The Pirathonite, one of the thirty valiant men of David (I Chron. xi. 31; II Sam. xxiii. 30), commanding the army in the eleventh month (I Chron. xxvii. 14).

9. A Levite singer (I Chron. xv. 18), who also played in the Temple service (I Chron. xv. 20, xvi. 5).

10. A priest, one of those who "did blow with the trumpets before the ark" (I Chron. xv. 24, xvi. 6).

11. A Levite in the reign of Hezekiah, who assisted in keeping the offerings brought to the Temple (II Chron. xxxi. 13).

12. Son of Jehoiada, a priest (I Chron. xxvii. 5) who distinguished himself in military affairs under David, and later on in Solomon's reign. Three of his exploits are particularly mentioned: (1) the slaughter of the two Ariels of Moab; (2) the killing of a lion that had been trapped in a pit: Benaiah descended into the pit and there battled with the beast; (3) the overthrow of an Egyptian or a Miẓri, from whom he wrenched his weapon and slew him with it (II Sam. xxiii. 20-22 = I Chron. xi. 22-25). Officially Benaiah held various positions. He commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites (II Sam. viii. 18, xx. 23); was placed by David over the guard (I Chron. xi. 25; II Sam. xxiii. 23); and commanded the army in the third month (I Chron. xxvii. 5). In Adonijah's attempt at the kingship, Benaiah sided with Solomon (I Kings i. 8 et seq.) and took part in proclaiming the latter king. On the death of David, Benaiah, by order of Solomon, put Joab and Adonijah to death (I Kings ii. 25). Later Benaiah succeeded to the supreme command of the army (I Kings ii. 35). Along with the other priest Abiathar, Benaiah acted as one of the counselors of King David (I Chron. xxvii. 34; the reading "Jehoiada ben Benaiah" is evidently wrong).

—In Rabbinical Literature:

The Rabbis taught that Benaiah was president of the Sanhedrin under David (Ber. 4a). His position as leader of the Jewish scholars is declared to be indicated in II Sam. xxiii. 20, the verse being expounded as follows: Benaiah was a man, ("son of a valiant man," A. V.; Hebr., "son of a man living"), who could be called "alive" even after his death; "who had done many acts"; of "Kabzeel," i.e., he was very active in behalf of the Torah ("kabaẓ," he collected; "el," for God). "He slew two sons of Ariel." There was noone like him either at the time of the first or of the second Temple, Ariel, "lion of God," being a symbolic name for Temple. "He went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow," may be interpreted either that he broke the ice in order to perform prescribed ablutions, or, figuratively, that he studied on a winter's day the great and abstruse book, Sifra (Ber. 18b; Targ. II Sam. l.c.).

Benaiah also occupied an eminent position under Solomon, being his chancellor and best friend. When the queen of Sheba was coming to visit Solomon, the latter sent Benaiah, whose beauty resembled the morning star, to meet her; he shone among his companions like Venus among the other stars (Targ. Sheni on Esther i. 2; ed. Munk, p. 9). When the queen saw him, she thought him Solomon, and was about to fall on her knees before him; when he told her who he was, she said to her companions: "Although ye have not seen the lion, ye have seen his den; judging by Benaiah, ye may form for yourselves an idea of Solomon" (l.c. p. 10). When Solomon returned to Jerusalem after his long wanderings (compare Solomon in Rabbinical Literature), he at once went to Benaiah and reminded him of the times past, giving such details that the latter could not doubt that he was talking with Solomon (Midrash "Shir ha-Shirim," ed. Grünhut, p. 30a; compare Giṭ. 68b; see also Jellinek, "B. H." vi. 124-126). In the cabalistic literature Benaiah is counted among the thirty pious ones who exist in every generation in order that the world may continue (Zohar i. 105b; compare i. 6b).

BENAIAH (‘Jah hath built’).—1. A brave soldier from Kabzeel in Judah (2Sa 23:20 ff.), captain of David’s bodyguard (2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23). He became a partisan of Solomon’s and carried’ the mighty men,’ ‘the Cherethites and Pelethites,’ with him (1Ki 1:7-8; 1Ki 1:38). He played an important role in the young king’s coronation (1Ki 1:38; 1Ki 1:44), and was subsequently ordered to dispatch Joab, whose place as commander-in-chief he then filled (1Ki 2:28-35). 2. One of the thirty who formed the second class of David’s heroes (2Sa 23:22). He came from Pirathon in Mt. Ephraim (2Sa 23:30, cf. Jdg 12:15). 1Ch 27:14 assigns to him the command of the course for the eleventh month, with twenty-four thousand Ephraimites under him. 3. Some ten obscure persons of this name appear in 1Ch 4:36; 1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:5-6, 2Ch 20:14; 2Ch 31:13, Ezr 10:25; Ezr 10:30; Ezr 10:35; Ezr 10:43, Eze 11:1; Eze 11:13.

J. Taylor.

bē̇-nā´ya, bē̇-nı̄´a (בּניה, b^enāyāh, בּניהוּ, b^enāyāhū, “Yahweh has built.” Compare HPN, 182, 265, 268):

(1) Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel (compare Jos 15:21), was a man of “mighty deeds” and was more honorable than any of the mighty men of David except the three chiefs. Therefore David made him his chief counselor (2Sa 23:23 m; compare 1Ch 27:34 where the order of names seems to be reversed) and set him over the Cherethites (compare Carites, 2Ki 11:4 and margin) and Pelethites and he was made the 3rd captain of the host and chief over the course of the 3rd month (1Ch 27:5 f; 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23; 1Ch 18:17; 2Sa 23:20; 2Sa 11:22). Being a true friend of David (compare 2Sa 15:18) he did not take part in the usurpation of Adonijah (1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:10, 1Ki 1:26), and was therefore with others chosen by the king to proclaim Solomon king over Israel (1Ki 1:32) and later by Solomon to execute Adonijah (1Ki 2:25), Joab (1Ki 2:29), and Shimei (1Ki 2:46). In recognition of his services Solomon appointed him over the host in Joab’s place (1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 4:4).

(2) Benaiah, a Pirathonite (compare Jdg 12:13, Jdg 12:15), was one of David’s 30 mighty men (2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31). He was captain over the course of the 11th month numbering 24,000 (1Ch 27:14).

(3) A ruler of the house of Simeon (1Ch 4:36).

(4) A Levite of second degree appointed as singer (1Ch 15:18) with “psalteries Set to Alamoth” (1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:5).

(5) A priest appointed “to blow the trumpet before the ark of God” (1Ch 15:24; 1Ch 16:6).

(6) The father of Jehoiada (1Ch 27:34), but see (1) above.

(7) An ancestor of Jahaziel of the house of Asaph (2Ch 20:14).

(8) An overseer in the service of Hezekiah (2Ch 31:13).

(9, 10, 11, 12) Four different men of Israel who had taken “strange wives” (Ezr 10:25, Ezr 10:30, Ezr 10:35, Ezr 10:43).

(13) The father of Pelatiah who was seen by Ezekiel in his vision (Eze 11:1, Eze 11:13).