Bible Dictionaries
Benaiah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(bee nawee' uh) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh has built.” 1. Captain of David's professional soldiers (2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23 ), known for heroic feats such as disarming an Egyptian and killing him with his own sword as well as killing a lion in the snow (2 Samuel 23:20-23 ). Still he was not among the top three military advisors of David (2 Samuel 20:23 ). His unquestioned loyalty to David led Adonijah not to include him as he attempted to replace David as king instead of Solomon (1 Kings 1:8-26 ). He followed David's orders and helped annoint Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:32-47 ). He became Solomon's executioner (1 Kings 2:25-46 ) and army commander (1 Kings 4:4 ). 2 . A. Pirathonite who is listed among the elite warriors of David known as the “thirty” (2 Samuel 23:30 ). 3 . In 1 Chronicles 4:36 , a Simeonite prince who was involved in a defeat of the Amalekites. 4. In 1 Chronicles 15:18 , a Levitical musician involved in the processional when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem. 5. In 1 Chronicles 15:24 , a priest who sounded a trumpet when the ark was brought to Jerusalem. 6. In 2 Chronicles 20:14 , an Asaphite, the grandfather of Jahaziel. 7. In 2 Chronicles 31:13 , one of the overseers who assisted in the collection of contributions in the house of the Lord during the reign of Hezekiah. 8. In Ezekiel 11:1 , the father of Pelatiah. 9. In Ezra 10:1 , the name of four Israelite men who put away their foreign wives.