Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, ¹ 

For all the gods of the nations are worthless, ¹  but the Lord made the heavens. ² 

Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors.

The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem, ¹ 

Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, ¹  for God is with you.”

David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. ¹ 

Now the Lord’s tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center ¹  in Gibeon.

The fourth, assigned the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. ¹  His division consisted of 24,000 men.

From Tibhath ¹  and Kun, ²  Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” ³  the pillars, and other bronze items.

David said, “I will express my loyalty ¹  to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal ²  to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. ³  When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, ⁴ 

These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up. ¹