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BENAIAH (bē-nā'ya, Heb. benāyâh, Jehovah has built)

Beniah remained loyal to David until the end, and did not take part in the usurpation of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:8). Therefore he was chosen, with others, to make arrangements for the proclamation of Solomon as king (1:32-40). Under the new king Benaiah was made head of the army (2:35; 4:4) replacing Joab, and executioner of Adonijah (2:25), Joab (2:29) and Shimei (2:46).

2. Benaiah of Pirathon, and of the sons of Ephraim, was one of David’s thirty mighty men (2 Sam 23:30) and later was made commander of 24,000 men responsible for the eleventh month in national affairs (1 Chron 27:14).

3. Benaiah, a ruler listed in the genealogy of the house of Simeon (4:36).

4. Benaiah, a Levite appointed by the Levitical chiefs to the second order of singers under Ethan (15:18) and to play the harp with others “according to Alamoth” (15:20). These appointments were made under the most extensive reorganization of the Levitical service ever attempted in the history of the priesthood. By it David accomplished a magnificent service of song coupled with a beautiful liturgy.

5. Benaiah, one of the priests assigned to blow trumpets before the Ark of the covenant (15:24; 16:5).

6. Benaiah, the father of Jehoiada, the successor of Ahithophel (27:34).

7. Benaiah, the grandfather of Jahaziel of the house of Asaph (2 Chron 20:14).

8. Benaiah, an overseer under Conaniah and Shimei in preparing chambers in the Temple (31:13).

9., 10., 11., 12. Four different men by the same name who had taken “strange wives” in the days of Ezra (Ezra 10:25, 30, 35, 43).

13. Benaiah, the father of Pelatiah whom Ezekiel, in vision, saw among the princes destroying the morale of the people with evil counsel (Ezek 11:1-4).


Jos. Antiq. VII, xi, 8; xii, 4; J. Bright, A History of Israel (1959), 189, 190.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

be-na’-ya, be-ni’-a (benayah, benayahu, "Yahweh has built." Compare HPN, 182, 265, 268):

(2) Benaiah, a Pirathonite (compare Jud 12:13,15), 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).







