Benaiah (Heb. Benâyâh, “Yahweh has built” or “Yahweh the builder”; also appears on old Heb. seals). 1. Levite of Cabseel, in Judah (2Sa 23:20), whose father – a head of the priestly house of Aaron – brought 3,700 men to help put David on the throne (1Ch 12:27). Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men, killed 2 Moab lions and an Egyptian giant (2Sa 23:20, 21; 1Ch 11:22, 23). He was the commander of David’s personal guard (2Sa 8:18; 20:23), and also led the military division of the 3rd month (1Ch 27: 5, 6). Along with his forces he remained faithful to the king during Absalom’s rebellion (2Sa 15:18; 20:23) and during Adonijah’s attempt to seize the throne (1Ki 1:8). He was one of those in charge of leading Solomon to the coronation ceremony at Gihon (v 38). Under Solomon he was the commander in chief of the armed forces (2:35), and he carried out the order to execute Adonijah (vs 24, 25), Joab (vs 28-34) and Shimei (vs 36-46). . 2. Pirate man, numbered among the 2nd 155 group of David’s mighty men (2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31), who commanded the military division of the 11th month (1Ch 27:14). 3. Descendant of Simeon (1Ch 4:36). 4. Levite musician who played the lyre in the group that escorted the ark to Jerusalem, and also in the tent David pitched for the ark (1Ch 15:18-20; 16:5). 5. Priest who blew the trumpet in the group that escorted the ark to Jerusalem, and also in the tent that David pitched for it (1Ch 15:24; 16:6). 6. A Levite who descended from Asaph (2Ch 20:14). 7. Overseer Levite in Hezekiah’s service (2Ch 31:13). 8, 9, 10, 11. Four Israelites—one from the family of Paros, one from the family of Pahatmoab, one from the family of Bani, and one from the family of Nebo—each of whom had married a foreign woman in Ezra’s time (Ezr 10:25, 30, 35, 43). 12. Father of Pelatiah, a prince of Judah during exile (Eze 11:1, 13).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
(Jehovah has built). Name of people from the OT.
1. Confidence man of David and Solomon. He was the chief of the Cerethies and Pelethites, that is, of an original group of peoples who lived to the S of the Philistines and who allied themselves with David, and became his personal guard (2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 23 : 22-23). B. was one of David’s mighty men. He became famous because he defeated several champions († œlions †) of Moab. He likewise met an Egyptian of great stature whom he met with only a stick in his hand. He † œgained renown with the three mighty men † (2Sa 23:20-23). He commanded a division with twenty-four thousand men, who were due to be on duty in the third month of each year (1Ch 27:5). He did not follow † ¢ Adonijah in his succession plot against Solomon (1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:10). When David confirmed that Solomon would be king, B. and other leaders crowned him (1Ki 1:33-39). He was responsible for executing Adonijah after he did not behave worthily in the face of the forgiveness granted by Solomon (1 Kings 2:25). He did the same with Joab, after which † œthe king put B. son of Jehoiada in his place over the army † (1Ki 2: 28-35). He also executed Shimei, David’s enemy (1Ki 2:36-46).
. One of David’s mighty men, a native of Pirathon (2Sa 23:30; 1Ch 11:31).
. Character in the offspring of Simeon (1Ch 4:36).
. Levite. Doorman and musician in David’s time (1Ch 15:18, 1Ch 15:20; 1Ch 16:4-5).
. Priest in David’s time. One of those who “blew the trumpets before the ark of God” (1Ch 15:24).
. Character in the ancestry of Jahaziel #4 (2Ch 20:14).
. One of those who served as the king’s stewards † ¢ Hezekiah when he reformed him (2Ch 31:13).
. One of “the sons of Paros” who returned from exile. He had married a foreign woman and was forced to separate from her (Ezra 10:25).
. Another of “the sons of Pahat-moab” who returned from exile. He had married a foreign woman and was forced to separate from her (Ezra 10:30).
. One of ‘the sons of Bani’ who returned from exile. He had married a foreign woman and was forced to separate from her (Ezr 10:34-35).
. One of “the sons of Nebo” who returned from exile. He had married a foreign woman and was forced to separate from her (Ezra 10:43).
. Character in the ancestry of †¢Pelathias (Eze 11:1, Eze 11:13).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
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vet, = “Jehovah has built.” (a) A Levite, son of Jehoiada, from Cabseel of Judah (2 Sam. 23:20). His father was a priest (1 Chron. 27:5); if Jehoiada was serving the altar, he was probably the chief of the priests who joined the army to put David on the throne (1 Chron. 12:27). Benaiah was brave. He descended into a cistern to kill a lion. He struck down two Moabite heroes. Armed only with a staff, he faced off against an Egyptian giant and, seizing his spear, slew him with it (2 Sam. 23:20, 21; 1 Chron. 11:22, 23). He commanded the Cerethites and the Pelethites, King David’s personal guard (2 Sam. 8:18). He also commanded the third army during the third month (1 Chron. 27:5, 6). Benaiah and his guard remained faithful to David during the rebellion of Absalom (cf. 2 Sam. 15:18; 20:23) and Adonijah (1 Kings 1:10). David ordered him to escort Solomon, with the guard, to Gihon, so that he might be anointed king (1 Kings 1:32-38); as chief of the guard, he slew Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25), Joab (1 Kings 2:29-34), and Shimei (1 Kings 2:46). Upon the death of these conspirators, Benaiah was promoted to commanding general of Solomon’s armies (1 Kings 2:35). (b) One of David’s mighty men, a pirate (2 Sam. 23:30; 1 Chr. 11:31; 27:14). (c) Prince of the family of Simeon (1 Chron. 4:36). (d) Levite and gatekeeper (1 Chron. 15:18, 20; 16:5). (e) Priest who blew the trumpet before the ark (1 Chr. 15:24; 16:6). (f) Father of Jehoiada, one of David’s counselors (1 Chron. 27:34). (g) A Levite descended from Asaph (2 Chron. 20:14). (h) Levite overseer of temple offerings (2 Chron. 31:13). (i) Father of Pelatiah, prince of Judah (Ez. 11:1, 3). (j) he is also the name of four men who married foreign women (Ezra 10:25, 30, 35, 43).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(in °vrv3 “Benaya(hu)”, besides “Benaía”) (Heb. benāyāhû, benāyâ, ‘Yahweh has built’). 1. Son of Jehoiada de Cabseel in the S of Judah (2 Sam. 23.20). Captain of the foreign guard of David (2 Sa. 8.18; 20.23). He was head of the division for the third month (1 Chron. 27.5-6). He was renowned among David’s “thirty” mighty men (2 Samuel 23:20-23; 1 Chron. 11:22-25), and probably accompanied David during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:18). He helped unseat Adonijah and establish Solomon as king (1 Kings 1), and later executed Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei (1 Kings 2.25, 29ff., 46), replacing Joab as overlord (1 Kings 2.35 ).
2. One of “the thirty” who formed the second group of David’s mighty men, from Pirathon in Ephraim (2 Sam. 23.30; 1 Chr. 11.31), and who led the division during the eleventh month (1 Chr. 27.14).
There are ten other people who bear this name and who are only known by the following references: 1 Chr. 4.36; 15.18, 20, 24; 16.5–6; 2 Chr. 20.14; 31.13; Esd. 10:25, 30, 35, 43 (cf. 1 Esdras 9:26, 34–35); Ez. 11.1, 13.
JGGN
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary