What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 11:22? And Benaiah son of Jehoiada • Scripture starts with the name because identity matters. Jehoiada is called “a priest” in 1 Chronicles 27:5, so Benaiah grows up under godly instruction and service at the sanctuary. • His later loyalty to David and Solomon (1 Kings 1:8, 36-38; 2 Samuel 8:18) shows the lasting impact of that upbringing. • The verse reminds readers that courage is often birthed in faithful homes—much like Timothy’s faith “which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5). was a man of valor from Kabzeel • “Man of valor” is the same phrase used for Gideon (Judges 6:12) and for David’s elite troops (2 Samuel 10:7). It signals proven bravery, not mere potential. • Kabzeel sits on Judah’s southern border (Joshua 15:21). Life on a frontier breeds toughness; raids from Edom or Philistia were common, so courage was daily practice, not theory. • The Lord often shapes leaders in obscure places—consider Moses in Midian (Exodus 3:1) and David in Bethlehem’s fields (1 Samuel 17:15). a man of many exploits • The phrase points to a pattern rather than a single heroic act. His résumé will later include commanding David’s bodyguard (2 Samuel 23:23) and leading a division of thirty-seven thousand men (1 Chronicles 27:6). • God values faithfulness over time; Benaiah models Luke 16:10, “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” • The chronicler highlights him to encourage readers returning from exile: their consistent obedience can also become “many exploits” in God’s record. He struck down two champions of Moab • Moab had long oppressed Israel (Numbers 22–24; Judges 3:12-30). Defeating two of their best warriors underscores Israel’s victory over historical enemies. • “Champions” recalls Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4). Like David, Benaiah fights on God’s side, so outcome is assured (Psalm 60:12). • Facing two foes at once shows courage that eclipses common sense; it is the kind David praised: “By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion • Snow makes footing treacherous and vision poor; the pit removes escape routes. Benaiah chooses the fight rather than being forced into it—initiative born of faith. • Earlier, David saved sheep from a lion (1 Samuel 17:34-37); Samson tore a lion apart (Judges 14:5-6). Benaiah stands in that same tradition of Spirit-empowered victory over nature’s fiercest predator. • Lions picture Satan’s threat (“your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,” 1 Peter 5:8). The literal event offers a spiritual lesson: believers confront the enemy even when conditions are worst, trusting the Lord for triumph (Romans 16:20). summary Benaiah’s brief profile packs a lifetime of courageous, God-honoring action. Raised in a priestly home, toughened on Judah’s frontier, he repeatedly risks himself for the Lord’s people—defeating formidable enemies and even a lion in adverse conditions. 1 Chronicles 11:22 assures readers that God still empowers ordinary servants for extraordinary victories, rewarding steady faith with legendary exploits. |
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