Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada, was David's general for the army of the Kingdom of Israel and his chief bodyguard (2 Sam 23:23). In Hebrew, his name means "God has built."

He was one of David's "mighty men" (I Chron. 27:6) who commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites. He was renowned for his heroism; with Zadok and Nathan, he kept his position under Solomon, and was appointed chief of Solomon's army.

In the Bible, Benaiah's story is told primarily in I Chronicles 27, II Samuel 23, and I Kings 1.

The stories of him follow that he once killed an eight foot tall Egyptian. Also he was said to have killed a lion in a snowy pit.

[edit] Popular Culture

Benaiah is the subject of the novel Day of War by Cliff Graham, which is being developed into a major motion picture by filmmaker David L. Cunningham and producer Grant Curtis.

[edit] References

• Banaias - Catholic Encyclopedia article
• Lion of War Film development press release