<strong>BENAIAH</strong> (bē-nā'ya, Heb. <em>benāyâh, Jehovah has built</em>)<br /><br />

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Beniah remained loyal to David until the end, and did not take part in the usurpation of Adonijah (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.1.8">1 Kings 1:8</bibleref>). Therefore he was chosen, with others, to make arrangements for the proclamation of Solomon as king (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.1.32-1Kgs.1.40">1:32-40</bibleref>). Under the new king Benaiah was made head of the army (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.35">2:35</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Kgs.4.4">4:4</bibleref>) replacing Joab, and executioner of Adonijah (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.25">2:25</bibleref>), Joab (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.29">2:29</bibleref>) and Shimei (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.2.46">2:46</bibleref>).<br /><br />

2. Benaiah of Pirathon, and of the sons of Ephraim, was one of David’s thirty mighty men (<bibleref ref="2Sam.23.30">2 Sam 23:30</bibleref>) and later was made commander of 24,000 men responsible for the eleventh month in national affairs (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.14">1 Chron 27:14</bibleref>).

3. Benaiah, a ruler listed in the genealogy of the house of Simeon (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.36">4:36</bibleref>).

4. Benaiah, a Levite appointed by the Levitical chiefs to the second order of singers under Ethan (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.18">15:18</bibleref>) and to play the harp with others “according to Alamoth” (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.20">15:20</bibleref>). 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.<br /><br />

5. Benaiah, one of the priests assigned to blow trumpets before the Ark of the covenant (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.24">15:24</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.16.5">16:5</bibleref>).

6. Benaiah, the father of Jehoiada, the successor of Ahithophel (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.34">27:34</bibleref>).

7. Benaiah, the grandfather of Jahaziel of the house of Asaph (<bibleref ref="2Chr.20.14">2 Chron 20:14</bibleref>).

8. Benaiah, an overseer under Conaniah and Shimei in preparing chambers in the Temple (<bibleref ref="2Chr.31.13">31:13</bibleref>).<br /><br />

9., 10., 11., 12. Four different men by the same name who had taken “strange wives” in the days of Ezra (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.25">Ezra 10:25</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Ezra.10.30">30</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Ezra.10.35">35</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Ezra.10.43">43</bibleref>).

13. Benaiah, the father of Pelatiah whom Ezekiel, in vision, saw among the princes destroying the morale of the people with evil counsel (<bibleref ref="Ezek.11.1-Ezek.11.4">Ezek 11:1-4</bibleref>).

<h2>Bibliography</h2>

Jos. Antiq. VII, xi, 8; xii, 4; J. Bright, <em>A <span class="auto-link">[[History of Israel]]</span></em> (1959), 189, 190.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

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

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(2) Benaiah, a Pirathonite (compare <bibleref ref="Judg.12.13">Jud 12:13</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Judg.12.15">15</bibleref>), was one of David’s 30 mighty men (<bibleref ref="2Sam.23.30">2Sa 23:30</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.11.31">1Ch 11:31</bibleref>). He was captain over the course of the 11th month numbering 24,000 (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.14">1Ch 27:14</bibleref>).

(3) A ruler of the house of Simeon (<bibleref ref="1Chr.4.36">1Ch 4:36</bibleref>).

(4) A Levite of second degree appointed as singer (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.18">1Ch 15:18</bibleref>) with "psalteries Set to Alamoth" (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.20">1Ch 15:20</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.16.5">16:5</bibleref>).

(5) A priest appointed "to blow the trumpet before the ark of God" (<bibleref ref="1Chr.15.24">1Ch 15:24</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Chr.16.6">16:6</bibleref>).

(6) The father of Jehoiada (<bibleref ref="1Chr.27.34">1Ch 27:34</bibleref>), but see (1) above.

(7) An ancestor of Jahaziel of the house of Asaph (<bibleref ref="2Chr.20.14">2Ch 20:14</bibleref>).

(8) An overseer in the service of Hezekiah (<bibleref ref="2Chr.31.13">2Ch 31:13</bibleref>).

(9, 10, 11, 12) Four different men of Israel who had taken "strange wives" (<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.25">Ezr 10:25</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.30">30</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.35">35</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Ezra.10.43">43</bibleref>).

(13) The father of Pelatiah who was seen by Ezekiel in his vision (<bibleref ref="Ezek.11.1">Eze 11:1</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Ezek.11.13">13</bibleref>).