October 25, 2025

David was anointed king and took over Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. At the time, Jerusalem was called Jebus and was the home of the Jebusites. David told his men that whoever strikes and removes the Jebusites first will become the chief and captain. Joab was successful in taking over the location; it became the City of David, Jerusalem. David lived in the castles, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 

David had some courageous men in his army, and Ezra lists some of their accomplishments in 1 Chronicles 11. One notable warrior was Benaiah, who not only slayed two lion-like men who were champions of Moab, but also an actual lion in a pit on a snowy day. The Bible doesn’t expand on the significance of the snow, but because snow is only mentioned here and a couple of times in Proverbs, I would say it was unusual and may have made it more challenging for Benaiah. He then became chief and captain, after David, during Solomon’s reign as king.

What we can glean from this is that when God has His hand in a situation, we can count on success. It takes courage to be a champion for God, and sometimes you may be required to take chances and depend on your faith in Him to conquer all that the enemy has put in your way. God’s warriors are not weak and cowardly. 

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day. 1 Chronicles 11:22