Son of Yehoyada
Benayahu was the son of Yehoyada and one of the outstanding
soldiers of King David.
When Adoniyahu tried to rebel against his father, King David, it
was Benayahu, together with Tzadok the Cohen and Natan the
Prophet, who stood against him and helped King Solomon win the
throne.
After the passing of King David, King Solomon appointed
Benayahu chief of his army.
Not only a great warrior, Benayahu was also known as a
great Torah scholar who endowed wisdom and beauty.
The Midrash tells us that when the Queen of Sheba came to visit
King Solomon, it was Benayahu who was sent first to greet her,
since he was very handsome. The Midrash describes and
compares his beauty to the light of dawn, to the glowing stars and
to a rose on the water. Because of his impressive looks and
beauty, Queen of Sheba mistakenly thought it was King Solomon
himself, who came to greet her.
During the time of King David, Benayahu also served as head of
Sanhedrin, a position which required immense Torah knowledge,
leadership and clear thinking.
Benayahu Ben Yehoyada is buried in Tsfat.