David’s Mighty Men
November 7, 2022
Commentary
Joab had been David’s captain at Hebron, and now he won the right to be over the army of all Israel. He was David’s nephew, son of his half sister Zeruiah (l Chronicles 2:16). He was the first to enter the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and capture it. This account of Joab’s heroic deed is followed by an extensive list of other mighty men in David’s army and their heroic accomplishments (vv. 10-47). These men “strengthened themselves with him in the kingdom and with all Israel.” Probably many of them had accompanied David in exile and were supportive of him coming to the throne of Judah. The recording of their names was no doubt to distinguish them as the most heroic of all David’s warriors. They represent leaders who are faithfully provided for them by God.
The recorded names are practically the only thing we know about them. Thousands in the king’s service are known to their fellow men and millions more lack even a niche in the wall of fame. However, God has set His seal on them and the Lord knows those who are His. Many died as though they had never lived but we can be sure that they are valued by and intimately known to God.
Application
Three men are specifically mentioned in this list who risked their lives just to serve and please David. Just as these men gave of themselves to serve David, I must put aside my own interests to serve Christ and the other Christian leaders He chooses to put in my path (Rom. 12:10).
1 Chronicles 11:9– 47 (NET)
9 David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, stood courageously with him in his kingdom by installing him as king, in keeping with the Lord’s message concerning Israel. 11 This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. He killed 300 men with his spear in a single battle.
12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 13 He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.
15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 18 So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.
20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed 300 men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 21 From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 23 He even killed an Egyptian who was 7½ feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 25 He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26 The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai from the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Achli,
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,
43 Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.