David’s Mighty Men

Topic: Warriors
Passage: 2 Samuel 23:8–39

June 28, 2021

Commentary

This portion of Old Testament history memorializes David’s bravest warriors and most outstanding soldiers that were the men who helped David to become King. This listing is presented as:
1. ”The three” (vv. 8-17) Ishbosheth, Eleazar and Shammah
2. ”Plus Two” (vv. 18-23) Abaishai and Benaiah. Honored but not attaining to “the three”
3. ”The thirty” (vv. 24-39) Probably very high ranking and close to David
This section has been the subject of considerable discussion and debate among historians of the Davidic monarchy. In a few brief comments we will focus on the significance of the titles “the three” and “the thirty,” and on the listing’s principles of arrangements. Both titles seem to refer to the elite troops, as distinguished from David’s regular army. As we look at some of the exploits of these men  we can see they were high ranking men who were very close to David.
David never lost his desire to know and please God. He became mighty in spirit because he never wavered in his love for God. He grew close to the Lord because of his heart’s desire to spend time alone with the Lord. This is where spiritual greatness comes in any person’s life. Samuel teaches us that God isn’t looking for perfect people to serve Him, but rather for those who have a heart of love and commitment for Him and to those who are willing to present themselves and all their flaws and imperfections to Him for service. We will never get away with sin and it always has consequences but at the same time, we see that God loves to forgive and restore us to a place of service.

Application

David was a mighty warrior and became one of Israel’s greatest kings while many of his friends surround him as warriors. I want to be a mighty warrior for Jesus and a man after God’s own heart.

2 Samuel 23:8– 39 (NET)

8 These are the names of David’s warriors:

9 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated, 10 he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it seemed stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.

11 Next in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the Philistines. 12 But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.

13 At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim. 14 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 15 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!” 16 So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 17 and said, “O Lord, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

18 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed 300 men with his spear and gained fame among the three. 19 From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.

20 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 in a cistern on a snowy day. 21 He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame among the three elite warriors. 23 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.

24 Included with the thirty were the following: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah), 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether there were thirty-seven.

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