David’s Mighty Men
The chiefs of David’s mighty men are introduced as those who strengthen his kingdom with all Israel according to the LORD’s word. Eleazar is then named and remembered for standing firm in battle when others flee, as the LORD gives victory.
N10ow these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11This is the list of David’s mighty men: 12Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
Three chief men break through the Philistine camp to bring David water from Bethlehem after hearing his longing for it. David refuses to drink it and instead pours it out to the LORD, treating it as bound up with the lives they risked.
15Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 17David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18So the Three broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, 19saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it.
Abishai and Benaiah are set out as renowned warriors whose exploits win them honor among David’s fighting men. Their victories are remembered carefully, along with the distinctions that place them near the highest rank without fully joining the Three.
20Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 21He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. 22And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 23He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 24These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name along with the three mighty men. 25He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.
The chapter closes with the larger roll of David’s mighty men. The names come one after another, turning remembered exploits into a durable record of those attached to David’s reign.
26Now these were the mighty men: 27Shammoth the Harorite, 28Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, 30Maharai the Netophathite, 31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, 32Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, 34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, 35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, 37Hezro the Carmelite, 38Joel the brother of Nathan, 39Zelek the Ammonite, 40Ira the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, 42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him, 43Hanan son of Maacah, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, 45Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite, 46Eliel the Mahavite, 47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.