2 Samuel 23:8 – 39 “These are the names of David’s mighty men:
Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.
And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So, the LORD brought about a great victory.
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
So, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.
And 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. He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.
Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Hele son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.”
Sometimes when reading the Bible, we are faced with long lists of names. There’s a temptation to just skip over an entire list; however, if you do this, you are missing superhero stories! People make jokes about Chuck Norris, an American actor and he – man, being able to do incredible stuff. But these men really are heroes, even though their deeds sound like the exaggerated tales people make up about Chuck Norris.
First of all, look at that painting. If those guys walked into a biker bar, all the tough guys would get up and leave quickly! These men are battle – hardened and ready to fight at any moment. When faced with overwhelming numbers of the enemy, these guys have just plowed through them!
Next, notice that thousands of years after these men lived, we still know their names, their fathers’ names, and their home towns. We know details for some of the most outstanding exploits these men have accomplished. Such careful records are no accident. God has arranged for these records. God knows the valor these men have exhibited, and God continues to honor them in His Word.
When David was thirsty and longed for water from the well at Bethlehem, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine guard to bring back water from that well. David was so touched that he refused to drink it, declaring that this water represented the life blood of those men. Instead, David poured the water out as an offering in much the same way that blood from an offering would be poured out. This story says as much about David and why men were willing to follow him as it does about the men themselves.
APPLICATION: On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy. Nearly 10,000 of those men died that day, with 2400 of them dying on Omaha Beach. The Allied troops disembarked from their ships under heavy German artillery fire. In some places, Allied soldiers had to climb steep cliffs to make it past the beaches. Allied paratroopers met with varying successes and failures, with some of them being captured. But D Day marked a major turning point in World War II; the exploits of those mighty men paved the way for victory over German forces and liberation for those in Nazi concentration camps. The French people who were liberated were so grateful that they erected monuments and established cemeteries for those who had freed them from Nazi oppression.
What can we learn from the exploits of David’s mighty men? The great lesson is that God knows our names and where we come from. God sees us, our struggles, our feeble efforts to do the right thing. Even if we feel we have failed, God still gives us credit for trying. Perhaps you are stuck in a losing situation, one from which you feel there is no way out. You have taken a stand for righteousness and you have been smacked down hard! Now your job may be in jeopardy, and you may even be getting threats from those around you. Take heart! God knows what you are going through!
The Bible only records this list of mighty men; however, God keeps His own lists. Someday, your heavenly Father may remind you of these times of struggle and of how He has brought you through. God knows the names of all those who were involved in D Day on all sides. God knows those who performed bravely and those who accomplished wonders. Take heart! You are known! You are appreciated! You are celebrated! You are loved!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for brave men and women in every generation. You know our names and our particulars just as You know theirs. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to be willing to do exploits when You lead us to do so. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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