David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
Now 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. This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed at one time.
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At the place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. But 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 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. 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 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, saying, “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.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. He was doubly honored above 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 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. 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 the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai j son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him, Hanan son of Maacah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.”
No man is an island, and no leader can function without faithful supporters. Read this list, really think about these exploits, and prepare to be amazed! There are the Three, who loved David so much that when David expressed a longing for a drink of water from the well in his home town of Bethlehem, these three men broke through the camp of the Philistines occupying the town, drew water from the well, and then fought their way back through the Philistine camp back to David. David was so moved by this act of love and devotion that he refused to drink the water but poured it out as an offering to the Lord instead.
Then there was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a real – life super hero. Not only did Benaiah kill two Moabite champions but he also took on a huge Egyptian bearing an enormous spear. Carrying only a club, Benaiah snatched the Egyptian’s spear away from him and killed him with it. Benaiah’s biggest achievement was taking on a lion in a pit on a snowy day. With nowhere to hide, Benaiah leaped into the pit and killed the lion, turning him into a rug!
One of the saddest pieces of information is the list of other mighty men. Notice that Uriah the Hittite is included in the list of mighty men. Yes, that’s the same man who was married to Bathsheba, the man whose death David would eventually arrange to cover up the results of his adultery. Uriah wasn’t just any old soldier; he was a true hero. But Uriah wound up being killed to cover up David’s sin. How tragic!
APPLICATION: We all need heroes and heroines! Whether we follow sports teams, entertainers, or movie heroes and heroines, we all want good men and women to conquer succeed and conquer evil. Recently, movies featuring super heroes and heroines have become incredibly popular.
If we are followers of Jesus, we are followers of the greatest super hero of all time. As the Son of God, Jesus could have remained in heaven where he was King, but he chose to live as a man. Jesus raised the dead, healed the sick, cast out demons, calmed storms on the Sea of Galilee, and even walked on water. But Jesus’ biggest achievement was when he laid down his life, shedding his innocent blood for the sins of the world. And having died in all innocence, Jesus then rose from the dead, proving conclusively that he was the master over death as well as life.
There is no fictional super hero or heroine who does not have some flaw. Superman, for example, loses his strength when exposed to Kryptonite. But for Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as Kryptonite. Jesus has defeated death and the grave once and for all. For those of us who believe in Jesus, He is our ultimate super hero and worthy of all our worship!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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