Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8 - 23:39
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
List of David's Heroes
v. 8. These be the names of the mighty men, the heroes, whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains, he belonged to the family of Hachmon, 1Ch_27:32, and his name was Jashobeam, the most distinguished of the king's guard, the most eminent of the three greatest heroes. The same was Adino the Eznite; he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. That was the greatest feat of this hero.
v. 9. And after him, next in the list, was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away, when they had marched against the Philistines, to meet them in battle.
v. 10. He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword, cramped around the sword-hilt from excessive weariness; and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people, who had apparently fallen back, returned after him only to spoil.
v. 11. And after him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, at Lehi or Ramath-lehi, where was a piece of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
v. 12. But he stood in the midst of the ground, determined to hold it against the enemy, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory, for this was His gift.
v. 13. And three of the thirty chief, of the knights of David, went down, and came to David in the harvest time, unto the cave of Adullam, 1Sa_22:1; and the troop of the Philistines, a plundering party, pitched in the Valley of Rephaim, 1Sa_5:12.
v. 14. And David was then in an hold, in a mountain stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem, their camp was near Bethlehem.
v. 15. And David longed, he had a strong desire, and said, Oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate! The water of this well, which David had so often tasted as a lad, was exceptionally good, and he longed for it with the desire of home-sickness.
v. 16. And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, thrusting aside the enemies who tried to hinder their passage, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, some little distance outside, and took it, and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord, as a drink-offering to Jehovah, to whom alone it ought to belong.
v. 17. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this, namely, drink the water thus obtained. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? They had brought it at the price of their lives, at the risk of their souls, and therefore it had the value of their blood, it was too precious to drink. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
v. 18. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three, also distinguished for exceptional feats of valor. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, brandishing it in battle, and slew them, and had the name among three.
v. 19. Was he not most honorable of three, among all the knights of David? Therefore he was their captain, becoming their leader; howbeit, he attained not unto the first three, the heroes whose exploits were described above.
v. 20. And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the priest, who was captain of David's body-guard, 2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_20:23, the son of a valiant, or honorable, honest, man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, having many feats to his credit; he slew two lion like men of Moab, two famous Moabite heroes; he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow, when the lion, searching for food, had fallen into a cistern or into a trap set for him.
v. 21. And He slew an Egyptian, a certain well-known enemy, a goodly man; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, showing both bravery and skill in snatching the weapon out of the enemy's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
v. 22. These things did Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men, among the heroes of David.
v. 23. He was more honorable than the thirty, honored above the other knights, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard, 2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_20:23.
v. 24. Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty, a member of the corps of David's knights, 2Sa_2:18; Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem;
v. 25. Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
v. 26. Helez the Paltite; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite;
v. 27. Abiezer the Anethothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
v. 28. Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
v. 29. Heleb, the son of Baanah, a Netophathite; Ittai, the son of Ribai, out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin;
v. 30. Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash;
v. 31. Abialbon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
v. 32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan:
v. 33. Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Hararite;
v. 34. Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
v. 35. Hezrai the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
v. 36. Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
v. 37. Zelek the Ammonite; Nahari the Beerothite, armor-bearer to Joab, the son of Zeruiah;
v. 38. Ira, an Ithrite; Gareb, an Ithrite;
v. 39. Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all, namely, Joab as the commander-in-chief, three heroes of the first degree, three heroes of the second degree, and the thirty knights of David. As the names of these faithful followers of David were here entered into the catalog of heroes, so the names of the true servants of Christ are entered into the book of life, to be read on the last day, when all such men will receive the reward of mercy.