2 Samuel 23:8-39--David's Mighty Men

2 Samuel 23:8-39
English Standard Version

David's Mighty Men
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

​24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

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It seems like one of David's last acts as king was to honor his "mighty men" who had protected him and fought for Israel over all these years.  There will be several of these names that you will recognize from 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, but much of what we know about these men, especially the lesser-known names comes from the book of 1 Chronicles (which parallels the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel).  I cannot cover the story behind every name mentioned here, but I do find it especially interesting that Uriah the Hittite is the last one mentioned in the list.  There were thirty men that were distinguished above all the others among the regular fighting men, and Uriah's name was among them.  There were seven others that were mentioned that were captains, commanders, or generals that had leadership positions over these thirty men that made up the elite "special forces" or over entire divisions of the army.  We know the names of many, but not all of these commanders.  Some were there with David from the very beginning.  Others proved themselves to David by earning their position of leadership through promotion.  There is one that is not mentioned among the list here though other than his relation to some others and that is Joab.  While Joab was the commander that stood alongside David for a long time and killed many enemies, including some giants, it seems David did not honor him here because of his lack of character.  These men that were in the list were not just there because they were excellent soldiers, but because they were also of excellent character and were men that others should exemplify.  Joab did not make the cut because of his moral deficiencies.  Joab's brothers and even his armor-bearer are among those listed, but none of his own accomplishments are mentioned.  I'd say that it probably stung to be excluded from this list, but he did it to himself when he killed Abner and then Absalom, and on top of that, he went along with David's plot to kill Uriah and then turned it around to use it as blackmail against the king.  Never mistake someone with great accomplishments for someone who ought to be celebrated.  This passage teaches us that even those who were at the top of their field shouldn't always make the cut when it comes to receiving accolades and commendations.