David’s Mighty Warriors

2 Samuel 23:8-39

Key Verse 8a

“These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:”

Introduction)

This is a record of David’s mighty warriors.  Even if David himself had been a mighty warrior, he alone couldn’t accomplish all the work of God. He needed loyal, faithful and courageous coworkers in supporting him. As Paul had Barnabas, Timothy and Silas in his work of God, David had many mighty warriors who helped, protected and supported him.

1. Read verses 8-12. Who were David's three mighty warriors and what did God help them to accomplish?

 1-1) Read verses 8-12.

Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite (Chief of the three), Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite and Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter. Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, ¹⁰ but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. ¹² But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

1-2) Who were David's three mighty warriors and what did God help them to accomplish?

⁸ These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter. ⁹ Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, ¹⁰ but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. ¹¹ Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. ¹² But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

2. Read verses 13-17. What had happened during a harvest time at one point? (13) At that time, where were David and the Philistines? (14) What did David long for? (15) Who brings the water from Bethlehem? (16a) Why does David not drink the water? (16b, 17)

2-1) Read verses 13-17.

¹³ During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁵ David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. ¹⁷ “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

2-2) What had happened during a harvest time at one point? (13)

¹³ During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

2-3) At that time, where were David and the Philistines? (14)

¹⁴ At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

2-4) What did David long for? (15)

¹⁵ David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

2-5) Who brings the water from Bethlehem? (16a)

¹⁶ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord.

2-6) Why does David not drink the water? (16b, 17)

But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. ¹⁷ “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

3. Read verses 18-23. Who is the chief of David's three mighty warriors and what had he done? (18,19) Who was Benaiah and what were his exploits? (20-23) What was responsible for all of the victories gained by David's mighty men? (2 Samuel 22:51)

3-1) Read verses 18-23.

¹⁸ Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. ¹⁹ Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²¹ And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. ²³ He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

3-2) Who is the chief of David's three mighty warriors and what had he done? (18,19)

¹⁸ Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.

3-3) Who was Benaiah and what were his exploits? (20-23)

²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²¹ And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.²³ He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

3-4) What was responsible for all of the victories gained by David's mighty men? (2 Samuel 22:51)

“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (2 Samuel 22:51)

God gave David great victories through his mighty warriors.

4. Read verses 24-39. Who are David’s Thirty mighty warriors? (23-39a) How many are there? (39b) How do you think it was possible for them to become such mighty warriors? (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

4-1) Read verses 24-39.

Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, ²⁵ Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,²⁶ Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, ²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai^[f] the Hushathite,²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, ²⁹ Heled^[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, ³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai^[h] from the ravines of Gaash, ³¹ Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, ³² Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan ³³ son of^[i] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar^[j] the Hararite, ³⁴Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,³⁵ Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,^{[k] 37} Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, ³⁸ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite ³⁹ and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

4-2) Who are David’s Thirty mighty warriors? (23-39a)

Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, ²⁵ Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,²⁶ Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, ²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai^[f] the Hushathite,²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, ²⁹ Heled^[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, ³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai^[h] from the ravines of Gaash, ³¹ Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, ³² Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan ³³ son of^[i] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar^[j] the Hararite,³⁴Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,³⁵ Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,^{[k] 37} Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, ³⁸ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite ³⁹ and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

4-3) How many are there? (39b)

There were thirty-seven in all.

4-4) How do you think it was possible for them to become such mighty warriors? (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

They were not warriors when they came to David. God must have transformed them through David’s influential leadership imitating Jesus’ unfailing kindness.

David loved them dearly. For example David did not drink water because he showed his respect about his men.

Joab must have served as the commander of David’s men almost always.

Interestingly enough, his name was not described in this passage although he might have mentioned on the first and top list.

Joab was given a position but his heart was not in the same page with David.

He became a stumbling block by killing 3 A’s(Amasa, Abner, Absalom) by disobeying David.

Mighty warriors mentioned here were those being loyal to God’s anointed and His kingdom purpose by pleasing the Lord God rather than themselves.

May the Lord help us to grow up as good solders of Jesus Christ.

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” -  2 Timothy 2:1-4

Conclusion)

The Lord provided David many mighty warriors as his coworkers to do the work of God. They were all mighty, loyal and faithful for helping David to accomplish the work of God.

One word: Mighty Warriors!