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2 Samuel 23:8-39 — David's Mighty Men

2Sam.23.8-39

⁸These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the Three; he was Adino the Eznite, who went against eight hundred, whom he killed at one time. ⁹And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of an Ahohite. He was among the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel retreated. ¹⁰He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. ¹¹And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. ¹²But he took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. ¹³Three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁵David longed for water and said, 'Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!' ¹⁶So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David. But he refused to drink it, and poured it out to the LORD. ¹⁷He said, 'Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?' Therefore he refused to drink it. These things the three mighty men did. ¹⁸Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred slain, and won a name among the Three. ¹⁹Was he not the most honored of the Three? Therefore he became their commander, yet he did not attain to the Three. ²⁰And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down the two champions of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹He struck down an Egyptian, an impressive man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²²These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among the three mighty men. ²³He was more honored than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard. ²⁴Asahel the brother of Joab was among the Thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁵Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, ²⁶Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, ²⁷Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, ²⁸Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, ²⁹Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, ³⁰Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, ³¹Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, ³²Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, ³³Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, ³⁴Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, ³⁵Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, ³⁷Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ³⁸Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ³⁹Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

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4/11/2026

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