Read & explore together
David's Mighty Men
These parallel records name David’s mighty men and highlight selected deeds. Read as reference guides, they honour particular people, note different ranks, and repeatedly point beyond human strength to Yahweh’s victory and word.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this record
In 2 Samuel 23, the record begins with “the names of the mighty men whom David had,” gives key examples, then lists further names and a total. In 1 Chronicles 11, the chief mighty men are linked with David’s kingdom, all Israel, and making him king according to Yahweh’s word, before continuing with its own ordered list.
2 Samuel 23:8–39; 1 Chronicles 11:10–47Main takeaway
These records honour named people for brave service while carefully stating that victory and kingship are tied to Yahweh.
Explore the record
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Samuel opens with leading warriors2 Samuel begins with names and deeds. Josheb Basshebeth is called chief of the captains. Eleazar is one of the three mighty men and keeps fighting when others have gone away.
Explanation
2 Samuel begins with names and deeds. Josheb Basshebeth is called chief of the captains. Eleazar is one of the three mighty men and keeps fighting when others have gone away. Shammah defends a plot full of lentils. In both cases, the passage says Yahweh worked a great victory.
02Samuel records Bethlehem water, rank, and the larger listIn 2 Samuel, three chief men bring water from Bethlehem through the Philistines, but David pours it out to Yahweh because the men risked their lives.
Explanation
In 2 Samuel, three chief men bring water from Bethlehem through the Philistines, but David pours it out to Yahweh because the men risked their lives. Abishai and Benaiah are honoured, yet neither is simply treated as equal to “the three.” The record then continues with many names and ends, “thirty-seven in all.”
03Chronicles opens with its own framing and early heroes1 Chronicles introduces the chief mighty men as those who showed themselves strong with David in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king according to Yahweh’s word.
Explanation
1 Chronicles introduces the chief mighty men as those who showed themselves strong with David in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king according to Yahweh’s word. Jashobeam is chief of the thirty and kills three hundred. Eleazar is named next, and the barley-field battle ends with “Yahweh saved them by a great victory.”
04Chronicles keeps its own water episode, rank notes, and longer name listIn 1 Chronicles, the three break through for Bethlehem water, and David refuses it, saying the men put their lives in jeopardy.
Explanation
In 1 Chronicles, the three break through for Bethlehem water, and David refuses it, saying the men put their lives in jeopardy. Abishai and Benaiah are again honoured with careful rank notices. Chronicles then lists further mighty men beyond Uriah, adding names not included in the Samuel total.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Samuel | 2 Samuel 23:8–39 | Samuel opens with leading warriors Samuel records Bethlehem water, rank, and the larger list |
| 1 Chronicles | 1 Chronicles 11:10–47 | Chronicles opens with its own framing and early heroes Chronicles keeps its own water episode, rank notes, and longer name list |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words in these records stop us from praising only human strength?
Notice where 2 Samuel says Yahweh worked a great victory and where 1 Chronicles says Yahweh saved them by a great victory.
02How does David explain his refusal to drink the water in each account?
Use David’s own words about the men risking their lives and his choice to pour the water out rather than drink it.
03How do the passages show that honour did not erase differences in rank?
Track terms such as chief, the three, the thirty, captain, and over his guard in the Samuel and Chronicles records.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Samuel 23:8–39
8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
9After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away.
10He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take plunder.
11After him was Shammah the son of Agee, a 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 stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
13Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
14David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David; but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
17He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
19Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three.
20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow.
21He killed a huge Egyptian, 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, and killed him with his own spear.
22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.
23He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.
24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of 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 of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
1 Chronicles 11:10–47
10Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh’s word concerning Israel.
11This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
12After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
13He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.
15Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.
17David longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
18The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,
19and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
21Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three.
22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
23He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
24Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.
25Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.
26The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),
40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites), and thirty with him,
43Hanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.