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19 November 2024

Comparing the Wars Soldiers: The names of Dovid’s Warriors & Why

David's Mighty Warriors (also known as David's Mighty Men or the Gibborim) are a group of 37 men in the Hebrew Bible who fought with King David and are identified in 2 Samuel 23:8–38

The Three are named Ishbaal the Tahkemonite (“thou will make me wise”), Eleazar (“God has helped”) son of Dodo (“his beloved”) the Ahohite (“brother of rest”), and Shammah son of Agee te Haraite.

He sent the troops out in three groups. Joab commanded one-third of the men. Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah commanded another third. And Ittai from Gath commanded the last third.  

Above is from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%27s_Mighty_Warriors

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Dovid’s Gibborim: [the following is from https://www.gotquestions.org/mighty-men-David.html]

Second Samuel 23:8–39 and 1 Chronicles 11:10–47 list a group of people known as mighty men of David or David’s mighty men. They are also referred to as the “thirty chiefs” (1 Chronicles 11:15) and simply “the Thirty” (1 Chronicles 12:4). These mighty men of David were a group of David’s toughest military warriors who were credited with heroic feats, including Josheb-basshebeth, who killed 800 men in one battle with a spear (2 Samuel 23:8).

Additional notable actions listed include the deeds of a man named Eleazar, who stayed on the battlefield when other warriors fled and killed Philistines until his hand was stuck clenched around his sword (2 Samuel 23:9–10); and the exploits of Abishai, the leader of the mighty men, who killed 300 men with a spear (23:18).

Benaiah was known for going into a pit on a snowy day and killing a lion and for killing a powerful Egyptian man with the man’s own spear (2 Samuel 23:20–21). He also served as leader of David’s bodyguards (23:23).

Within this list of mighty men are three men who served as a special elite group: Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. Their exact roles are not made clear, but they were certainly seen as stand-outs among David’s mighty men.

Although the mighty men are called “the Thirty,” a total of 37 men are listed, meaning that not all of these men were on the team the entire time. Some of them, like Uriah, were killed in battle during David’s reign. Another explanation may be that David’s elite group of mighty men numbered approximately 30, a figure not meant to be exact.

Some of these mighty men of David had considerable military skill and the blessing of God. David’s mighty men served an important role in protecting the king and fighting for the freedom of their nation, the land of Israel.

The full list of the mighty men of David is located in 2 Samuel 23 and includes the following names:

1. Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite
2. Eleazar, the son of Dodo
3. Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite
4. Abishai
5. Benaiah
6. Asahel
7. Elhanan
8. Shammah of Harod
9. Elika of Harod
10. Helez the Paltite
11. Ira, the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa
12. Abiezer of Anthoth
13. Mebunnai the Hushathite
14. Zalmon the Ahohite
15. Maharai of Netophah
16. Heleb, the son of Baanah of Netophah
17. Ittai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin
18. Benaiah of Pirathon
19. Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash
20. Abi-albon the Arbathite
21. Azmaveth of Bahurim
22. Eliahba the Shaalbonite
23. The sons of Jashen
24. Jonathan
25. Shammah the Hararite
26. Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite
27. Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai of Maacha
28. Eliam, the son of Ahithophel of Gilo
29. Hezro of Carmel
30. Paarai the Arbite
31. Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah
32. Bani the Gadite
33. Zelek the Ammonite
34. Naharai of Beeroth
35. Ira the Ithrite
36. Gareb the Ithrite
37. Uriah the Hittite


  • Uriah the Hittite.

In addition to these, there are a few cases where an individual is named, and is then followed by a description that is unclear as to whether it refers to them, or whether it refers to an additional unnamed person:

  • Naharai from Beeroth, (and/who is) the armour-bearer of Joab
  • Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, (and/who is) the son of a man named Hagri(according to the masoretic text and Chronicles) or Haggadi (according to the Septuagint).

Abishai

An additional account, continuing on from the description of The Three, which was interrupted by the narrative concerning David's thirst, describes Abishai, the brother of Joab. According to the text, he killed 300 men with a spear, and so became famous among The Thirty, though not as famous and respected as The Three. The text states that despite the fame and respect he was not included among The Three, suggesting that being a part of The Three is not just a group of famous people, but something which an individual could in some way gain membership, with criteria that involved more than fame and Honor.


Benaiah

is singled out by the text for being a particularly great warrior […] 

  • Killing two of Moab's best warriors
  • Killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day
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The Children of Dovid HaMelech (incl. Grand-Grandchildren) as is written in TaNaCH 

And these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, to Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, to Abigail the Carmelitess.
The third, Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith.
The fifth, Shephatiah, to Abital; the sixth, Ithream, to Eglah his wife.
Six were born to him in Hebron, and he reigned there seven years and six months, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.

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And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon-four, to Bath Shua the daughter of Ammiel.
And Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet.
And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia.
And Elishama, and Elijada and Eliphelet-nine.
All the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines and Tamar their sister.
And the son of Solomon was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son.
Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son.
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son.
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son.
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
And the sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
And the sons of Jeconiah: Assir, Shealtiel his son.
And Malciram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.
And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimi, and the son[s] of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister.
And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-Hesed-five.
And the son[s] of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Isaiah; his son was Rephaiah; his son was Arnan; his son was Obadiah; his son was Shechaniah.
And the sons of Shechaniah: Shemaiah, and the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Jigal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shafat-six.
And the son[s] of Neariah; Eljoenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam-three.
And the sons of Eljoenai; Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani-seven.

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Comparing the Wars Soldiers: The names of Dovid’s Warriors & Why

David's Mighty Warriors  (also known as  David's Mighty Men  or the  Gibborim)  are a group of 37 men in the  Hebrew Bible  who foug...