SERIES J --- THE WARRIOR KING --- LESSON 21

DAVID’S OFFICIALS

KING DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN

From 2 Samuel 8:15-18; 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10-47; 12:8-18; 18:14-17

David was a very fair king, ruling well and justly over the land of Israel. His highest officials were these: Joab was the general of the army, Jehoshaphat the recorder, Zadok and Ahimelech the high priests, Seraiah the king’s private secretary, Benaiah the head of the Cherethites and Pelethites, who were David’s bodyguards and David’s sons the assisting priests. The bravest warrior in the army was Josheb-basshebeth, a man from Tachemon, also known as Adino of Ezen. He was the chief over all the other military leaders. He once stood alone against eight hundred men and killed them all. Next in line was Eleazar the son of Dodo, a descendant of Ahoah. He was one of the three great heroes who stood alone against the Philistine army when the rest of the troops of Israel ran away. He killed Philistines until his hand was exhausted and stuck to the sword. Adonai gave Israel a great victory that day, even though the other soldiers did not come back until it was time to gather the plunder. Shammah the son of Agee from Harar was the next in the line of mighty men. Once his troops deserted him, but he remained behind alone to face the Philistine forces in a field of lentils. He was able to defeat them, for YHVH gave him a great victory. There was a story about the time David was based in the Cave of Adullam while the Philistines had set up camp in the valley of Rephaim. The three top warriors of David’s most valiant thirty had come to join him there. As the Philistines occupied Bethlehem, David and his men went to their stronghold. David remarked one day, ‘I am so thirsty for some water from the well at Bethlehem!’ The three brave men went down to Bethlehem, broke through the Philistine ranks and drew water from the well by the city gate. But when they returned and gave it to David, he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out before Adonai and said, ‘O Adonai, I cannot drink this water, for it is the blood of the brave men who risked their lives.’ Abishai, Joab’s brother, was one of the greatest of the fighting men. Once he fought three hundred of the enemy at one time and killed them all. He was not really considered one of The Three, who were great heroes, but he was so valiant he was made the leader of The Thirty, the greatest of Israel’s warriors. Then there was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a great warrior from Kabzeel. He killed two giants who were sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went into a pit one winter day when snow was on the ground and although it was slippery, he killed a lion. Still another time, he was faced by an Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Although he had no weapon but a staff, Benaiah took the spear from the Egyptian and killed him with it. These and other similar brave acts gave him the reputation of a hero like The Three mighty men. He was not quite as great as The Three, but he was greater than the others of The Thirty. David made him the chief of his bodyguard. There was a number of great warriors who joined David when he was hiding from Saul in the wilderness. A group from the tribe of Gad were skilled with both shield and spear and had faces as fierce as lions and could run as fast as deer. Here are their names in the order of their command: Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Fuel, Johanan, Flzabad, another Jeremiah and Machbanai. Each of these men was over at least one hundred warriors and some were over one thousand. They were the men who crossed the Jordan River when it was overflowing its banks and routed the people of the valleys, both to the east and to the west. On one occasion a group from the tribe of Benjamin visited David and his men while he was at the stronghold. ‘Have you come peaceably to help?’ David asked when he went to meet them. ‘If you have, I will join my heart with yours. But if you have come to betray me, when I have done nothing against you, let YHVH see and judge.’ Then the Spirit of YHVH came upon Amassai, who later became leader of The Thirty and he answered in this manner, ‘we belong to you David and are on your side. Let peace be with you and all who help you. David accepted them and appointed them as officers in his army.

COMMENTARY

DAVID’S MEN OF VALOR

David was more than a great warrior. He was a great administrator. He organized his army and set special officers to govern the nation. Many of David’s greatest warriors and officials are listed by name in the Bible. Six hundred mighty men of valour formed the core of David’s standing army. These seasoned soldiers were his most loyal supporters, men whom the king could call upon to meet any danger. Many members of this loyal force had been with David since his outlaw days. They fought by his side in the wilderness and followed him into exile in Philistia. After Saul’s death, they returned with David to Israel and became the strong foundation of the king’s royal army. This elite troop was composed of men from the southern tribes as well as foreign mercenaries; hired soldiers; from Crete and Philistia. Warriors from Gad, Reuben and Manasseh entered David’s service with those from Benjamin, Judah and Ephraim. These men were unfailingly loyal to the king. Their devotion was richly rewarded from David’s personal treasury. At the head of this army was a council of thirty men who had proven their courage in battle. Among this company of heroes were men such as Benaiah the lion-slayer, and Uriah the Hittite. They were presided over by Joab, David’s commander-in-chief. With the aid of his brother, Abishai, Joab moulded this band of desert raiders into an outstanding army. His brilliant military tactics led them to victory over the Philistine army and triumph in the siege against Jerusalem. David’s personal army was added to by a rotating corps of civilian fighters who were called up for service one month out of every year. These reserve forces were made up of outstanding young men from every tribe who had developed skill as swordsmen and archers. With this additional source of manpower, David commanded the most effective army of his day.