Who were the mighty men of David?

Not only Abiathar the priest, whose family and relationship had been killed at Saul's command, but many in Israel who were suffering at this time-in distress, in debt, and of embittered spirit-found refuge with David. They gathered around him and he became a captain over them (1 Sam. 22:2). With him as their leader this motley crew became David's mighty men. Their number grew to 400, then to 600, and eventually to a host of many thousands. Their loyalty to David united them together.

The first who are pointed out as having come to him — a proof that God and the knowledge of His will had more value in their eyes than parentage and the advantages which flow from thence — are from among the brethren of Saul (that is, of the tribe of Benjamin), and men of the greatest skill in handling the bow and the sling, the weapons with which Saul was slain in the battle in which he was overthrown.

There were some who came from beyond Jordan to David, while he was still concealed in the wilderness; for faith and the manifestation of God's power tend to bring into play the energy and strength of those who connect themselves with it. He with whom God is attracts those with whom God is working; and their energy develops itself in proportion to the manifestation of His presence and favour. Many of these had been with Saul, but when with him they were not mighty men; many also had never been with him. Yet even in Saul's camp David had been able to slay the Philistines when all Israel was in terror. After that, similar achievements become almost common. At the beginning such things required immediate communion with God, so as to shut out the influence of all that surrounded the man who enjoyed this communion. Afterwards the surrounding influence was favourable, and, in this sense, faith propagates itself. These were but the chief of the mighty men whom David had. When God acts in power, He gives strength to the weak, and produces, by the energy of faith and of His Spirit, an army of heroes.

In those who came from Benjamin and Judah we see that there was this link of faith (1 Chron. 12:16). They knew that David's God helped him. David committed himself to God with respect to those who joined him, for he was in a very difficult position towards the end of his career of trial and affliction. Those to whom God had given energy and strength came to him in great numbers; for everything was ripe for his elevation to the throne of Israel, and for the transfer of Saul's kingdom to him.

If God honours and glorifies David, He does not forget those whom the energy of David's faith had brought around him. The Holy Ghost enumerates the mighty men of David, and recounts their deeds of valour and devotedness — deeds which obtain a name and a place for them when God writes up the people (Psalm 87). Joab is not among them.

In blessed keeping with this last great prophetic utterance of the King are the records and the names of the mighty men of David. They were the men who loved David, stood by him, showed their loyalty and devotion to the King. And others are given, of whom we read no definite deeds. The last name is Uriah the Hittite. The spiritual meaning is not hard to find. Before the judgment seat of Christ all will be made manifest. When He comes to be the righteous Ruler, to usher in the morning without clouds, those will be remembered who were loyal and devoted to Him in His rejection. No name and no deed, even the smallest, will then be forgotten. What an incentive this should be, especially in the solemn days in which we live, when we see the day approaching, to serve Him and be as devoted to our absent, but coming Lord, as David's mighty men were to him. In our annotation on 1 Chronicles where we find these records also we hope to point out some of the details of the deeds of David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 11).

These men did valiant feats on David’s behalf. We read of Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, who slew three hundred men of the enemy with his spear at one time; of Eleazer, who fought on the piece of barley field till the Lord gave “a great deliverance”; of Abishai, who slew three hundred with his spear; of Benaiah, who slew two lion-like men of Moab, who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, who slew an Egyptian giant; of over forty names that are mentioned with great honour in despatches from the front.

The list of those mighty men is headed with the name of "Adino the Eznite," whose weapon of war was a spear, with which he slew no less than eight hundred Philistines at one time. And after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, to whose name the number of those slain is not attached, but of whom we read, "He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword"; and after him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite, who "stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines." After this a name is added of far more importance than all the rest, in connection with which the secret also of the warrior's success is revealed: "And the Lord wrought a great victory" (2 Sam. 23:8-12), thus leaving His servants free to acknowledge Him as their Deliverer, and render unto Him His due. It gives us to see, at the same time, how He identifies Himself with His servants, and lends His strength to those who are engaged in His battles against the enemy. This was realized by the apostle Paul when he had been deserted by those around in his deepest need, and yet could say, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me … and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." He had fought the good fight, and finished his course; and while waiting for his promotion from earth to heaven, and with the expectation of receiving his crown of righteousness from the hand of a righteous Judge, he recalled the deliverances which the Lord had wrought in his behalf, and which have been recorded in the word of God for the encouragement of every Christian warrior.

Joab who had held the top position as the head of the army until the end of David's reign is excluded from his mighty men. Perhaps he had performed more brilliant actions than all the others; much courage and even a certain outward devotedness to the king was found in him, but these qualities in themselves do not give one a place in God's register; otherwise the Word would list nearly all the great heroes of humanity. Psalm 87:4 teaches us what God understands by “mighty men”: “I will make mention of Rahab (Egypt) and Babylon among them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: this man was born there.” The glory of these heroes of the nations was past and did not extend beyond their short lifespans although they had filled the earth with the fame of their names. “And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her” (v. 5). Such was the character of David's mighty men: through their origin they were considered to belong to the city of royal grace. But the Spirit adds: “Jehovah will count, when He inscribes the peoples, This man was born there” (v. 6). Despite every “this one” of the past, when the register of the nations shall be opened before the Lord He will find but one, the Man of His right hand, who deserves to have His origin in Zion. The leaders of the nations have had their day, and their glory has vanished in smoke; this Man will rule over all peoples; the start and the center of His kingdom will be at Jerusalem, and “all [the] springs” of those who belong to Him will be found in Himself (v. 7). But His mighty men, “this one and that one,” will be associated with Him in His reign.

"The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite." 2 Sam. 23:8. In 1 Chr. 11:11 the chief of the captains is Jashobeam an Hachmonite, or son of Hachmoni, margin. The passage in Samuel reads in the margin "Joshebbassebet the Tachmonite, head of the three." It is difficult to reconcile the two passages. Some think that Jashobeam and Joshebbassebet are the same name — one being varied by the copyist. Those who take the passage in Samuel to be incorrect, make "Adino the Eznite" not a proper name, but 'he swung his spear.' Fürst takes Adino to be a proper name, and so do the LXX. The two passages may refer to different persons. It will be noted that Jashobeam is said to have killed three hundred men, and Adino killed eight hundred. The former also is named in connection with David's coming into power, and the latter in connection with 'the last words of David.' Jashobeam may therefore have died and Adino become chief in his place. That the two passages are not meant for lists of the 'first three' at the same period seems evident by Shammah, one of the three, being named in Samuel only.

Son of David's sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab. He was one of David's officers and served him many years. He accompanied David into Saul's camp while he slept. 1 Sam. 26:6-9. With Joab he slew Abner. 2 Sam. 3:30. In his zeal for David he asked permission to slay Shimei. 2 Sam. 16:9; 2 Sam. 19:21. In the rebellion of Absalom he commanded a third of David's army. 2 Sam. 18:2. He rescued David from Ishbi-benob the giant. 2 Sam. 21:17. He was captain of the second three of David's 'mighty men,' and slew three hundred men. 2 Sam. 23:18. To him is attributed the slaughter of eighteen thousand Syrians or Edomites in the valley of salt. 1 Chr. 18:12; 2 Sam. 8:13.

Son of Dodo, the Ahohite, and one of David's three mighty men. 2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chr. 11:12.