David’s Last Official Message

II Samuel 23:1-39

“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.” (II Samuel 23:1-7)

This was David’s last public speech, but it is not the last we hear of him, as we will back up in time and look at the details of the transition from David to Solomnon.  It is again a speech of praise, recounting what God had done in David’s life and thanking him for it.

God had chosen David when he had no aspirations to be king.  He had used David as his messenger, and despite his failures to live up to God’s standard, had made an everlasting covenant with him, ensuring his salvation, while refusing to do so for those who persist in wickedness.  Instead the wicked shall be utterly destroyed.

The chapter finishes with a list of David’s mightiest warriors, his special forces team, listing them according to their accomplishments.

“These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.” (II Samuel 23:8) 

The leader of David’s special forces and the top field commander was Adino, the Eznite, known as a Tachmonite or wise man.  He didn’t hesitate to take on eight hundred man at one time and killed them all.  He was also one of David’s trusted advisors.

“And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.” (II Samuel 23:9-10) 

Eleazar earned his position as David’s second best warrior fighting the Philistines.  He and David, along with other men were confronted by the Philistine army.  He fought until his hands were cramping around the handle of his sword and he couldn’t turn it loose.  By the time the others returned to help him there wasn’t anyone left to fight, and they just helped him gather the weapons of the dead.

“And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.” (II Samuel 23:11-12)

Shammah was ranked third.  When a troop of Philistines attacked a field of lentiles, the other workers fled.  Shammah stayed to fight and defeated them, killing the entire troop.  He, Eleazar, and Adino comprised the equivalent of Seal Team Six.

“And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.  And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 

And the three mighty men brake through the host 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 

And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.”  (II Samuel 23:13-17)

At one point the philistines had captured Bethlehem, David’s hometown.  When David commented how much he’d like a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, three unnamed members of the special forces fought their way in just to get him a drink of water.  David refused to drink it, saying that it would be like drinking the three men’s blood, since they had risked their lives for it.  Instead, he offered it to the Lord.

“And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. “ (II Samuel 23:18-19)

David’s cousin Abishai, Joab’s brother led the second three man team.  He only killed three hundred by himself, which wasn’t enough o make the first team, although it gave him leadership of the second.

“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: 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 slew him with his own spear.  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three.  And David set him over his guard. “ (II Samuel 23:20-23)

Initially Benaiah led a three man team as well.  He earned his position by numerous heroic acts.  Rather than throwing a spear from above to kill a trapped lion, he jumped into the pit with him even though the ground was slippery with snow.  He defeated a well armed Egyptian soldier with only a walking stick, using the Egyptians own spear to kill him.  David set him over his personal guard.

“Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.’ (II Samuel 23:24-39)

David had thirty seven who would have been Medal Of Honor winners, although we don’t know what most of them did.  They attained their reputations before David became king, and went on to play important roles in his kingdom. A few stand out for various reasons.  Asahel was Joab’s younger brother, and in his eagerness got himself killed by Abner.

Nahari became Joab’s aide when David made him  commanding general.  Uriah was a Hittite, rather than a Jew, and he was the one David had killed to conceal his affair with Bathsheba.   Igal was a Syrian from Zobah, and Zelek was an Ammonite.