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David’s Three Fighting Men(A)

10 Now, these were the commanders of David’s fighting men, who exercised power with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel they made him king according to Yahweh’s word to Israel. 11 The first of David’s fighting men was Jashobeam, son of Hachmon, the leader of the three.[a] He used his spear to kill 300 men on one occasion. 12 Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field of ripe barley. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 14 they stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Yahweh saved them with an impressive victory. 15 Once three of the thirty leading men went down to David’s rock at the cave of Adullam when the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were in Bethlehem.

17 David was thirsty and said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the cistern at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 18 So the three burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Yahweh 19 and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, Elohim. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it.

These are the things which the three fighting men did.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:11 2 Samuel 23:8, Greek; Masoretic Text “thirty.”

David’s Mighty Warriors(A)

10 These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel,(B) gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised(C) 11 this is the list of David’s mighty warriors:(D)

Jashobeam,[a] a Hakmonite, was chief of the officers[b]; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

12 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.(E)

15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley(F) of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold,(G) and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured(H) it out to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:11 Possibly a variant of Jashob-Baal
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:11 Or Thirty; some Septuagint manuscripts Three (see also 2 Samuel 23:8)

10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.

13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.

15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

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

18 And the three 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: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord.

19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

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