Hall of Fame

Reflections on 2 Samuel 23:8-12 and 21:15-22

Major League Baseball and the National Football League both have a Hall of Fame where the careers and feats of famous athletes are memorialized.  The exploits of David's mightiest men are recounted in the summaries at the end of his life, but those exploits probably occurred during the wars with the Philistines before the fall of their principle city, Metheg Ammah (Gath), mentioned in 2 Samuel 8:1.

MIGHTY MEN.  David's three mightiest men had broken through Philistine lines and brought water to David from Bethlehem.  The first of these was Josheb-Basshebeth (or Jashobeam, 1 Chronicles 11:11), who killed 800 men in one encounter.  The second of David's three mightiest men was Eleazar.  When David's men retreated before the Philistines, he refused to flee and fought alone until his hand was "frozen" to his sword.  When David's men returned, they found that he had already won the victory.  The third of David's mightiest men was Shammah, who by himself defended a field of lintels against the raiding Philistines when the other Israelites had fled.  Through these men who dared to stand when all others fled, God turned the tide of the battle and gave Israel the victory.

GRATEFUL TO THE LORD.  Baal Perazim was near Adullam, where David had earlier hidden from Saul.  Perhaps at this time, three of his soldiers demonstrated their devotion and bravery after David expressed his desire for a drink from the well at Bethlehem, which was occupied by Philistines.  They undertook the dangerous mission, broke through the Philistine lines, and brought David water from the well at Bethlehem.  David was so overwhelmed by their devotion and bravery that he could not drink it.  Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord (2 Samuel 23:13-17; 1 Chronicles 11:15-19).