Hall of Fame (Part Three)

Reflections on 2 Samuel 23:24-39 and 1 Chronicles 11:26-47

Those who visit the Vietnam War Memorial often are looking for one specific name, perhaps a father, brother, or son.  Most of the other names on the wall are unknown to them, yet the list of names adds something to the meaning of the one name they are looking for.  Similarly, relatives of the men on David's list may not have known everyone on the list, but those relatives would have taken great satisfaction that one of their own family was included.
 
The following names in 1Samuel 23 are listed elsewhere in the story of David:  1) Asahel  and 2) Joab, David's nephews.  Asahel  (v. 24) was killed by Abner during the war between the house of Saul and David.  Joab (v. 37) led the attack on Jerusalem and became commander of David's army.  3) Naharai, Joab's armor-bearer (v. 37).   4) Jonathan (v. 32), the son of Shammah, who was one of the Three (2 Samuel 23:11-12).  5) Eliam and 6) Uriah the Hittite.    Eliam (v. 34) was the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, who was one of David's most trusted advisers (2 Samuel 15:12).  Eliam was also the father of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3).  Uriah the Hittite (v. 39) was the husband of Bathsheba. 

Each month of the year, David had a different division of his army on active duty.  Each division consisted of 24,000 men.  Several of the thirty mighty men were commanders of these divisions:  Helez (2 Samuel 23:26) was commander of the division on duty during the seventh month of the year (1 Chronicles 27:10), Ira the son of Ikkesh (2 Samuel 23:26) was commander of the division on duty during the sixth month of the year (1 Chronicles 27:9), Abiezer  (2 Samuel 23:27) was commander of the division on duty during the ninth month (1 Chronicles 27:12), Maharai (2 Samuel 23:28) was commander of the division on duty on duty during the tenth month (1 Chronicles 27:13), and Benaiah the Pirathonite (2 Samuel 23:30) commander of the division on duty during the eleventh month (1 Chronicles 27:14).