Who were the mighty men of David?

Answer  
  

Second Samuel 23:8–39 and 1 Chronicles 11:10–47 list a group of people known as mighty men of David or David’s mighty men. They are also referred to as the “thirty chiefs” (1 Chronicles 11:15\) and simply “the Thirty” (1 Chronicles 12:4\). These mighty men of David were a group of David’s toughest military warriors who were credited with heroic feats, including Josheb\-basshebeth, who killed 800 men in one battle with a spear (2 Samuel 23:8\).  
  

Additional notable actions listed include the deeds of a man named Eleazar, who stayed on the battlefield when other warriors fled and killed Philistines until his hand was stuck clenched around his sword (2 Samuel 23:9–10\); and the exploits of Abishai, the leader of the mighty men, who killed 300 men with a spear (23:18\).  
  

[Benaiah](Benaiah-in-the-Bible.html) was known for going into a pit on a snowy day and killing a lion and for killing a powerful Egyptian man with the man’s own spear (2 Samuel 23:20–21\). He also served as leader of David’s bodyguards (23:23\).  
  

Within this list of mighty men are three men who served as a special elite group: Josheb\-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. Their exact roles are not made clear, but they were certainly seen as stand\-outs among David’s mighty men.  
  

Although the mighty men are called “the Thirty,” a total of 37 men are listed, meaning that not all of these men were on the team the entire time. Some of them, like Uriah, were killed in battle during David’s reign. Another explanation may be that David’s elite group of mighty men numbered approximately 30, a figure not meant to be exact.  
  

Some of these mighty men of David had considerable military skill and the blessing of God. David’s mighty men served an important role in protecting the king and fighting for the freedom of their nation, the land of Israel.  
  

The full list of the mighty men of David is located in 2 Samuel 23 and includes the following names:  
  

1\. Josheb\-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite  

2\. Eleazar, the son of Dodo  

3\. Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite  

4\. Abishai  

5\. Benaiah  

6\. Asahel  

7\. [Elhanan](Goliath-David-Elhanan.html)  

8\. Shammah of Harod  

9\. Elika of Harod  

10\. Helez the Paltite  

11\. Ira, the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa  

12\. Abiezer of Anthoth  

13\. Mebunnai the Hushathite  

14\. Zalmon the Ahohite  

15\. Maharai of Netophah  

16\. Heleb, the son of Baanah of Netophah  

17\. Ittai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin  

18\. Benaiah of Pirathon  

19\. Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash  

20\. Abi\-albon the Arbathite  

21\. Azmaveth of Bahurim  

22\. Eliahba the Shaalbonite  

23\. The sons of Jashen  

24\. Jonathan  

25\. Shammah the Hararite  

26\. Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite  

27\. Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai of Maacha  

28\. Eliam, the son of Ahithophel of Gilo  

29\. Hezro of Carmel  

30\. Paarai the Arbite  

31\. Igal, the son of Nathan of Zobah  

32\. Bani the Gadite  

33\. Zelek the Ammonite  

34\. Naharai of Beeroth  

35\. Ira the Ithrite  

36\. Gareb the Ithrite  

37\. [Uriah the Hittite](Uriah-the-Hittite.html)  
  

