2 Samuel 23:8-39 & 1 Chron. 11:10-47
Vs. 8 – Josheb – wielded his spear against 800 whom he killed at one time. (COURAGE IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS, ENDURANCE UNTIL THE JOB WAS COMPLETE)
Vs. 9-10 – Eleazar – with David when they defied the Philistines – rose against the Philistines when the men of Israel deserted and struck down the Philistines until his hand was so weary that it clung to his sword = Lord brought about a great victory (STOOD ALONE, OVERWHELMING ODDS)
Vs. 11 – Shammah – stood against the Philistines when everyone else fled and struck them down = Lord worked a great victory. (STOOD ALONE, OVERWHELMING ODDS)
Vv. 12-17 – Three of David’s mighty men broke through the Philistine camp to draw water of the well of Bethlehem that David longed to drink from. (TOOK RISKS FOR THOSE THEY LOVED & SERVED)
Vv. 18-19 – Abishai – brother of Joab and chief of the 30. Wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. He was the most renowned of the 30 and became their commander. (FACED OVERWHELMING ODDS)
Vv. 20-23 – Benaiah – valiant man, doer of great deeds, struck down two champions of Moab, went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion, struck down a giant 7 ½ ft tall Egyptian – snatched his spear, the size of a weaver’s beam, out of his hand and killed him with it, became Captain of David’s bodyguards. (COURAGEOUS, UNINTIMIDATED, RESOURCEFUL, LEADER)
Vv. 24-39 – list of the rest of David’s mighty men (LOYALTY)
1 Chron. 11:10 – “who gave him strong support in his kingdom…”
The Forge 