Eleazar

8Here are the names of David's mighty men, his bravest fighters. The Tachmonite sat in the top seat as chief of the captains. He was also called Adino the Eznite. He raised his spear against eight hundred men and killed them at one time.

These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

NoteDavid had a special group of his best fighters. The top three were the most famous of all. A group of thirty came next. This chapter lists them like a team.

9Next was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty men with David. They shouted against the Philistines, a people who fought Israel. The Philistines had gathered for battle, and Israel's men ran away.

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

NoteThe Philistines lived near the sea, close to Israel. They fought Israel many times. To "defy" them meant shouting at them before a fight.

10Eleazar stayed and fought the Philistines until his hand was worn out. His hand stuck to his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. The other men came back only to take things from the dead.

He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

NoteHis hand had gripped the sword so long it would not open. After a battle, soldiers took swords and other things from the dead. That was normal back then.

11After him came Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered in a field full of lentils, which are small beans people eat. Israel's men ran away from them.

And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12But Shammah stood in the middle of that field. He kept it safe and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD won a great victory.

But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

10These are the leaders of David's mighty men. They stood with him, and with all Israel, to make him king. It happened just as the LORD had said about Israel.

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.

NoteMighty men were David's bravest and best soldiers. People told stories about them for many years afterward.

11This is the list of David's mighty men. Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers. He fought three hundred men with his spear and killed them all at one time.

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.

NoteA spear is a long wooden pole with a sharp point on the end.

12Next came Eleazar son of Dodo, from the family of Ahoah. He was one of the three mighty men.

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

13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines came there to fight. A field full of barley grew at that place. Israel's soldiers ran away from the Philistines.

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.

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived near the sea close by. They fought against Israel for many years. Barley is a grain, a little like wheat, used to make bread.

14But Eleazar and David stood in the middle of that field and guarded it. They struck down the Philistines. The LORD gave them a great victory.

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.