In my Old Testament reading today, a passage in First Chronicles chapter 11 tells us that King David had Three Famous Soldiers (or Three Mighty Warriors, in some translations).
- 1 Chronicles 11:10 - 14 GNB Good News Bible
- 10 This is the list of David's famous soldiers. Together with the rest of the people of Israel, they helped him to become king, as the LORD had promised, and they kept his kingdom strong.
- 11 First was Jashobeam of the clan of Hachmon, the leader of “The Three”. He fought with his spear against 300 men and killed them all in one battle. 12 Next among the famous “Three” was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. 13 He fought on David's side against the Philistines at the battle of Pas Dammim. He was in a barley field when the Israelites started to run away, 14 so he and his men made a stand in the middle of the field and fought the Philistines. The LORD gave him a great victory.
The above passage, however, mentions the names of only two famous soldiers, "Jashobeam, clan of Hachmon" and "Eleazar son of Dodo". It appears that a third name has been left out.
A cross reference of this passage can be found in 2 Samuel chapter 23 where the names of all three famous soldiers are mentioned in verses 8 to 11, with the leader's name rendered as "Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon" (a variation of "Jashobeam from Hachmon"):
- 2 Samuel 23:8 - 11 GNB Good News Bible
- 8 These are the names of David's famous soldiers: the first was Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon, who was the leader of “The Three”; he fought with his spear against 800 men and killed them all in one battle.
- 9 The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back, 10 but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so stiff that he could not let go of his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. After it was over, the Israelites returned to where Eleazar was and stripped the armour from the dead.
- 11 The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee, from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines, 12but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The LORD won a great victory that day.
From both the accounts in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11, we learn that King David's Famous Three are as follows:
- Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon ("thou will make me wise"),
- Eleazar ("God has helped") son of Dodo ("his beloved") clan of Ahoh ("brother of rest"), and
- Shammah son of Agee from Harar.
