1 Chronicles 11-12 | Servants of the King

1 Chronicles 11-12 | Servants of the King

1 Chronicles 11-12
Servants of the King

I. Introduction

  1. We will spend the next several weeks following the life of David.
    1. The New Testament tells us this about David’s life:

      Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’[1]
  2. Chapter 11 highlights the men who are listed as David’s mighty men.
    1. These are the men who stood with David while waiting for the Lord to make him king over Israel.
  3. In addition, chapter 12 records the 12 tribes that came to support David as king.

II. Ch 11:1-3 David assumes the throne.

1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’” 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

  1. The Lord’s word to David by Samuel has come to pass.
    1. The Lord is true to His word even if much time passes.
  2. David did not take matters into his own hands.
    1. When he cut the robe in the cave.
    2. When he snuck into Saul’s camp and took personal effects rather than killing him.

      1 Samuel 26:8-12 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” 9 And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 11 “The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw it or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
  3. Hebron
    1. This became David’s headquarters before conquering Jerusalem.
      1. It was a well-known city that was in the hills of Judah.
      2. All the Patriarchs frequented this city.

III. vv. 4-9 Jerusalem becomes Israel’s capital.

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). 6 Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. 7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. 8 And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with him.

  1. This is not the first mention of Jerusalem.
    1. Remember, Abraham met the priest of Jerusalem and paid him a tithe.
  2. City of David
    1. This was built just south of where the Temple was eventually built in Jerusalem.
  3. This now becomes the capital of David’s kingdom, and to this day, battle rages over who rightfully belongs in this city.

    1 Kings 11:36 And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there.

IV. vv. 10-14 David’s mighty men.

10 Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

  1. The value of loyalty.
    1. Those who accomplish anything will also have a group of faithful followers who support them.
  2. David had three mighty men: Eleazar, Shammah, and Jashobeam.
    1. Shammah is not mentioned in Chronicles but is listed in 2 Samuel 23.
  3. v. 11 Jashobeam

    11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.
    1. He was one of David’s mighty three.
    2. He was noted for slaying 300 men on the battlefield.
  4. vv. 12-14 Eleazar

    12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
    1. There is a very similar account given in 1 Samuel 23 with Shammah guarding and defending a field of lentils.
      1. Some believe these are two separate accounts; others believe they are the same account, but Shammah’s name was not included.
    2. Great exploits in battle were prophesied by the Lord.

      Leviticus 26:8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.
      1. The Battle of Jericho is one of the many examples we have of how God gave victory to Israel in their fight to inhabit the land given to them.
  5. Faithfulness is a dying quality in our world.
    1. When someone says that they are going to do something, it doesn’t mean that they are going to do it. It only means that right now this seems like something I will do if it is convenient and pleasurable.
    2. Faithfulness today has degenerated to a matter of how much money and how good a lawyer you have to make me do this.
    3. Paul told one of the leaders in Colosse to be faithful.

      Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

    4. People may ask why someone would die for a grain field.
    5. To Eleazar, it wasn’t just a grain field; it was defending that which was given to him to steward by his king.
    6. It was about faithfulness to the task.
    7. What about your ministry?
      1. Something that you feel you can easily leave and let someone else step forward to do?
      2. We all should look to faithfully fulfill the task we have been charged with.
  6. Of course, in the Kingdom of God, no one is going to sue you if you are unfaithful as a steward.
    1. The motivation for being faithful in the Kingdom of God is one of:
      1. Love.
      2. Obedience.
      3. Importance/urgency.
    2. God will enable us to be faithful.

      2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

      2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work

    3. One other great victory is ascribed to Eleazar.

      1 Samuel 23:9-10 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.
      1. What a great picture for us to ponder in the battle we fight in the spiritual realm.
      2. Ephesians 6 tells us we are in a battle and that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.

V. vv. 15-19 Pleasing your King.

15 Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

  1. We learn about the men around David.
    1. These three men were willing to risk their lives for even a whisper of desire.
    2. This was not a command; it was simply a longing he had.
    3. This is quite an example of wanting to please the Lord.
      1. We are told by Paul that we should live in such a way that we might please the one who enlisted us as soldiers.

        2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

      2. When we live to please our King in such a way, we too will be known as the mighty people of God’s army.
  2. We also learn about David.
    1. David refused to drink water upon learning that these three men risked their lives for it.
    2. This was not being ungrateful but was making a statement that his desires were not greater than the lives of those around him.
    3. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

VI. vv. 20-21 Abishai, an army chief.

20 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 21 Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

  1. He was a faithful friend for years.
  2. He was a nephew of David.
  3. Abishai was the one who went to the camp of Saul with David and took the spear and the jug of water.
    1. He was a mighty warrior who was very loyal to David.
    2. His victories on the battlefield were heroic, including the killing of a giant.

VII. vv. 22-25 Benaiah, a man of great valor.

22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

  1. He killed two warriors of Moab.
  2. He killed a lion on a snowy day in a pit.
  3. He killed an Egyptian who was 7 ½ feet tall.
  4. David made him his chief bodyguard.

VIII. vv. 26-47 List of David’s army.

26 Also the mighty warriors were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29 Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

  1. v. 41 Uriah the Hittite
    1. Although not mentioned in this list, 2 Samuel 23 also includes Eliam, who was the father of Bathsheba.
    2. Although David was selfless in not drinking the water from Bethlehem, he totally failed when it came to his treatment of Uriah.
    3. His actions were very self-seeking and destructive to men who were faithful and loyal.

      James 4:1-2 1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

IX. Ch 12

  1. This chapter lists the men who were with David in the wilderness and those who came to him at his enthronement as king of Israel.
  2. vv. 1-22 Men who joined David at Ziklag.
    1. This is when he was in hiding.
    2. Not a surprise for those who came to him at his enthronement.
    3. What is a surprise are those who were loyal to him when he was on the run from Saul.
    4. They understood the Word of the Lord.
    5. They understood what God was GOING to do.
    6. They were men of vision and sacrifice.
  3. vv. 23-40 Men who joined David at Hebron.
    1. v. 38a They pledged their loyalty to David.
    2. v. 38b They were men who could keep the ranks.

X. Conclusion

  1. Are you a servant in the Kingdom of God?
  2. Are you sensitive to the wishes and desires of the one who enlisted you?
  3. Get involved in being a servant of the King of kings.

[1] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

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