In our previous discussion, we saw how three of David’s thirty broke through the enemy line just to fetch the water from the well of Bethlehem. They brought water from that well to David at great peril to their lives. Theirs was a sacrifice so great that the king felt that he did not deserve such honor, so he refused to drink it. Verses 18-23 revealed two of their names. They were Abishai and Benaiah.
What is so special about the
two men? Abishai as we know was the brother of Joab. Unlike his brother, he was
more controlled and measured. He rescued David who was old and was almost
killed by the giant Ishi-benob. From that point on he advised David not to go
out with them for war. He was said to have killed three hundred in a battle
with just a spear in his hand. The second person was Benaiah, who had done
several deeds of great courage in the face of dangers. His outstanding deeds
were: (1) he smote and got rid of two of Moab’s best men; (2) he faced and
killed a lion in the pit on a snowy day; and (3) armed with a club, he
overcame a remarkable Egyptian and killed him with his own spear. As a reward
for his great deeds, David made him the captain of his
bodyguards.
Though the
name of the third hero was not mentioned, Joab was possibly the man. On several
occasions, he was known to have taken matters into his own hand to a point of
being defiant toward David. David kept him so long also because he
possessed the secret of Uriah’s death. For he was the one who executed David’s
order to place Uriah at the battlefront to have him killed by the enemy. Joab
was a ruthless man who had treacherously killed Abner and Amasa, two commanders
whom David was counting on to help him establish his kingdom. But their lives
were cut short by Joab ruthlessly. Joab was also responsible for the death of
Absalom despite David’s plea with him to deal kindly with him. All of these
acts made David wary of him.
One phrase
that occurred twice tells us something about Abishai and Benaiah. In verse 19
and verse 23, it was said that they both were honored among the thirty, but did
not attain to the three. In other words, they did not attain the status of the
first three described earlier, namely Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar the
Ahohite, and Shammah. Though they were not put among the first three, they did
not complain or lament that they were not honored as them. And unlike Joab who
schemed to make something for himself, these two chose to remain serving David
faithfully. They were men who were not driven by position but were contented with
their place and position. They were simply glad to have a place to serve. Like
them, are we contented to serve God where we are? Emulating them we must refuse
to be envious with what others may be given. We must remain faithful in
exercising the gift we are endowed with by serving God faithfully and
diligently. What an excellent attitude to emulate!
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