Bible Strands
2 Samuel 23:9
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative compiler lists David’s elite fighters, naming Eleazar as the second commander after Josheb-basshebeth. The passage functions as a roster rather than a continuous battle narrative.
The words — בִּ/שְלֹשָ֨ה הַ/גִּבֹּרִ֜ים (bi/sh.lo.Shah ha/gi.bo.rim) literally reads “among the three warriors,” marking Eleazar’s specific rank within David’s elite corps. וְ/אַחֲרָ֛י/ו (ve./'a.cha.r/o) translates as “and after him,” establishing the sequence of command.
The thread — The roster reappears in 1 Chronicles 11:12 with identical naming conventions. Parallel military listings appear in 1 Chronicles 27:4, while the Philistine confrontation echoes the taunt motif of 1 Samuel 17:26.
Why it lands — The text states Eleazar’s placement in the command structure and his movement toward the Philistine camp at Pas-dammim while Israelite troops withdrew. It asks the reader to recognize that elite status in this roster is defined by proximity to David and willingness to advance when others retreat.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 11:12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.
- 1 Chronicles 27:4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- Numbers 23:7 And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
- 1 Samuel 17:10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”
- 1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
- 1 Samuel 17:45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
- Isaiah 63:3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.
- Isaiah 63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted. So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me.
- Mark 14:50 Then everyone deserted Him and fled.