This list of David’s mighty men and the reports of their heroic deeds has its parallel in 2 Samuel 23:8–39, though many differences exist between the two lists. In 2 Samuel, the list of heroes forms part of the conclusion to David’s reign, whereas for the Chronicler it is an important part of his introduction to David’s life.1
Comparing the two lists brings into view a few general differences.2
The list in Chronicles contains seventeen more names than that of 2 Samuel 23:1–39. That list ends at Uriah the Hittite (1 Chronicles 11:41), which is one possible reason for omitting
one of the thirty
from the title (2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26); the concluding total,in all thirty-seven
as found in 2 Samuel 23:39, is missing from the Chronicler’s list. The addition of 1 Chronicles 11:41–47 to the Chronicler’s roster of mighty men represents another military source of unknown origin available to the writer.3 These extra names, several of which have Transjordanian connections, are a testimony to fluidity in the size of the group.4The names do not always follow the same order.
There are variances in spelling and even in the identity of names unless one posits more than one name for some individuals (for example, Josheb-Basshebeth, also called Adino, in 2 Samuel 23:8).
Of the grand total of seventy-five names, only seventeen are identical in both lists, where they are clearly parallel or nearly so.5
Following the preamble (1 Chronicles 11:10), four main groupings of men can be identified:
Two named heroes (1 Chronicles 11:11–14)
The anonymous three (1 Chronicles 11:15–19)
Two named heroes (1 Chronicles 11:20–25)
A list of elite warriors (1 Chronicles 11:26–47)
Twelve of those mentioned in 1 Chronicles 11:11–31 reappear in a later list of commanders (1 Chronicles 27:2–15).
10 Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.