Context No. 3434 of 4322 · 2 Samuel

2 Samuel 23:18-23: in context

18Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 19Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he wasn’t included as one of the three. 20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. 21He killed a huge Egyptian, and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. 23He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard.

These verses record the exploits of David's warriors, Abishai and Benaiah, men of extraordinary courage. Benaiah struck down a formidable Egyptian armed with a spear, going against him with only a staff, wresting the spear from his hand, and killing him with his own weapon. And he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Their valor is celebrated, and there is honor in courage rightly used, in facing danger to protect and serve. But Scripture, taken as a whole, also reminds us that the courage God prizes is not only the battlefield kind. The same devotion that made these men fearless in war is meant, in God's people, to make us bold for what is right, faithful under pressure, unafraid to stand alone for the truth when it is costly. Their physical bravery pictures a deeper courage: to be steadfast for God when standing firm brings danger. The valor honored here points beyond itself to the quiet courage of faithfulness.

Am I willing to bring courage to what is right, facing difficulty and standing firm for the truth, as these warriors faced their battles?

Sources

2 Samuel 23:20: "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada... killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow."
2 Samuel 23:21: "He killed a huge Egyptian... he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand."
Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."