TOPIC: ASAHEL – THE MIGHTIER MAN
INTRODUCTION
GREAT NATIONS are built when WILLING MEN are surrounded by MIGHTY MEN.
Such is the story of Israel. Israel is a great nation that was built through the leadership of willing men like David who were surrounded and supported by mighty men. David did extraordinary things because he was a willing man who was surrounded by 37 mighty men generally described as the 30 mighty men.
An ordinary man or woman can do extraordinary things if he or she is surrounded by organized people.
2 Samuel 23:8-39 (KJV)
8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
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 that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.
19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: 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 slew him with his own spear.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
David’s gallery of heroes consisted of 37 men (v. 39) who distinguished themselves by mighty exploits of service to God and Israel and who evidently made up his elite troops.
In this world every one is mighty in something.
Mighty men of holiness.
Mighty men of prayer.
Mighty men of finances.
Mighty men of power.
RANKINGS OF DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN
David’s mighty men can be grouped into three categories:
• The first three ver. 8-17 – the mightiest.
The first three were (a) Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, who slew 800 men... in one encounter (2 Sam. 23:8 or “300” in 1 Chron. 11:11).
(b) Eleazar, son of Dodai the Ahohite, who struck down the Philistines (2 Sam. 23:9-10) at Pas Dammim (1 Chron. 11:13)
(c) Shammah son of Agee the Hararite, who brought great victory over the Philistines (2 Sam. 23:11-12).
2 Samuel 23 1Chronicles 11
• The second category ver. 18-23 – the mightier.
Included in the second rank were Abishai... son of Zeruiah (and nephew of David, 1 Chron. 2:15-16) who was chief of the second 3 but not as exalted as the first 3 previously listed (2 Sam. 23:18-19) and Benaiah, who achieved notable victories over both men and a lion (23:20-23).
4.Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah (23:18) (1 Chron.11:20)
5.Benaiah son of Jehoiada(11:22)
6. Asahel the brother of Abishai.
• The third category ver 24-39 – the mighty.
The longest list consists of 32 men. Such a group normally consisted of 30 men but might have a few more or less and still be known as “the 30,” a technical term for a small military contingent known in Hebrew as haššelošm (“the 30”). Or perhaps two had died in battle (including Uriah the Hittite, 2 Sam. 11:14-17) and were replaced.
The “Thirty”
THE BACKGROUND OF ASAHEL
Asahel means made by God, God’s creature, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David's sister.
Asahel was the brother of Joab and Abishai. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.
2 Samuel 2:18 (KJV)
18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
The wild roe – gazelle.
He was one of the famous thirty mighty men of David (2 Samuel 23:24).
2 Samuel 23:24 (KJV)
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
He with his son Zebadiah, was commander of the fourth division of the royal army; he was a great leader..
1 Chronicles 27:7 (KJV)
7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
FOOT AS A WILD ROE
The modern word for the wild roe is a wild gazelle (antelope) – any of many antelope species.
Gazelles are swift animals – some are able to maintain speeds as high as 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) for extended periods of time, or run at a speed of 30 mph for several kilometers.
Gazelles are mostly found in the deserts, grasslands and savannas of Africa, but they are also found in southwest and central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
They tend to live in herds and will eat less coarse, easily digestible plants and leaves.
Asahel is compared to a gazelle.
THE COST OF A BATTLE
In a battle against Ish-bosheth, saul’s son at Gibeon, in the army of his brother Joab, he was put to death by Abner, whom he pursued from the field of battle.
2 Samuel 2:17-32 (KJV)
17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
Asahel possessed the qualities that enabled him to pay the price of battle. He died in the battle.
Asahel was a decided person – Abner’s advice could not convince him to return from chasing him, 2 Sam. 2:19-21
Asahel was determined person – Asahel was not easily tired; he had a lot stamina, 2 Sam. 2:22.
Asahel was defiant - Abner could not scare him with death, 2 Sam. 2:23
KEYS TO SURVIVAL IN BATTLES
Luke 14:31-32 (KJV)
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Asahel paid the full price of battle – he died. But maybe he could have escaped death at this time if he had acted differently.
• Assess your strength and resources.
Asahel did not consider his strength compared to Abner’s. Abner adviced him to choose one of the young men and fight him. Choose your battles wisely. Joab killed Abner later on but Asahel was not strong enough to kill him.
• Don’t go to war alone.
Avoid being a lone ranger. Asahel pursued Abner alone.
• Don’t pursue the enemy without orders.
Asahel did not take orders from Joab to pursue Abner. Don’t fight unauthorized wars.
• There is no easy battle.
Abner army was totally defeated so Asahel might have thought it would be easy to defeat Abner. Never underestimate any battle.
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