Reading for June 8th

 Read 2 Samuel 23.8-39. In 23.8-39: David's heroes.  In verses 8-12: Nothing more is known about the  three greatest warriors in David's army besides what is reported here. In verses 13-17: The story in these verses is not about the three warriors just listed but about three anonymous members of the honor guard of the thirty.  At the beginning of the harvest (v. 13) the weather was hot and dry, which is why David became thirsty. The stronghold (v. 14) was the fortress at Adullam. Since a garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem, this must have been early in David's reign. Bethlehem was David's hometown, which accounts for his fond remembrance of the water there. In verses 16-17: Pouring out the water was a way of honoring these three men. Water was often poured out as a libation or sacrifice to God. In verse 20: Benaiah was the commander of David's bodyguard and later of the army under Solomon. In verse 24: It is strange to find Asahel in this list since he seems to be a young warrior aspiring to greatness at the time of his death. (2.18-23). Elhanan killed Goliath (21.19). In verse 30: This is a different Benaiah from the one in vv. 20-23. In verse 39: Uriah was Bathsheba's husband (ch. 11). It is uncertain how the count of thirty seven was achieved. The addition of the "Three" plus Abishai and Benaiah brings the number to thirty-five. Joab may have been counted as a member of this elite group, though his name is not specifically mentioned. The list in vv. 24-39 had  thirty names in it. But there are textual variations where an additional name may have been read. Comments or Questions..