2 Samuel 23:11 kjv
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 lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines.
2 Samuel 23:11 nkjv
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines.
2 Samuel 23:11 niv
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them.
2 Samuel 23:11 esv
And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines.
2 Samuel 23:11 nlt
Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,
2 Samuel 23 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 6:3-6 | For whenever the Israelites had sown... Midianites, Amalekites... would come up... destroy the produce of the land. | Shows enemy strategy of destroying Israel's crops. |
| 1 Sam 13:19-22 | No blacksmith was found... Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords." | Philistine efforts to disarm and economically cripple Israel, affecting agriculture. |
| Lev 26:16 | I will appoint over you terror, consumption, and fever... you shall sow your seed in vain... enemies shall eat it. | Enemies consuming crops as a consequence of disobedience, highlighting agricultural vulnerability. |
| Gen 25:29-34 | Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat... lentil stew." | Lentils as a common, vital food source, signifying basic sustenance. |
| Ezek 4:9 | Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer... and make bread of them. | Lentils included in essential food for survival, particularly in a siege. |
| Deut 8:8 | A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey. | Israel as a land of agricultural abundance, worth defending in its entirety. |
| 1 Sam 17:45-47 | David said to the Philistine... "The battle is the Lord’s." | Sets the spiritual foundation for a warrior's might against Philistine enemies. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. | Implies God's involvement in a few against many, as with Shammah. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | Of David, and Samuel... who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions... became mighty in war. | Highlights faith as the basis for valor in God's mighty men. |
| Josh 1:6 | Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land. | General charge for Israelite leaders/warriors in defending the inheritance. |
| Deut 3:22 | You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. | Assurance of divine assistance for warriors like Shammah facing adversaries. |
| Lk 16:10 | One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. | Although his action is in v.12, v.11 presents the "little thing" worth fighting for. |
| Matt 25:21 | Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. | Reinforces the principle of valuing faithfulness in humble tasks/objects. |
| 1 Cor 4:2 | Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. | Application of protecting what is entrusted, even a seemingly small plot. |
| Deut 32:8-9 | When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance... He fixed the borders of the peoples... For the Lord's portion is His people. | God's care for Israel as His inheritance, including their land. |
| Neh 4:14 | Do not be afraid... remember the Lord... and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. | Call to defend all aspects of Israelite life, including agricultural livelihoods. |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | General affirmation of divine help for those facing overwhelming threats. |
| Exod 14:14 | The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | Illustrates God's capacity to deliver His people from enemies. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.' | God empowering His people against numerically superior enemies. |
| Psa 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. | Implies divine provision and protection, contrasting enemy attempts to deprive and plunder. |
| Prov 24:10 | If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. | Highlights perseverance; Shammah did not faint in the face of the threat set out in v.11. |
| 2 Sam 23:9-10 | And Eleazar... struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary... the Lord wrought a great victory. | Shows a similar context of great valor by another of David's mighty men, establishing the standard. |
2 Samuel 23 verses
2 Samuel 23 11 Meaning
2 Samuel 23:11 introduces Shammah, son of Agee, a Hararite, as one of David's mighty men, setting the scene for his heroic act. The verse describes a crucial context: the Philistines, perennial adversaries of Israel, had gathered as a predatory force. Their target was a seemingly humble agricultural asset—a plot of ground full of lentils—underscoring the Philistine strategy of depleting Israel's vital food supplies. This seemingly insignificant location highlights Shammah's later profound courage in defending even the most basic elements of his people's existence.
2 Samuel 23 11 Context
This verse is part of a list of David's mighty men, particularly detailing the deeds of "The Three" (2 Sam 23:8-12), followed by a list of "The Thirty." Coming immediately after the account of Eleazar's battle, it presents Shammah's valor as being of comparable stature. Historically, Israel often faced aggression from the Philistines, who frequently raided their lands, especially their agricultural harvests, to undermine their strength and sustain themselves. For a farming society like ancient Israel, protecting food sources was paramount for national survival. Shammah's encounter is set in this recurring pattern of Philistine incursions aimed at plundering vital resources, establishing the threat he would famously repel.
2 Samuel 23 11 Word analysis
- And next to him was Shammah: The opening phrase immediately positions Shammah alongside the previously mentioned valiant warriors like Eleazar (2 Sam 23:9). This places him among the elite of David's mighty men, signifying his extraordinary valor even before his specific deed is described.
- the son of Agee, a Hararite: This identifies Shammah's lineage and geographical origin. "Agee" (אָגֵא - ’age’) is a personal name, signifying his parentage. "Hararite" (הָרָרִי - hārarî) indicates his family or tribal affiliation from a place named Harar, authenticating his identity within the Israelite framework. This detail grounds the heroic deed in a specific individual.
- and the Philistines: (פְּלִשְׁתִּים - pĕlištîm) Refers to Israel's formidable and consistent adversaries throughout the period of the Judges and early monarchy. Their presence immediately signals danger and conflict.
- were gathered together: This implies their active aggression and intent. The Philistines were not merely passing through but had assembled with a purpose to attack or seize.
- into a troop: (לַחְיָה - laḥayah or לְחַיָּה - leḥayyāh) This suggests an organized or predatory band. While "troop" indicates military formation, some interpretations link the Hebrew root to "jaw" or "cheek," connoting aggression, consumption, or a ravenous group. This emphasizes their destructive and plundering nature.
- where was a plot of ground: (חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה - ḥelqat haśśāḏeh) A "plot of ground" denotes a distinct, usually smaller, segment of a field, often individually owned or designated for specific cultivation. It emphasizes the specific, humble nature of what was at stake.
- full of lentils: (עֲדָשִׁים - ‘ădāšîm) Lentils were a common and staple food crop in ancient Israel, highly nutritious and essential for sustenance, especially during scarcity or conflict. This detail is significant because it is not a strategically important city or a vast treasure, but a fundamental agricultural resource. Its "lowly" nature underscores the principle that every part of Israel's inheritance, no matter how small or mundane, was worthy of zealous defense.
2 Samuel 23 11 Bonus section
This verse, though a prelude to the action of Shammah in the subsequent verse, underscores an important theological point: God's concern for His people extends to every aspect of their lives, including their daily provisions. The vulnerability of a lentil field to a predatory force serves as a type for various "small" yet vital aspects of our lives or faith that often face opposition. It implies that every component of what God has entrusted to us, no matter how insignificant it appears to human eyes, holds value and is worthy of being defended with steadfast commitment. This also subtly introduces the idea that divine strength can manifest in protecting what seems meager.
2 Samuel 23 11 Commentary
2 Samuel 23:11 sets the stage for one of the remarkable displays of individual valor within David's mighty men. Shammah is introduced by name, lineage, and origin, placing him within the elite warrior class alongside other renowned heroes. The strategic enemy, the Philistines, are described as having gathered in force, not against a fortified city, but against a seemingly ordinary plot of agricultural land, specifically, one full of lentils. This detail is profoundly significant; it highlights the Philistines' consistent tactic of debilitating Israel by destroying or seizing their most basic food supplies. For ancient Israel, agricultural yield was paramount for survival. Defending a field of lentils, though appearing trivial on the surface, was an act of profound patriotism and faith, safeguarding the very sustenance of the community. This verse lays the groundwork for understanding the full measure of Shammah's subsequent faithfulness: his courage was not reserved for grand battles over kingdoms but extended to the seemingly mundane yet vitally essential aspects of his people's existence.