A Shepherd Boy

David, the eighth son of Jesse, was anointed by Samuel in his youth, and went on to be crowned king of the twelve tribes of Israel. His reign lasted 40 years from 1010 BC to 970 BC (seven years and six months over Judah, and 33 years over both kingdoms).

After picking up the pieces of Saul’s kingship, David had to wrestle with Israel’s many enemies, especially the Philistines.

“David’s Mighty Men” - James Tissot

Who Were David’s Mighty Men?

King David needed able warriors to help defend his people against such powerful adversaries. Among his warriors arose men worthy of leadership and distinction.

They were the Thirty, an elite fighting force capable of altering the very tides of battle. They were his Mighty Men. Of them, three held a special place above the rest.

Josheb-basshebeth

Josheb-basshebeth was considered the greatest and chief of the Thirty. He gained his renown when he killed 800 enemies with a spear in a single battle, drenching himself in their blood.

Eleazar

The second of the three was Eleazar. At Pas-dammim, David began taunting the Philistines. However, the host of Israelites fled behind him save Eleazar, so the two held firm. Great was their slaughter that day, a mighty victory had been won for the Lord. When the battle was over Eleazar’s blade embedded itself deep into the flesh of his hand due to the strain.

Shammah

Finally, there was Shammah. When waging war with the Philistines, once more the hosts of the Israelites fled. Not Shammah, however, for he knew the power of the Lord. He made his stand in a field of lentils striking down enemies with ruthless precision, until victory was won at last. Impossible feats were accomplished by these heroes, for they were no ordinary mortal, but David’s Mighty Men.

The Water of Bethlehem

Most famous of all, however, is the battle at the well of Bethlehem. The Philistines had driven deep into the heart of Israel and established a garrison in Bethlehem. In his stronghold at the cave of Adullam, David longed for a taste of water from that city’s refreshing well. “That someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 2 Samuel 23:15.

Upon hearing this desire, three of his mighty men decided to fulfill that wish. With great ferocity, they smashed straight through the Philistine lines and drew water from the well at the gate.

So great was this feat that even King David himself, anointed by the mighty Lord God, was unworthy of such an offering. Thus, he cast it on the ground as an offering to the Lord. These were David’s Mighty Men.

Before they could lay siege to halls of Montezuma, first the American forces would need to capture the imperious castle positioned on a volcanic crag: Chapultepec.

In a hailstorm of musket fire as thick as molasses, Lieutenant Jackson drove his two six-pound artillery up the road in support of the infantry. In an instant all 12 horses were killed or maimed, and one cannon disabled.

“It would have been no disgrace to have died there, but to have failed to gain my point it would.” - Thomas Jackson

He alone remained in the open attempting to unlimber the piece to commence firing. His men refused to leave the safety of cover and join Jackson while the musket balls were kicking up dirt all around him. However, Jackson was entirely unfazed. While telling them there was nothing to fear, a cannon shell bounced right between his legs.

Even then, he did not flinch a muscle. Eventually one of his soldiers came to join him and they began firing upon the enemy until Chapultepec lay in American arms. Afterwards when another officer asked him why he stayed, he replied:

Defender of Little Roundtop

Another mighty man is Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Previously a college professor, he enlisted for the North, and by the battle of Gettysburg had become a Lieutenant Colonel under Strong Vincent.

At Gettysburg they prepared to enter combat for the second day.

“Don’t give them one inch, boys” — Colonel Strong Vincent

Second

While initially on the reserves, Colonel Strong noticed a weakness in General Meade’s fishhook: Little Round Top. He rushed there with his brigade just in time as fearsome Alabamans drove up the hill. Strong Vincent, while rallying his men, was mortally wounded in the groin, leaving Chamberlain in charge.

Out of ammunition, and being pushed relentlessly by the Alabamian regiments, he saw no way out…unless of course they charge the enemy: “Fix Bayonets”. His men shocked by the audacity obeyed for no other option lay in store. The southern troops drew closer and closer believing victory was in their grasp.

Then from over the hill came charging Chamberlain and his men, driving down the hill in such a violent rage that they shattered the Alabaman lines which would never again muster the strength to take the hill, thereby saving Little Round Top, and not only the battle but the war.

Twentieth Maine at Little Round Top - Don Troiani

Nathan Bedford Forrest was the Terror of the North. So great were his raids that even General Tecumseh Sherman stated: That devil Forrest must be hunted down and killed if it costs ten thousand lives and bankrupts the Federal treasury.”

When this titan stood up in his saddle charging, sword drawn, they say he appeared as the god Mars in a frenzy for blood.

Through his tactics, Forrest captured Colonel Streight’s 2,000-man force with a mere 500. He accomplished this feat by first driving them to exhaustion with relentless skirmishes. Then, when the enemy was weak, he performed a bit of show business to have his unit appear as a swirling mass of thousands of angry Southerners.

As much as he was hated by the North, so too was he loved in the South, not only for his daring escapades, but also his behavior as the guardian of female virtue and those unable to defend themselves. For under his intimidating demeanor was an immense care for both soldier and civilian alike: a perfect gentleman.


He ended the war with thirty-one kills, thirty horses shot underneath him, and being seriously wounded four times. He departed with the rank of Lieutenant General, the second highest rank in the southern military. No other man on either side had achieved such a rise.

The Hero Today

As in the past, so too now once more do we need mighty men of valor to rise in service of this nation. To bring honor to our forefathers and our glorious protector, the Lord God.

We need those who possess the power to alter the outcomes of battles and shape the very destiny of this nation.

We need you! Do you have what it takes to become one of David’s Mighty Men?