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2 Samuel 23:8–39 · 1 Chronicles 11

David's Mighty Men List: All 37 Names

Black-and-white line art of David's mighty men, coloring page style
All 37 by name

Here is the complete list of David's mighty men, every name exactly as the King James Bible records it in 2 Samuel 23:8–39, followed by the longer roll in 1 Chronicles 11:10–47.

On this page: The 37 in 2 Samuel 23 · The roll in 1 Chronicles 11 · How do you get to 37?

Scripture ends the list with the words: "Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all" (2 Samuel 23:39). These were real fighting men with real hometowns: Bethlehem, Tekoa, Anathoth, Netophah, Gibeah of Benjamin, and even foreign lands like Ammon and Zobah. They stood with David, were loyal to their king, and the LORD gave them victory.

David's Mighty Men List (2 Samuel 23:8–39)

#Name (KJV)Deed or verse
1Josheb-basshebeth / Adino the Eznite / JashobeamChief of the Three; spear against 800 (2 Sam 23:8), 300 in 1 Chr 11:11
2Eleazar the son of Dodo the AhohiteOne of the Three; his hand clave unto the sword (2 Sam 23:9–10)
3Shammah the son of Agee the HarariteOne of the Three; defended the field of lentiles (2 Sam 23:11–12)
4Abishai the brother of JoabChief of the second three; spear against 300 (2 Sam 23:18–19)
5Benaiah the son of JehoiadaLion in a pit; the Egyptian; over David's guard (2 Sam 23:20–23)
6Asahel the brother of Joab2 Samuel 23:24
7Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem2 Samuel 23:24
8Shammah the Harodite2 Samuel 23:25
9Elika the Harodite2 Samuel 23:25
10Helez the Paltite2 Samuel 23:26
11Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite2 Samuel 23:26
12Abiezer the Anethothite2 Samuel 23:27
13Mebunnai the Hushathite2 Samuel 23:27
14Zalmon the Ahohite2 Samuel 23:28
15Maharai the Netophathite2 Samuel 23:28
16Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite2 Samuel 23:29
17Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin2 Samuel 23:29
18Benaiah the Pirathonite2 Samuel 23:30
19Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash2 Samuel 23:30
20Abi-albon the Arbathite2 Samuel 23:31
21Azmaveth the Barhumite2 Samuel 23:31
22Eliahba the Shaalbonite2 Samuel 23:32
23of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan2 Samuel 23:32
24Shammah the Hararite2 Samuel 23:33
25Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite2 Samuel 23:33
26Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite2 Samuel 23:34
27Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite2 Samuel 23:34
28Hezrai the Carmelite2 Samuel 23:35
29Paarai the Arbite2 Samuel 23:35
30Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah2 Samuel 23:36
31Bani the Gadite2 Samuel 23:36
32Zelek the Ammonite2 Samuel 23:37
33Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah2 Samuel 23:37
34Ira an Ithrite2 Samuel 23:38
35Gareb an Ithrite2 Samuel 23:38
36Uriah the Hittite2 Samuel 23:39

The Roll in 1 Chronicles 11:26–47

1 Chronicles calls them "the valiant men of the armies" (1 Chronicles 11:26). After the Three, Abishai and Benaiah (verses 11–25), it lists these names, with spellings that differ in places from 2 Samuel, and then continues past Uriah with sixteen more lines of names:

  1. Asahel the brother of Joab
  2. Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem
  3. Shammoth the Harorite
  4. Helez the Pelonite
  5. Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite
  6. Abi-ezer the Antothite
  7. Sibbecai the Hushathite
  8. Ilai the Ahohite
  9. Maharai the Netophathite
  10. Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite
  11. Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah
  12. Benaiah the Pirathonite
  13. Hurai of the brooks of Gaash
  14. Abiel the Arbathite
  15. Azmaveth the Baharumite
  16. Eliahba the Shaalbonite
  17. The sons of Hashem the Gizonite
  18. Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite
  19. Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite
  20. Eliphal the son of Ur
  21. Hepher the Mecherathite
  22. Ahijah the Pelonite
  23. Hezro the Carmelite
  24. Naarai the son of Ezbai
  25. Joel the brother of Nathan
  26. Mibhar the son of Haggeri
  27. Zelek the Ammonite
  28. Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab
  29. Ira the Ithrite
  30. Gareb the Ithrite
  31. Uriah the Hittite
  32. Zabad the son of Ahlai
  33. Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him
  34. Hanan the son of Maachah
  35. Joshaphat the Mithnite
  36. Uzzia the Ashterathite
  37. Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite
  38. Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite
  39. Eliel the Mahavite
  40. Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam
  41. Ithmah the Moabite
  42. Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite

See every spelling difference side by side on 2 Samuel 23 vs 1 Chronicles 11.

How Do You Get to "Thirty and Seven in All"?

Scripture gives the total (2 Samuel 23:39) but does not show the arithmetic. The list names the Three, then Abishai and Benaiah, then the Thirty from Asahel down to Uriah. Readers count the names in slightly different ways, especially the phrase "of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan" (verse 32). Some also note that Joab, commander of the army, is named throughout the passage without his own line. What Scripture states plainly is the total and every name, and that is what is printed above.

Where the Band Began

Many of these men first gathered to David at the cave of Adullam: men in distress, in debt, persecuted and hunted alongside David as Saul pursued him (1 Samuel 22:1–2). Read the full story on Who Were David's Mighty Men?

David's Mighty Men Coloring Book cover
David's Mighty Men Coloring Book

41 bold coloring pages of King David's warriors, straight from 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11. Ages 5–99+. Paperback, $9.99. See inside the book.

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From the Psalms

It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.— Psalm 18:32 (KJV)

Questions About David's Mighty Men

How many mighty men did David have?

2 Samuel 23:39 gives the total: thirty and seven in all. 1 Chronicles 11:10–47 records a longer roll that adds sixteen more names after Uriah the Hittite.

What are the names of David's mighty men?

The Three were Josheb-basshebeth (Adino the Eznite, called Jashobeam in 1 Chronicles 11:11), Eleazar the son of Dodo, and Shammah the son of Agee. Abishai and Benaiah son of Jehoiada came next, then the Thirty, from Asahel the brother of Joab to Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 23:8–39).

Who is the last of David's mighty men listed?

In 2 Samuel 23:39 the last name is Uriah the Hittite. In 1 Chronicles 11 the roll continues to Eliel, Obed and Jasiel the Mesobaite (1 Chronicles 11:47).

Were any of David's mighty men foreigners?

Yes. The list includes Zelek the Ammonite, Uriah the Hittite and Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah (2 Samuel 23:36–39), and 1 Chronicles 11:46 adds Ithmah the Moabite.

King David Bible Stories

David the Shepherd BoyKeeping his father's sheepAnointed by Samuel1 Samuel 16The Lion and the Bear1 Samuel 17:34–37David and GoliathA sling and a stoneDavid and SaulThe harp and the spearDavid and JonathanA covenant of friendsDavid Spares SaulThe LORD's anointedDavid Becomes KingHebron, then JerusalemBringing the ArkDanced with all his mightThe Psalms of DavidThe shepherd king's songsGoliath of GathSix cubits and a spanGiants in the BibleAnakim, Rephaim, Og and GathKing David Coloring PagesColor the warriors of Scripture

Explore David's Mighty Men

The ThreeDavid's three mightiestThe ThirtyWho were the 30 mighty men?Cave of AdullamWhere the band beganJoabCommander of David's armyElhananTwo men, two recordsIttai the Gittite"In death or life"The GaditesFaces like lions2 Samuel 23 vs 1 Chronicles 11How the two lists compareThe Giants of GathFour sons of the giant fellFAQQuestions answered from Scripture

Meet the Mighty Men

Josheb-basshebethAdino the Eznite, chief of the ThreeEleazar son of DodoHis hand clave unto the swordShammah son of AgeeHeld the lentil fieldStory: The Water from BethlehemThree of the thirty chief break through the Philistine camp (2 Samuel 23:13–17)AbishaiChief of the Three, 300 with his spearBenaiah son of JehoiadaA lion in a pit on a snowy dayAsahelLight of foot as a wild roeUriah the HittiteLoyal to the last

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