2 Samuel 23:11
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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,

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee, a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of land full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.

NASB 1995
Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.

NASB 1977
Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a portion of the field full of lentils; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

Amplified Bible
Next to Eleazar was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people [of Israel] fled from the Philistines.

Christian Standard Bible
After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,

American Standard Version
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

Contemporary English Version
Next was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. One time the Philistines brought their army together to destroy a crop of peas growing in a field near Lehi. The rest of Israel's soldiers ran away from the Philistines,

English Revised Version
And after him was Shammah the son of Agce a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Next in rank to him was Shammah, the son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils. When the troops fled from the Philistines,

Good News Translation
The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines,

International Standard Version
Next was Shammah, Agee the Hararite's son. One time the Philistines assembled to fight in a field where lentils had been growing. Israel's army retreated from the Philistines,

Majority Standard Bible
And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.

NET Bible
Next in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the Philistines.

New Heart English Bible
After him was Shamma the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

Webster's Bible Translation
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were collected into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines.

World English Bible
After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And after him [is] Shammah son of Agee the Hararite, and the Philistines are gathered into a company, and there is a portion of the field full of lentils there, and the people have fled from the presence of the Philistines,

Young's Literal Translation
And after him is Shammah son of Agee the Hararite, and the Philistines are gathered into a company, and there is there a portion of the field full of lentiles, and the people hath fled from the presence of the Philistines,

Smith's Literal Translation
And after him, Shammah, son of Aga the Hararite. And the rovers will be gathered together to live; and there will be there a portion of the field full of lentiles: and the people fled from the face of the rovers.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And after him, there was Shammah, the son of Agee, from Hara. And the Philistines gathered together at an outpost. For a field full of lentils was in that place. And when the people had fled from the face of the Philistines,

New American Bible
Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. The people were fleeing before the Philistines,

New Revised Standard Version
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee, the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the army fled from the Philistines.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee, from the king's mountain. When the Philistines were gathered together to plunder cattle where there was a piece of ground full of lentils and the people fled from the Philistines,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
After him Shema, son of Aga, from Tur Malka, arose when the Philistines were assembled to plunder the cattle and there was there one yoke of land where lentils were sown, and the people fled from before the Philistines
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Ararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And after him Samaia the son of Asa the Arachite: and the Philistines were gathered to Theria; and there was there a portion of ground full of lentiles; and the people fled before the Philistines.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Mighty Men
10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. 11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 11:12-14
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. / He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. / But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

Judges 3:31
After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

Judges 5:6-8
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways. / Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. / When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.

Judges 6:33-35
Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. / So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him. / Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

Judges 7:12-22
Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore. / And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” ...

1 Samuel 14:6-14
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” / His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” / “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. ...

1 Samuel 17:8-10
And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. / If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and work for us.” / Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

1 Samuel 17:45-50
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” ...

1 Samuel 23:11-13
Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. / So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. / Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

1 Samuel 30:6-10
And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. / Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.” ...

2 Samuel 21:15-17
Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted. / Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

2 Kings 13:20-21
And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring. / Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

Psalm 18:32-34
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. / He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights. / He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Psalm 144:1-2
Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. / He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Isaiah 41:10-13
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. / Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish. / You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. ...


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Shammah

1 Chronicles 11:27
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

Shammoth the Harorite

1 Chronicles 11:13,14
He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines…

into a troop.

Jump to Previous
Age Ararite Banded Bit Collected Company Ela Field Fled Full Gathered Ground Hararite Har'arite Israel's Lentils Philistines Piece Plot Presence Seed Shammah Together Troop Troops
Jump to Next
Age Ararite Banded Bit Collected Company Ela Field Fled Full Gathered Ground Hararite Har'arite Israel's Lentils Philistines Piece Plot Presence Seed Shammah Together Troop Troops
2 Samuel 23
1. David, in his last words, professes his faith in God's promises
6. The different state of the wicked
8. A catalogue of David's mighty men














And after him was Shammah
The phrase introduces Shammah, one of David's mighty warriors. The name "Shammah" in Hebrew means "astonishment" or "desolation," which may reflect his formidable presence on the battlefield. Shammah's inclusion in this passage highlights his valor and the significant role he played in Israel's military history. His account is a testament to the courage and faithfulness required of those who stand firm in the face of overwhelming odds.

the son of Agee the Hararite
This phrase provides Shammah's lineage, identifying him as the son of Agee. The term "Hararite" likely refers to a geographical location or a clan, possibly linked to the mountainous regions of Judah. This detail roots Shammah in a specific cultural and familial context, emphasizing the importance of heritage and identity in the biblical narrative. It reminds readers of the diverse backgrounds from which God calls His servants.

The Philistines had gathered into a troop
The Philistines were a perennial enemy of Israel, often depicted as a symbol of opposition to God's people. The gathering of a "troop" indicates a strategic military maneuver, suggesting a well-organized and formidable force. This context underscores the constant threat faced by Israel and the need for divine intervention and courageous leaders like Shammah to defend the nation.

where there was a plot of ground full of lentils
The mention of a "plot of ground full of lentils" is significant both agriculturally and symbolically. Lentils were a staple food in ancient Israel, representing sustenance and provision. The Philistines' attempt to seize this plot highlights the enemy's desire to disrupt the livelihood and stability of God's people. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the enemy's attempts to rob believers of their spiritual nourishment and blessings.

and the people fled from the Philistines
This phrase paints a picture of fear and retreat among the Israelites, contrasting with Shammah's bravery. The people's flight underscores the intimidating presence of the Philistines and the natural human response to overwhelming danger. However, it also sets the stage for Shammah's heroic stand, illustrating the power of faith and courage in the face of adversity. It serves as an encouragement for believers to stand firm in their convictions, even when others falter.

(11) Into a troop.--Josephus, using different vowels, read "to Lehi," the scene of Samson's exploit (Judges 15:9; Judges 15:19); but as the same word recurs in 2Samuel 23:13, clearly in the sense of "troop," the English reading should be retained.

Lentiles.--Chronicles has "barley." The two words might easily be confounded in the Hebrew, and it is quite immaterial which is correct; the point is that the Philistines had made a foray to gather the ripe crops, the Israelites were terrified and fled, while Shammah, by his courage and valour, turned the tide of battle, and won a great victory.

Verse 11. - Into a troop. Josephus renders it "to Lehi," the scene of Samson's exploit. The word is rare, but occurs again in ver. 13, where, however, we find in Chronicles the ordinary name for a host substituted for it. The Revisers have retained in the margin, "or, for foraging:" but its occurrence in Psalm 68:10, where it is tendered "thy congregation," and in the margin of the Revised Version," troop" makes it probable that" troop" is the right rendering here. Lentiles. In 1 Chronicles 11:13, "barley." The difference is probably caused by a transposition of letters. The Philistines seem to have made this incursion in order to carry off or destroy the crops of the Israelites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And after him
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו (wə·’a·ḥă·rāw)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

was Shammah
שַׁמָּ֥א (šam·mā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8037: Shamma -- an Asherite

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Agee
אָגֵ֖א (’ā·ḡê)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 89: Agee -- the father of one of David's heroes

the Hararite.
הָרָרִ֑י (hā·rā·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2043: Hararite -- 'mountain dweller', descriptive of two of David's heroes

When the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

had banded together
וַיֵּאָסְפ֨וּ (way·yê·’ā·sə·p̄ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

near
לַחַיָּ֗ה (la·ḥay·yāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

a field
חֶלְקַ֤ת (ḥel·qaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2513: Smoothness, flattery, an allotment

full of
מְלֵאָ֣ה (mə·lê·’āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 4395: Something fulfilled, abundance

lentils,
עֲדָשִׁ֔ים (‘ă·ḏā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5742: A lentil

[Israel's] troops
וְהָעָ֥ם (wə·hā·‘ām)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

fled
נָ֖ס (nās)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

from
מִפְּנֵ֥י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

[them].
פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia


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OT History: 2 Samuel 23:11 After him was Shammah the son (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
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