2 Samuel 23:8
“These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.”
What does 2 Samuel 23:8 mean?
David's greatest warriors earned their legendary status through extraordinary acts of courage and skill in battle. Josheb Basshebeth (also known as Adino) stands at the top of this honor roll because he single-handedly defeated eight hundred enemy soldiers in one engagement, a feat that would have made him a living legend among his people. This passage opens a list of David's "mighty men," the elite fighters who had stood with him through years of conflict and helped establish his kingdom. These names and their remarkable stories were preserved because they represented the kind of loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice that David valued most. For the community hearing or reading this, it was a way of saying that great things are accomplished not by one person alone, but by faithful people who dedicate themselves completely to a cause.