Helez

One of David's Mighty Men

Also known as: Elasa

The united kingdomWarriorc. 1000 BC

Helez (also called Helez the Pelethite or Helez the Pelonite) was one of King David's mighty warriors, known as 'the Thirty'. He served as a commander in the monthly rotation system during David's reign and led the division for the seventh month.

Key events

Mentioned among David's Mighty Men

Helez the Pelonite is listed among David's mighty men, the thirty heroes who fought faithfully for the king.

2 Sam 23:26 Show in context →

26Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;

חֶ֚לֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י עִירָ֥א בֶן־עִקֵּ֖שׁ הַתְּקוֹעִֽי׃ ס ‬

Leader of the Seventh Month's Division

Helez from Pelet was appointed leader of the army division that served in the seventh month, with 24,000 men under his command.

1 Chr 27:10 Show in context →

10The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, from the descendants of Ephraim; his division numbered twenty-four thousand.

הַשְּׁבִיעִי֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י חֶ֥לֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִ֖י מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אֶפְרָ֑יִם וְעַל֙ מַחֲלֻקְתּ֔וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה אָֽלֶף׃ ס ‬

Listed in the Register of Heroes in Chronicles

Helez the Pelonite is also mentioned in the parallel list of David's heroes in 1 Chronicles, among the sons of Ephraim.

1 Chr 11:27 Show in context →

27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

שַׁמּוֹת֙ הַהֲרוֹרִ֔י חֶ֖לֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִֽי׃ ס ‬

Part of David's Military Organization

As part of David's administrative system, Helez served in the monthly rotation that ensured the kingdom always had a standing army ready.

1 Chr 27:1 Show in context →

1This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went month by month throughout the year. Each division numbered twenty-four thousand.

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ לְֽמִסְפָּרָ֡ם רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֣וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֣י הָֽאֲלָפִ֣ים ׀ וְהַמֵּא֡וֹת וְשֹׁטְרֵיהֶם֩ הַמְשָׁרְתִ֨ים אֶת־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְכֹ֣ל ׀ דְּבַ֣ר הַֽמַּחְלְק֗וֹת הַבָּאָ֤ה וְהַיֹּצֵאת֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ בְּחֹ֔דֶשׁ לְכֹ֖ל חָדְשֵׁ֣י הַשָּׁנָ֑ה הַֽמַּחֲלֹ֙קֶת֙ הָֽאַחַ֔ת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה אָֽלֶף׃ ס ‬

1 Chr 27:2 Show in context →

2Over the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel; his division numbered twenty-four thousand.

עַ֞ל הַמַּחֲלֹ֤קֶת הָרִֽאשׁוֹנָה֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן יָֽשָׁבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־זַבְדִּיאֵ֑ל וְעַל֙ מַֽחֲלֻקְתּ֔וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה אָֽלֶף׃ ‬

1 Chr 27:3 Show in context →

3He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month.

מִן־בְּנֵי־פֶ֗רֶץ הָרֹ֛אשׁ לְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַצְּבָא֖וֹת לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ ‬