Shammah
David's Warrior and Commander
Also known as: Shage
Shammah was one of King David's brave warriors mentioned among his heroes. He was from Harar and served faithfully in David's army. He is known as one of the thirty heroes who distinguished themselves in David's service.
Key events
Mentioned Among David's Heroes
Shammah the Hararite is listed among David's thirty heroes, an elite group of warriors who excelled in battle and faithfully served King David.
33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
שַׁמָּה֙ הַֽהֲרָרִ֔י אֲחִיאָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁרָ֖ר הָארָרִֽי׃ ס
Listed in the Roll of Heroes in Chronicles
Shammah is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles among David's mighty men, confirming his position as a recognized warrior in David's army.
34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
בְּנֵ֗י הָשֵׁם֙ הַגִּ֣זוֹנִ֔י יוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־שָׁגֵ֖ה הַהֲרָרִֽי׃ ס
Served During David's United Kingdom
As part of David's elite warriors, Shammah helped defend and strengthen the united kingdom of Israel during David's reign.
8These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite, chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed on a single occasion.
אֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת הַגִּבֹּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑ד יֹשֵׁ֨ב בַּשֶּׁ֜בֶת תַּחְכְּמֹנִ֣י ׀ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׁלִשִׁ֗י ה֚וּא עֲדִינ֣וֹ *העצנו **הָֽעֶצְנִ֔י עַל־שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֛וֹת חָלָ֖ל בְּפַ֥עַם *אחד **אֶחָֽת׃ ס
9Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.
*ואחרו **וְאַחֲרָ֛יו אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־*דדי **דֹּד֖וֹ בֶּן־אֲחֹחִ֑י בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה *גברים **הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים עִם־דָּוִ֗ד בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ נֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
10He stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew weary and froze to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the troops came back to him only to strip the dead.
ה֣וּא קָם֩ וַיַּ֨ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים עַ֣ד ׀ כִּֽי־יָגְעָ֣ה יָד֗וֹ וַתִּדְבַּ֤ק יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־הַחֶ֔רֶב וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהוָ֛ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְהָעָ֛ם יָשֻׁ֥בוּ אַחֲרָ֖יו אַךְ־לְפַשֵּֽׁט׃ ס
11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had massed at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils, and the troops fled from the Philistines.
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו שַׁמָּ֥א בֶן־אָגֵ֖א הָרָרִ֑י וַיֵּאָסְפ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַחַיָּ֗ה וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֞ם חֶלְקַ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖ס מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
12But he took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֤ב בְּתוֹךְ־הַֽחֶלְקָה֙ וַיַּצִּילֶ֔הָ וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יְהוָ֖ה תְּשׁוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ ס
13Three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
וַיֵּרְד֨וּ *שלשים **שְׁלֹשָׁ֜ה מֵהַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים רֹ֗אשׁ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ אֶל־קָצִיר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וְחַיַּ֣ת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֹנָ֖ה בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃
14David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison held Bethlehem.
וְדָוִ֖ד אָ֣ז בַּמְּצוּדָ֑ה וּמַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָ֖ז בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
15David said longingly, "If only someone would give me a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!"
וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה דָוִ֖ד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבֹּ֥אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃
16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But he would not drink it; he poured it out to the LORD.
וַיִּבְקְעוּ֩ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ־מַ֙יִם֙ מִבֹּ֤אר בֵּֽית־לֶ֙חֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ אֹתָ֖ם לַֽיהוָֽה׃
17"Far be it from me, LORD, to do this," he said. "Is this not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֤ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ ס
18Abishai the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and he won a name alongside the three.
וַאֲבִישַׁ֞י אֲחִ֣י ׀ יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ *השלשי **הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
19Was he not the most honored of the thirty? He became their commander, but he never attained to the three.
מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ הֲכִ֣י נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָֽא׃ ס
20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, was a doer of great deeds. He struck down the two champions of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
וּבְנָיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־*חי **חַ֛יִל רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־*האריה **הָאֲרִ֛י בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃
21He also struck down an imposing Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went against him with a club, wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
וְהוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־אִ֨ישׁ מִצְרִ֜י *אשר **אִ֣ישׁ מַרְאֶ֗ה וּבְיַ֤ד הַמִּצְרִי֙ חֲנִ֔ית וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃
22Such were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he won a name among the three mighty men.
אֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃
23He was honored above the thirty, but he did not belong to the three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖ד אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ ס
24Among the thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
עֲשָׂה־אֵ֥ל אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֖ב בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁ֑ים אֶלְחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־דֹּד֖וֹ בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
25Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
שַׁמָּה֙ הַֽחֲרֹדִ֔י אֱלִיקָ֖א הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ ס
26Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
חֶ֚לֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י עִירָ֥א בֶן־עִקֵּ֖שׁ הַתְּקוֹעִֽי׃ ס
27Abiezer from Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
אֲבִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ הָֽעֲ[c]נְּתֹתִ֔י מְבֻנַּ֖י הַחֻשָׁתִֽי׃ ס
28Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
צַלְמוֹן֙ הָֽאֲחֹחִ֔י מַהְרַ֖י הַנְּטֹפָתִֽי׃ ס
29Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
חֵ֥לֶב בֶּֽן־בַּעֲנָ֖ה הַנְּטֹפָתִ֑י ס אִתַּי֙ בֶּן־רִיבַ֔י מִגִּבְעַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִֽן׃ ס
30Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash;
בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י הִדַּ֖י מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי גָֽעַשׁ׃ ס
31Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
אֲבִֽי־עַלְבוֹן֙ הָֽעַרְבָתִ֔י עַזְמָ֖וֶת הַבַּרְחֻמִֽי׃ ס
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
אֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י בְּנֵ֥י יָשֵׁ֖ן יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ ס
33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
שַׁמָּה֙ הַֽהֲרָרִ֔י אֲחִיאָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁרָ֖ר הָארָרִֽי׃ ס
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
אֱלִיפֶ֥לֶט בֶּן־אֲחַסְבַּ֖י בֶּן־הַמַּֽעֲכָתִ֑י ס אֱלִיעָ֥ם בֶּן־אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל הַגִּלֹנִֽי׃ ס
35Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
*חצרו **חֶצְרַי֙ הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֔י פַּעֲרַ֖י הָאַרְבִּֽי׃ ס
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
יִגְאָ֤ל בֶּן־נָתָן֙ מִצֹּבָ֔ה ס בָּנִ֖י הַגָּדִֽי׃ ס
37Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
צֶ֖לֶק הָעַמֹּנִ֑י ס נַחְרַי֙ הַבְּאֵ֣רֹתִ֔י *נשאי **נֹשֵׂ֕א כְּלֵ֖י יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרֻיָֽה׃ ס
38Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס
39and Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.
אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י כֹּ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ פ
Part of the Warrior Lineage of the Hararites
Shammah belonged to the Hararites, a group or clan that produced several prominent warriors in David's service, including Shammah the Hararite.
11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had massed at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils, and the troops fled from the Philistines.
וְאַחֲרָ֛יו שַׁמָּ֥א בֶן־אָגֵ֖א הָרָרִ֑י וַיֵּאָסְפ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַחַיָּ֗ה וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֞ם חֶלְקַ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהָעָ֥ם נָ֖ס מִפְּנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
33Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
שַׁמָּה֙ הַֽהֲרָרִ֔י אֲחִיאָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁרָ֖ר הָארָרִֽי׃ ס