2 Samuel 23:12

But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

But he stood {H3320} in the midst {H8432} of the ground {H2513}, and defended {H5337} it, and slew {H5221} the Philistines {H6430}: and the LORD {H3068} wrought {H6213} a great {H1419} victory {H8668}.

But he stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P'lishtim; and ADONAI brought about a great victory.

But 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.

But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and Jehovah wrought a great victory.

Commentary

2 Samuel 23:12 describes the heroic stand of Shammah, one of King David's elite warriors, against the Philistines. This verse highlights both human courage and divine intervention, culminating in a significant victory.

Context

This verse is part of a passage (2 Samuel 23:8-39) listing and extolling David's mighty men, a special group of elite soldiers known for their extraordinary acts of valor. In the immediate preceding verse, 2 Samuel 23:11, we learn that the Philistines had gathered for battle in a field full of lentiles. While the rest of the Israelite army fled, Shammah alone "stood in the midst of the ground," refusing to abandon the vital crop and confront the enemy. This account underscores the dire circumstances and the individual bravery required.

Key Themes

  • Unwavering Courage and Resolve: Shammah's decision to "stood in the midst of the ground" when others fled demonstrates immense personal courage and an unyielding resolve. He defended what was seemingly a small plot of land, but it represented a crucial resource and a direct challenge to the Philistine threat.
  • Divine Intervention and Victory: The verse explicitly states, "and the LORD wrought a great victory." While Shammah's bravery was instrumental, the ultimate success and the magnitude of the triumph are attributed directly to God. This emphasizes that even human valor is empowered and ultimately blessed by divine purpose. It reflects a recurring biblical theme that the battle is the Lord's, and He grants strength and deliverance.
  • The Value of the Seemingly Small: Shammah defended a field of lentiles, a common agricultural crop. This highlights that faithfulness and courage are important even in defending what might seem insignificant, as God can use such acts to bring about great outcomes.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the LORD wrought a great victory" uses "wrought" from the Hebrew verb pa'al (ืคึผึธืขึทืœ), which means "to work," "to do," or "to accomplish." This emphasizes God's active and effective involvement in bringing about the result. The term "great victory" (Hebrew: tฤ•shu'ah gฤ•dolรกh) signifies a significant deliverance or salvation, underscoring that the outcome was not merely a human triumph but a remarkable act of divine deliverance.

Practical Application

Shammah's story encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and convictions, even when facing overwhelming odds or when others retreat. It reminds us that our personal "fields" โ€“ our families, our values, our responsibilities โ€“ are worth defending. More importantly, it teaches us to acknowledge that while our effort and courage are necessary, true and lasting success, especially in spiritual battles, ultimately comes from the Lord. Just as Shammah stood, we are called to stand firm in the Lord, trusting that He will "wrought a great victory" through us.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 23:10

    He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

  • Proverbs 21:31

    The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.

  • Psalms 3:8

    Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.

  • Psalms 44:2

    [How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
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