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Bible story · 2 Samuel 23:8–12
A Field of Lentils
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: 2 Samuel 23:8–12 ↗
“But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.”
2 Samuel 23:12 (KJV)The Story
Near the end of David’s life, the Bible lists the names of his mighty men, the warriors who had stood with him through years of battles. Most get only a line or two. But a few short stories are tucked into the list.
One is about a man named Eleazar. When Israel’s army retreated, he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so tired it stuck to his sword. “And the LORD wrought a great victory that day.”
Another is about a man named Shammah. The Philistines gathered in a field full of lentils, ordinary beans. The rest of Israel’s soldiers ran away.
Shammah didn’t. He planted himself right in the middle of that field and defended it. He fought off the Philistines alone.
And once again, the Bible says, “the LORD wrought a great victory.”
Reflection
It was just a field of lentils. It wasn’t a city or a fortress. Everyone else decided it wasn’t worth fighting for. Shammah disagreed, and God won a great victory through one man who refused to run.
More Bible stories from 2 Samuel. More about: Feeling Weak or Unqualified
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Day 14 of Book 5
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