The greatness of King David’s elite warriors was measured not only by their physical strength but also by their spiritual and intellectual power. While the Book of Chronicles lists the heroes who helped make David king at the beginning of his journey, the focus here shifts to his permanent companions who fought alongside him throughout his wars [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. In particular, these were three warriors who surrounded David to protect him in his old age [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].
The primary and most senior of David’s guards is known as Adino the Eznite [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ], though some sages identify this figure as King David himself or his army commander, Joab [רד״ק, אלשיך, אברבנאל]. He holds the highest rank, either serving as the chief of the three elite warriors [רלב״ג, שטיינזלץ] or acting as a leader and commander over the great and honored men [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל].
A defining trait of this hero was his immense wisdom. Despite being a fierce man of war, his love for knowledge led him to pause his military duties to sit in the Sanhedrin and study Torah [רש״י, רד״ק, רלב״ג, מצודת דוד]. His titles stem from a root word for wisdom [רד״ק], though they may also refer to the name of a place or family [אברבנאל, שטיינזלץ]. According to the sages, his name reflects a unique dual nature. When sitting and studying Torah, he would make himself gentle and flexible like a worm, but when going out to war, he would harden himself like wood [רש״י, רד״ק].
His immense physical bravery is highlighted by a staggering achievement: striking down eight hundred men in a single battle. However, the true significance of this massive victory lies in his endurance. Despite the enormous physical effort required to defeat eight hundred men, his strength did not fail him. Immediately after the battle, he returned to sit with the sages and delve back into Torah study [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
A parallel account in the Book of Chronicles describes this same warrior under the name Jashobeam, noting that he struck down three hundred men. Commentators explain that there is no contradiction between the two records. The name Jashobeam translates to one who sits among the people, which closely mirrors his title as a scholar who sits in the seat of wisdom [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Regarding the differing casualty numbers, some explain that these were simply two separate wars [רד״ק]. Another approach suggests that the account in Chronicles merely aims to praise his physical stamina, showing how easily he could wield his spear over three hundred men without tiring. The present account, however, highlights his rare combination of heroism and a love for wisdom, emphasizing how even after defeating eight hundred men, he hurried straight back to the study hall [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].