Chief of the Three

Chief of the Three was a title given to the foremost of David's three most distinguished mighty men. In 2 Samuel 23:8, the title is applied to Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite (also called Adino the Eznite), who killed eight hundred men at one time. The corresponding list in 1 Chronicles 11:11 names Jashobeam the Hachmonite who killed three hundred in a single encounter. These three — Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, and Shammah the Hararite — formed the inner circle of David's military elite, distinguished from the wider group of thirty mighty men. Their exploits, including fetching water for David from the well at Bethlehem through Philistine lines, are recorded as acts of devotion beyond the requirements of duty (2 Sam. 23:13–17).