Eleazar, Son of Dodo
Forged from a broken outlaw in the Cave of Adullam into one of David's Three Mighty Men — who stood alone in the barley field at Pas-dammim and struck down Philistines until his hand froze to his sword.
Before he ever appeared on the honor roll of Israel's greatest champions in 2 Samuel 23, Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite was one of the 400 distressed, indebted, and bitter men who fled into the dark limestone Cave of Adullam to join David (1 Samuel 22:1–2). Discipled in the wilderness by Israel's anointed captain, he emerged as one of 'the Three' — David's highest inner circle of warriors.
At Pas-dammim (Ephes-dammim), when the Philistines gathered for battle and the entire army of Israel panicked and retreated, Eleazar planted his feet in a plot of barley and refused to yield the harvest. He stood his ground and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung (Hebrew: dabaq — fused/froze) so tightly to his sword that his fingers could not be pried open, and the LORD brought about a great victory that day (2 Samuel 23:9–10; 1 Chronicles 11:12–14).
The Sword and the Stand — Eleazar's Frozen Grip
Eleazar's solitary stand in the barley field until his hand froze to his sword.
The Outlaw Academy — David's 400 Outlaws at Adullam
David disciples 400 broken outcasts in the Cave of Adullam into legendary Mighty Men.
