Commanders

The Bible names many commanders, and this list gathers every one the verse text calls by that word. In Israel’s early monarchy, Abner was "the commander of his army" for Saul (1 Samuel 14:50). Joab "was the commander of the king’s army" under David (1 Chronicles 27:34). Solomon later executed Joab for killing Abner and Amasa, "commander of Judah’s army" (1 Kings 2:32). Benaiah son of Jehoiada commanded the third of David’s monthly divisions (1 Chronicles 27:5). The same chapter names a commander for each of the twelve months, from Jashobeam in the first to Heldai in the twelfth (1 Chronicles 27:2–15).

The northern kingdom’s coups ran through its commanders. Zimri, "the commander of half his chariots," struck down Elah (1 Kings 16:9), and the army made Omri, "the commander of the army," king (1 Kings 16:16). A prophet’s messenger found Jehu among the army commanders and greeted him as "commander" (2 Kings 9:5).

Foreign armies had theirs too: Sisera of Hazor (Judges 4:2), Shobach of Hadadezer’s army (2 Samuel 10:16), and Naaman of Aram (2 Kings 5:1). In Acts, Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander in Jerusalem, rescued Paul from the crowd, and Felix put off Paul’s case until Lysias the commander came (Acts 24:22).

Kings who led their own armies are not on this list unless a verse calls them commander.