Adina
Adina, the son of Shiza the Reubenite, was one of David's mighty men and a leader among the Reubenites.
Biography
Adina the son of Shiza was a Reubenite warrior who served among the elite corps of David's mighty men during the period of David's consolidation of the united kingdom (1 Chronicles 11:42). He is described not only as a mighty warrior but as a leader over thirty of David's champions, indicating a rank of command within the hierarchical structure of David's fighting forces. The Reubenites, as the firstborn tribe of Israel who had forfeited their preeminent status through Reuben's sin (Genesis 49:3–4), nonetheless produced warriors of distinction who served the Davidic kingdom faithfully. Adina's father Shiza is otherwise unknown, but the mention of both father and son in the military roster suggests a family tradition of martial service.
Significance
Adina's standing among David's mighty men connects him to one of Scripture's most celebrated warrior traditions. The catalog of David's champions in 1 Chronicles 11 presents a diverse gathering of Israelite warriors from multiple tribes united in service to the anointed king. Adina's Reubenite identity is significant: though his tribe had lost the birthright blessing, its sons still served among Israel's finest soldiers. This illustrates the biblical principle that past failures do not permanently disqualify a family or tribe from meaningful service in God's purposes. Adina's loyalty to David also prefigures the gathering of all Israel around God's chosen king, a pattern that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the reign of Christ.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]