Lexical Summary Chelets: Armor, breastplate Original Word: חֶלֶץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Helez Or Chelets {khay'-lets; from chalats; perhaps, strength; Chelets, the name of two Israelites -- Helez. see HEBREW chalats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chalats Definition two Isr. NASB Translation Helez (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶ֫לֶץ proper name, masculine (vigour) 1 one of David's heroes 2 Samuel 23:26, ᵐ5 Σελλης, A Ελλης, ᵐ5L Ξαλλης; = 1 Chronicles 11:27 ᵐ5 Ξελλης, ᵐ5L Ελλης; also 1 Chronicles 27:10 ᵐ5 Ξεσλης, A ᵐ5L Ξελλης (in both, Baer חֶלֶץ, van d. H. חֵלֶץ). 2 man of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:39 = חָ֑לֶץ 1 Chronicles 2:39 ᵐ5 Ξελλης, ᵐ5L Αλλαν. חֵ֫לֶץ proper name, masculine see חֶלֶץ above Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning חֶלֶץ (Helez) appears as a personal name borne by at least two men in the historical records of the Old Testament. The root connotes vigor or strength, a nuance that suits the military contexts in which one bearer of the name is repeatedly found. Occurrences • 2 Samuel 23:26 Helez the Warrior of David The best–known Helez served King David. “Helez the Paltite” is listed among the celebrated group of fighters called “the Thirty” (2 Samuel 23:26; 1 Chronicles 11:27). These elite soldiers were men “who, with all Israel, gave strong support to David” (1 Chronicles 11:10). That Helez is designated a “Paltite” in Samuel and a “Pelonite” in Chronicles suggests either a textual variant of his hometown or two neighboring localities in the territory of Ephraim. 1 Chronicles 27:10 clarifies the matter by calling him “a descendant of Ephraim,” confirming his tribal affiliation. David later re-organized his standing army into twelve monthly divisions of twenty-four thousand men each. Over the tenth division “for the tenth month was Helez the Pelonite” (1 Chronicles 27:10). The post required seasoned leadership, administrative skill, and unwavering loyalty to the throne. That the same man appears both among “the Thirty” and as a division commander attests to his ongoing usefulness from the early guerrilla period of David’s rise until the settled royal administration in Jerusalem. Helez in the Genealogy of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:39 twice records a Helez in the line of Jerahmeel, a clan of Judah: “Azariah was the father of Helez, and Helez was the father of Eleasah.” This Helez belongs to an entirely different branch of Israel. By preserving the name in both Ephraim and Judah, Scripture highlights the shared heritage of military courage and covenant identity across tribal lines. Historical Significance 1. Unity under the Davidic Kingship. An Ephraimite commander serving the Judahite king illustrates how David’s reign knit the tribes together after the fractures of Saul’s era. Helez’s prominent role exemplifies the centripetal pull of the Davidic covenant, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in the Messiah who draws people “from every tribe and tongue” (compare Revelation 5:9). 2. Administrative Development. The monthly rotational system (1 Chronicles 27) exhibits an early form of professional standing army in Israel. Helez’s month, the tenth, fell in the agricultural off-season, indicating that David scheduled rotations to minimize economic disruption. Helez therefore operated at the intersection of military readiness and socioeconomic wisdom. 3. Continuity of Leadership. From outlaw bands (2 Samuel 23) to palace guard (1 Chronicles 27), Helez represents stable, godly leadership over decades. His career encourages believers to cultivate faithfulness in obscurity and prominence alike. Ministry Insights • Valor yoked to loyalty. Helez’s courage places him among the “mighty,” yet his submission to David’s authority preserved order and blessing. In church life, gifting must partner with humility lest strength devolve into self-promotion. • Multiplication of influence. Transitioning from an individual champion to a commander of twenty-four thousand, Helez illustrates how God enlarges responsibility for those proven faithful (Luke 16:10). • Inter-tribal cooperation. Ephraimites and Judahites serving side by side foreshadow the New Testament body of Christ, where former divisions dissolve in shared allegiance to the true Son of David. Related Scriptures for Study 2 Samuel 23:8–39; 1 Chronicles 11:10–47 – the roster of David’s mighty men. 1 Chronicles 27:1–15 – the twelve monthly divisions and their commanders. Psalm 110 – the prophetic portrait of the warrior-king under whom “Your people shall be willing in the day of Your power.” Summary Helez embodies strength directed by covenant loyalty. Whether etched in the annals of Judah’s genealogy or celebrated in Ephraim’s martial hero, his name memorializes the Lord’s ability to forge unity, valor, and steady leadership among His people for His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations וְחֶ֖לֶץ וחלץ חֶ֖לֶץ חֶ֚לֶץ חֶ֥לֶץ חָ֔לֶץ חלץ Chaletz Cheletz ḥā·leṣ ḥāleṣ ḥe·leṣ ḥeleṣ veCheletz wə·ḥe·leṣ wəḥeleṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 23:26 HEB: חֶ֚לֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י עִירָ֥א NAS: Helez the Paltite, Ira KJV: Helez the Paltite, Ira INT: Helez the Paltite Ira 1 Chronicles 2:39 1 Chronicles 2:39 1 Chronicles 11:27 1 Chronicles 27:10 5 Occurrences |
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