2 Samuel 23:8-39 – Mighty Men

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church of Manhattan, KS, 29 January 2023,

Introduction

vs. 8-12 Top Three Mighty Men – Historical Reconstruction and Lessons

vs. 13-17 Water From Bethlehem

“Life In The Blood” (By Ed Welch, CCEF ezine published in 2022)

...[When David said,] “Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” (2 Samuel 23:16–17) David is not being ungrateful. He is honoring these men while educating us about how Jews thought about blood. In the Hebrew mind, life was in the blood. In this sense, “life” and “blood” share a common meaning. The basic idea is that to “drink the blood of the men” was to benefit from their life and sacrifice. They risked their lives for him, as only the closest of kin would do for another. David deemed himself unworthy of the sacrifice made by these men. Their act was heroic and holy, worthy as a drink offering to the Lord.


[This gives us context for a strange passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, where] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (John 6:53–55, ESV)


Jesus is speaking to a diverse group of Jews—some believed, and some wanted to see if he would do a few more miracles like when he fed the five thousand. In such situations, Jesus could be more provocative and cryptic. Yet, at the same time, his purpose was that the people would believe in him, the Son of Man, sent from God. For those with ears to hear, what were they thinking about him at this point? Eat his flesh? Drink his blood?


Therefore, when Jesus invites us to drink His blood, he is saying that only in His endangered life can we find life. When he invites us to eat his flesh, he is saying the same thing. Only in Him and His coming sacrifice will we have life. Jesus is your mighty man. He binds himself to you by His love; He secures life for you, and you respond by faith, which is another way of saying, “Yes, I need your life.” Water from Bethlehem is not enough. Only His life – His blood, His living water – brings eternal, full, satisfying life. Don’t pour it out because you feel unworthy. Drink. Eat. You need what only He can give, and He delights to give it. Receive Him with thanks, and get accustomed to feeling unworthy and on the receiving end of blessings. Be willing to benefit from His life and sacrifice.


If you feel unworthy—and how could you not?—you are almost ready to receive Him. You have arrived at the necessary starting point. But, by nature, when you feel unworthy, you tend to refuse a generous gift until you have something to give in return. An extravagant gift, given to you when you are empty-handed, is awkward, even embarrassing. We prefer exchanges that have symmetry. In other words, your unworthiness must be accompanied by a keen awareness that there is nothing you can give. Your gratitude and delight in the gift are more than enough to touch the heart of this giver.


This brings [us] to the Lord’s Supper. When I take that teeny cup of grape juice, I will remember that there was nothing stingy in Jesus’ bloodshed. Instead, His blood is poured out, which means his life is poured out. Better to think of an immense pitcher that pours life all over me. Or, even better, as Paul writes, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). The bread, too, though a mere wafer in my hands, is the feast that points to Jesus Himself. His life is given to us through His Spirit.


Then we speak to the Lord about drinking His blood. “Yes, I will drink. I did drink, and now I have your life in me. I had the blood of Adam in me. Now, by believing in you, I have your blood in me. I have been brought into your line. Your destiny is mine. Your sacrifice, for me. Your resurrected life, with me. Would it seem greedy for me to ask again, please, today, pour out your life all over me?” Greedy? No. Greed is limited to earthly desires. With heavenly desires? “Open your mouth wide,” says the Lord, “and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10).


Appendix: The Rest Of The Mighty Men

vs. 18-23 Abishai & Benaiah

vs. 24-39 “The 30”

2 Samuel 23:8-39 Side-by side comparison of versionsA

Greek OT

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NAW

MT2Sa23

NAW

MT1Ch11







10 Now, these are the heads of the mighty men who belonged to David, who made themselves mighty in his kingdom with all Israel to make him king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh.

(י) וְאֵלֶּה רָאשֵׁי הַגִּבּוֹרִים אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִיד הַמִּתְחַזְּקִים עִמּוֹ בְמַלְכוּתוֹ עִם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַמְלִיכוֹ כִּדְבַר יְהוָה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל.

8 Ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν δυνατῶν X X Δαυιδ· Ιεβοσθε X Χαναναῖος ἄρχων τοῦ τρίτου ἐστίν, Αδινων ὁ Ασωναῖος. [οὗτος ἐσπάσατο τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ] ἐπὶ ὀκτακοσίους τραυματίας εἰς ἅπαξ. --

8 These are the names of the mighty men X of David: Jebosthe X the Chananite is a captain of the third part: Adinon the Asonite, [he drew his sword] against eight hundred soldiersB at once.

8 These are the names of the valiant men X of David: Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.

8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

8 These are the names of the mighty-men who belonged to David: Josheb-bas­shebeth, a Takhekmonite, chief among his threesome. He was the same as Edino. His spear was against eight hundred who were pierced one at a time.

(ח) אֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הַגִּבֹּרִים אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִד יֹשֵׁב בַּשֶּׁבֶת תַּחְכְּמֹנִיC רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁלִשִׁיD הוּא עֲדִינוֹ ‎ הָעֶצְנוֹE עַל שְׁמֹנֶה מֵאוֹת חָלָל בְּפַעַם ‎ אֶחָדF.

11 And this is the record of the mighty-men who belonged to David: Jeshe­be’am, son of Khakmoni, chief of The Thirty. He is the one who raised his spear against three hundred who were pierced one at a time.

(יא) וְאֵלֶּה מִסְפַּר הַגִּבֹּרִים אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִיד יָשָׁבְעָם בֶּן xחַכְמוֹנִי רֹאשׁ ‎ הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁיםG הוּא עוֹרֵר אֶת חֲנִיתוֹ עַל שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת חָלָל בְּפַעַם אֶחָת.

9 καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸν Ελε­αζαρ υἱὸς πατραδέλφου αὐτοῦ υἱὸς Σουσίτου ἐν τοῖς τρισὶν δυνατοῖς. [οὗτος] ἦν μετὰ Δαυιδ [ἐν Σερραν, καὶ] ἐν τῷ ὀνειδίσαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις συνήχθησαν ἐκεῖ εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ·

9 And after him Eleanan the son of his uncle, son of DudiH who was among the three mighty men Iwith David; [and] when he defied X the Philistines they were gathered there to war, and the men of Israel went up.

9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied X the Philistines, [and] they were there gathered together to battle. 10 And when the men of Israel were gone away,

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied X the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

9 Next, after him was Eleazar, son of {Dodu}, the Akhokhite. {He} was among the three mighty men with David when they {were} insulted by the Philistines who had been gathered there for the battle, and the men of Israel had gone up.

(ט)‎ וְאַחֲרָוJ אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן ‎ דֹּדִיK בֶּן אֲחֹחִי בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה Lגִבֹּרִים עִם דָּוִד בְּחָרְפָם Mבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֶסְפוּN שָׁם לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיַּעֲלוּO אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

12 Next, after him was Eleazar, son of Dodu the Akhokhite. He was among the three mighty men.

13 It was he who was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines had been gathered there for the battle,

(יב) וְאַחֲרָיו אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן דּוֹדוֹ הָאֲחוֹחִי הוּא בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה הַגִּבֹּרִים.

(יג) הוּא הָיָה עִם דָּוִיד בַּפַּס דַּמִּיםP וְהַפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֱסְפוּ שָׁם לַמִּלְחָמָה

10 αὐτὸς ἀν­έστη καὶ ἐπά­ταξεν ἐν τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις, ἕως οὗ ἐκοπία­σεν ἡ χεὶρ αὐ­τοῦ καὶ προσ­εκολλήθη ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν μάχαιραν, καὶ ἐποίησεν κύριος σωτηρ­ίαν μεγάλην ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκεί­νῃ· καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἐκάθητο ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ πλὴν ἐκδιδύσκειν.--

10 He X arose and smote X the Philistines, until his hand was weary, and his hand clave to the sword: and the Lord wrought a great salvation in that day, and the people restedQ behind him only to strip [the slain].

he X stood and smote X the Philistines till his hand was weary, and X X grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils [of them that were slain].

10 He X arose, and smote X the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

10 It was he who got up and initiated a strike among the Philistines until his hand was tired and his hand stuck to his sword. And Yahweh accomplished a great salvation on that day, and the people returned after him only to pilfer.

(י) Rהוּא קָם וַיַּךְS בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים עַד כִּי יָגְעָה יָדוֹ וַתִּדְבַּק יָדוֹ אֶל הַחֶרֶב וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְהָעָם יָשֻׁבוּ אַחֲרָיו אַךְ לְפַשֵּׁטT.



11 καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸν Σαμαια υἱὸς Ασα ὁ Αρουχαῖος. καὶ συνήχθη­σαν οἱ ἀλλό­φυλοι εἰς ΘηρίαU, καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ μερὶς τοῦ ἀγροῦ πλήρης φακοῦ, καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἔφυγεν ἐκ προσώπου ἀλλοφύλων·

11 And after him Samaia the son of Asa the Arachite: and the Philistines were gathered to Theria; and there was there a portion of ground full of lentiles; and the people fled before the Philistines.

11 And after him was Sem­ma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philis­tines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the peo­ple were fled from the face of the Philistines,

11 And after him was Sham­mah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Phil­istines were gathered to­gether into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

11 Next after him was Shammah, son of Agee the mountain-man. Now, the Philistines had been gathered at Lekhi, and there was a field-lot there full of lentils, but, as for his people, they had fled from the Philistines’ front.

(יא) וְאַחֲרָיו שַׁמָּא בֶן אָגֵא הָרָרִי וַיֵּאָסְפוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים לַחַיָּה וַתְּהִי שָׁם חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה מְלֵאָה עֲדָשִׁים וְהָעָם נָס מִפְּנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים.







where there was a field-lot full of barley, but, as for his people, they had fled from the Philistines’ front.





וַתְּהִי
xx
חֶלְקַתV הַשָּׂדֶה מְלֵאָה שְׂעוֹרִים וְהָעָם נָסוּ מִפְּנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים.

12 καὶ ἐστη­λώθη ἐν μέσῳ τῆς μερίδος καὶ ἐξείλατο αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπάταξεν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ ἐποίησεν κύριος σωτη­ρίαν μεγάλην. --

12 And he stood firm in the midst of the portion, and rescued it, and smote the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great deliverance.

12 He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

12 So he took his stand in the middle of the lot there and struck down the Philistines and recovered it, and Yahweh accomplished a great salvation!

(יב) וַיִּתְיַצֵּב בְּתוֹךְ הַחֶלְקָה וַיַּצִּילֶהָ וַיַּךְW אֶת פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה.

14 So they took their stand in the middle of the lot there and struck down the Philistines and recovered it, and Yahweh accomplished a great salvation!

(יד) וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְתוֹךְ הַחֶלְקָה וַיַּצִּילוּהָ וַיַּכּוּX אֶת פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה.

13 καὶ κατέβησαν τρεῖς ἀπὸ τῶν τριάκοντα X καὶ ἦλθον εἰς ΚασωνY πρὸς Δαυιδ εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον Οδολλαμ, καὶ τάγμα τῶν ἀλλοφύλων παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι Ραφαϊμ·

13 And three out of the thirty X went down, and came to Cason to David, to the cave of Odollam; and there was an army of the Philistines, and they encamped in the valley of Raphain.

13 Moreover [also before this] the three who were prince[s] among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was X in the valley of the giants.

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

13 Now the three chief guys from The Thirty went down and came to the Cave of Adullam to David around harvest-time, while a troop of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim.

(יג) וַיֵּרְדוּ‎ שְׁלֹשִׁיםZ מֵהַשְּׁלֹשִׁים רֹאשׁ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל קָצִיר אֶל דָּוִד אֶל מְעָרַת עֲדֻלָּם וְחַיַּת פְּלִשְׁתִּים חֹנָה בְּעֵמֶק רְפָאִים.

15 Now, three chief guys from The Thirty went down onto the landmark-rock to David – to the Cave of Adullam, while an army-camp of Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim.

(טו) וַיֵּרְדוּ שְׁלוֹשָׁה מִן הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁים רֹאשׁ עַל הַצֻּר אֶל דָּוִיד אֶל מְעָרַת עֲדֻלָּם וּמַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים חֹנָה בְּעֵמֶק רְפָאִים.

14 καὶ Δαυιδ τότε ἐν τῇ περιοχῇ, καὶ τὸ ὑπόστημα τῶν ἀλλο­φύλων τότε [ἐν] Βαιθλεεμ.

14 And David was then in the strong hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethleem.

14 And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.

14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

14 Now at the time, David was in his stronghold, and there was a station of Philistines then at Bethlehem.

(יד) וְדָוִד אָז בַּמְּצוּדָה וּמַצַּב פְּלִשְׁתִּים אָז בֵּית לָחֶם.

16 Now, at the time, David was in his stronghold, and a garrison of Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

(טז) וְדָוִיד אָז בַּמְּצוּדָה וּנְצִיב פְּלִשְׁתִּים אָז בְּבֵית לָחֶם.

15 καὶ ἐπεθύ­μησεν Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν Τίς ποτιεῖ με ὕδωρ ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου τοῦ ἐν Βαιθ­λεεμ τοῦ ἐν τῇ πύλῃ; τὸ [δὲ σύστημα τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τότε ἐν Βαιθλεεμ.AA]

15 And David longed, and said, Who will give me water to drink out of the well that is in Bethleem by the gate? [now the band of the Phil­istines was then in Bethleem].

15 And David longed, and said: [O that] some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is [in] Bethlehem, by the gate.

15 And David longed, and said, [Oh that] one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

15 Presently, David had a craving and said, “Who will get me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate?”

(טו) וַיִּתְאַוֶּה דָוִד וַיֹּאמַר מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם מִבֹּאר בֵּית לֶחֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁעַר.

17 Presently, David had a craving and said, “Who will get me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate?

(יז) ‎וַיִּתְאָוAB דָּוִיד וַיֹּאמַר מִי יַשְׁקֵנִי מַיִם מִבּוֹר בֵּית לֶחֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁעַר.

16 καὶ διέρρη­ξαν οἱ τρεῖς δυνατοὶ ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ τῶν ἀλλο­φύλων καὶ ὑδρεύσαντο ὕδωρ ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου τοῦ ἐν Βαιθλεεμ τοῦ ἐν τῇ πύλῃ

καὶ ἔλαβαν καὶ παρεγέν­οντο πρὸς Δαυιδ, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλ­ησεν πιεῖν αὐτὸ καὶ ἔσπεισεν αὐτὸ τῷ κυρίῳ

16 And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well that was in Beth­leem in the gate:

and they took it, and brought it to David, and he would not drink it, but poured it out before the Lord.

16 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate,

and
X XAC brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate,


and took
it, and brought it to David: never­theless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

16 So three of the mighty-men broke into the army-camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate,

and they carried it and brought it to David. But he was unwilling to drink it, so he poured it out for Yahweh,

(טז) וַיִּבְקְעוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִים בְּמַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיִּשְׁאֲבוּ מַיִם מִבֹּאר בֵּית לֶחֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּשַּׁעַר
וַיִּשְׂאוּ וַיָּבִאוּ אֶל דָּוִד וְלֹא אָבָה
לִשְׁתּוֹתָם ADוַיַּסֵּךְ אֹתָם לַיהוָה.

18 So the three broke into the army-camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate,

and they carried it and brought it to David. But David was unwilling to drink it, so he poured it out for Yahweh,

(יח) וַיִּבְקְעוּ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁהX בְּמַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיִּשְׁאֲבוּ מַיִם מִבּוֹר בֵּית לֶחֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּשַּׁעַר
וַיִּשְׂאוּ וַיָּבִאוּ אֶל דָּוִיד וְלֹא אָבָה דָוִיד לִשְׁתּוֹתָם וַיְנַסֵּךְ אֹתָם לַיהוָה.

17 καὶ εἶπεν Ἵλεώς μοι, κύριε, τοῦ ποιῆσαι τοῦτο· εἰ αἷμα τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν πορευθέντων ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν [πίομαι]; καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν πιεῖν αὐτό. ταῦτα ἐποίησαν οἱ τρεῖς δυνατοί.

17 And he said, O Lord, forbid that I should do this, [that I should drink] of the blood of the men who went at [the risk of] their lives: and he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

17 X Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: [shall I drink] the blood of [these] men that went, and [the peril of] their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.

17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

17 and he said, “Disgrace belongs to me, Yahweh, after doing this! {That I should drink} the blood of the men who went at [the risk of] their lives!” So he was not willing to drink it. This is what the three mighty-men did.

(יז) וַיֹּאמֶר חָלִילָה לִּי יְהוָהAE מֵעֲשֹׂתִי זֹאת הֲדַם הָאֲנָשִׁים הַהֹלְכִים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָםAF וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁתּוֹתָם אֵלֶּה עָשׂוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִים.

19 and he said, “Disgrace belongs to me from my God after doing this – that I should drink the blood of these men with their lives, for it was at [the risk of] their lives that they brought it!” So he was not willing to drink it. This is what the three mighty-men did.

(יט) וַיֹּאמֶר חָלִילָה לִּי מֵאֱלֹהַי מֵעֲשׂוֹת זֹאת הֲדַם הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶשְׁתֶּה בְנַפְשׁוֹתָם כִּי בְנַפְשׁוֹתָם הֱבִיאוּם וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁתּוֹתָם אֵלֶּה עָשׂוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַגִּבּוֹרִים.

18 Καὶ Αβεσσα ἀδελ­φὸς Ιωαβ υἱὸς Σαρουιας, αὐτὸς ἄρχων ἐν τοῖς τρισίν. καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξήγειρεν τὸ δόρυ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τριακοσ­ίους τραυματ­ίας, καὶ αὐτῷ ὄνομα ἐν τοῖς τρισίν·

18 And Abessa the brother of Joab the son of Saruia, he was chief among the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred [whom] he slew; and X he had a name among three.

18 Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, X was chief among X three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred [whom] he slew, and X he was renowned among the three,

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, X was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had X X the name among three.

18 Then there was Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Tseruiah. He was chief of his threesome, and he was the one who raised his spear against 300 men. He pierced them, and a reputation among the three became his.

(יח) וַאֲבִישַׁי אֲחִי יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה הוּא רֹאשׁ ‎ הַשְּׁלֹשִׁיAG וְהוּא עוֹרֵר אֶת חֲנִיתוֹ עַל שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת חָלָל וְלוֹ שֵׁם בַּשְּׁלֹשָׁה.

20 Then there was Abishai, brother of Joab. He was chief of his threesome, and he was the one who raised his spear against 300 men. He pierced them, but he did not have a name among the three.

(כ) וְאַבְשַׁי אֲחִי יוֹאָב x x הוּא הָיָה רֹאשׁ הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה וְהוּא עוֹרֵרAH אֶת חֲנִיתוֹ עַל שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת חָלָל ולאAI שֵׁם בַּשְּׁלוֹשָׁה.

19 ἐκ τῶν τριῶν ἐκείνων ἔνδοξος, καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς εἰς ἄρχοντα, καὶ ἕως τῶν τριῶν οὐκ ἦλθεν. --

19 Of those three he was most honour­able, and he became a chief over them, but he reached not to the [firstAJ] three.

19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three [first] he attained not.

19 Was he [not] most honour­able of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

19 He himself was honored apart from The Three. He even became their officer, but he didn’t get to be as high as The Three.

(יט) מִן הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה הֲכִיAK נִכְבָּד וַיְהִי לָהֶם לְשָׂר וְעַד הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה לֹא בָא.

21 He was honored alongside two of the three, and he became their officer, but he didn’t get to be as high as The Three.

(כא) מִן הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה בַשְּׁנַיִם נִכְבָּד וַיְהִי לָהֶם לְשָׂר וְעַד הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה לֹא בָא.

20 καὶ Βαναι­ας υἱὸς Ιωδαε, X ἀνὴρ αὐτὸς πολλοστὸς ἔργοις ἀπὸ Καβεσεηλ. καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπάταξεν τοὺς δύο [υἱοὺς] αριηλ τοῦ Μωαβ· καὶ αὐτὸς κατέβη καὶ ἐπάταξε τὸν λέοντα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λάκκου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς χιόνος·

20 And Banaeas the son of Jodae, X X he was abundant in mighty deeds, from Cabeseel, and he smote the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: and he went down and smote a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

20 And Banaias the son of Joiada X a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, [who had done] many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

20 Next was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, {}was a man of many {mighty} deeds, from Qabtseel. He is the one who struck down two lion-like-men of Moab. He also is the one who went down and struck down the lion inside its hole on a day when there was snow!

(כ) וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע בֶּןAL אִישׁ חיAM רַב פְּעָלִים מִקַּבְצְאֵל הוּא הִכָּה אֵת שְׁנֵי אֲרִאֵלAN מוֹאָב וְהוּא יָרַד וְהִכָּה אֶת ‎ הָאַרְיֵהAO בְּתוֹךְ הַבֹּארAP בְּיוֹם הַשָּׁלֶג.

22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, {}was a man of many mighty deeds, from Qabtseel. He is the one who struck down two lion-like-men of Moab. He also is the one who went down and struck down the lion inside its hole on a day when there was snow!

(כב) xבְּנָיָה בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע בֶּן אִישׁ חַיִל רַב פְּעָלִים מִן קַבְצְאֵל הוּא הִכָּה אֵת שְׁנֵי אֲרִיאֵל מוֹאָב וְהוּא יָרַד וְהִכָּה אֶת הָאֲרִי בְּתוֹךְ הַבּוֹר בְּיוֹם הַשָּׁלֶג.

21 X αὐτὸς ἐπάταξεν τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, ἄνδρα ὁρατόν, ἐν δὲ τῇ χειρὶ τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου δόρυ [ὡς ξύλον δια­βάθρας], καὶ κατέβη πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν X ῥάβδῳ καὶ ἥρπασεν τὸ δόρυ ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ δόρατι αὐτοῦ.

21 X He X smote an Egyptian X, a wonderful man, and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear [as the side of a ladder]; and he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

21 He X also slew an Egyptian X, a man [worthy to be] a sight, X X having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.

21 And he X slew an Egyptian X, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

21 And he is the one who struck down the Egyptian man – a spectacular {man}. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear, but he went down to him with his staff and he snatched the spear from the hand of the Egyptian and slaughtered him with his spear.

(כא) וְהוּאAQ הִכָּה אֶת ARאִישׁ מִצְרִי‎ אֲשֶׁרAS מַרְאֶה
וּבְיַד הַמִּצְרִי חֲנִית
וַיֵּרֶד
אֵלָיו בַּשָּׁבֶט וַיִּגְזֹל אֶת הַחֲנִית
מִיַּד הַמִּצְרִי וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ בַּחֲנִיתוֹ.

23 And he is the one who struck down the Egyptian man – a man five cubits tall! Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear, furrowed like weavings, but he went down to him with his staff and he snatched the spear from the hand of the Egyptian and slaughtered him with his spear.

(כג) וְהוּא הִכָּה אֶת הָאִישׁ הַמִּצְרִי אִישׁ מִדָּה חָמֵשׁ בָּאַמָּה וּבְיַד הַמִּצְרִי חֲנִית כִּמְנוֹר אֹרְגִיםAT וַיֵּרֶד אֵלָיו בַּשָּׁבֶט וַיִּגְזֹל אֶת הַחֲנִית מִיַּד הַמִּצְרִי וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ בַּחֲנִיתוֹ.

22 ταῦτα ἐποίησεν Βαναιας υἱὸς Ιωδαε, καὶ αὐτῷ ὄνομα ἐν τοῖς τρισὶν τοῖς δυνατοῖς·

22 These things did Banaeas the son of Jodae, and he had a name among the three mighty men.

22 These things did Banaias the son of Joiada.

23 And X he was renowned among the three valiant men,

22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had X X the name among X three mighty men.

22 These things are what Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and a reputation alongside the three mighty men became his.

(כב) אֵלֶּה עָשָׂה בְּנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וְלוֹ שֵׁם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁהAU הַגִּבֹּרִים.

24 These things are what Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and a reputation alongside the three mighty men became his.

(כד) אֵלֶּה עָשָׂה בְּנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וְלוֹ שֵׁם בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה הַגִּבֹּרִים.

23 ἐκ τῶν τριῶν ἔνδοξος, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς τρεῖς οὐκ ἦλθεν· καὶ ἔταξεν αὐτὸν Δαυιδ εἰς τὰς ἀκοὰς αὐτοῦ.

24 [Καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν δυνατῶν Δαυιδ βασιλέως]

23 He was hon­ourable among the [secondAV] three, but he reached not to the [first] three: and David made him X his repor­ter. [And these are the names of King David's mighty men.]

who were the most honour­able among the thirty: but he attained not to the [firstAW] three: and David made him of his privy council.

23 He was more honour­able than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

23 He was honored more than The Thirty, but he didn’t get to be [one of] The Three. Nevertheless, David put him {over} his retinue.

(כג) מִן הַשְּׁלֹשִׁיםAX נִכְבָּד וְאֶל הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה
לֹא בָאAY וַ
יְשִׂמֵהוּ

דָוִד אֶל
מִשְׁמַעְתּוֹAZ.

25 There he was: himself honored more than The Thirty, yet he didn’t get to be one of The Three. Nevertheless, David put him over his retinue.

(כה) מִן הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁיםBA הִנּוֹ נִכְבָּד הוּא וְאֶל הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה לֹא בָא וַיְשִׂימֵהוּ דָוִיד עַל מִשְׁמַעְתּוֹ.

Ασαηλ ἀδελφὸς Ιωαβ (οὗτος ἐν τοῖς τριάκοντα), Ελεαναν υἱὸς Δουδι [πατρ­αδέλφου αὐτοῦ ἐν] Βαιθλεεμ,

24 Asael Joab's brother; he was among the thirty. Eleanan son of Dudi [BBhis uncle in] Bethleem.

24 Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

24 Among The Thirty was: Asahel brother of Joab, Elkhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

(כד) עֲשָׂה אֵל אֲחִי יוֹאָב בַּשְּׁלֹשִׁיםBC אֶלְחָנָן בֶּן דֹּדוֹ BDבֵּית לָחֶם.

26 Then the mighty men of valor: Asahel, brother of Joab, Elkhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

(כו) וְגִבּוֹרֵי הַחֲיָלִים עֲשָׂה אֵל אֲחִי יוֹאָב אֶלְחָנָן בֶּן דּוֹדוֹ מִבֵּית לָחֶם.

25 Σαμαι ὁ Αρουδαῖος, Ελικα ὁ Αρωδαῖος,

25 Saema the Rudaean. X XBE

25 Semma of HarodiBF, Elica of Harodi,

25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

25 Shammah the Kharodite, Eliqa the Kharodite,

(כה) שַׁמָּה הַחֲרֹדִי אֱלִיקָא הַחֲרֹדִי.

27 Shammot the Harorite,

(כז) שַׁמּוֹת הַהֲרוֹרִי
X X

26 Ελλης ὁ Φελωθι, Ιρας υἱὸς Εκκας ὁ Θεκωίτης,

26 Selles the Kelothite: Iras the son of Isca the Thecoite.

26 Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

26 Khelets the Paltite, Ira son of Iqqesh the Teqoaite,

(כו) חֶלֶץ הַפַּלְטִי עִירָא בֶן עִקֵּשׁ הַתְּקוֹעִי.

Khelets the Pelonite,

28 Ira son of Iqqesh the Teqoaite,

חֶלֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִי.(כח) עִירָא בֶן עִקֵּשׁ הַתְּקוֹעִי

27 Αβιεζερ ὁ Αναθωθίτης ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ XΑσωθίτου,

27 Abiezer the Anothite, of the sonsBG of the XAnothiteBH.

27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,

27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

27 Abiezer the Annatothite, Mebunnai the Khushatite,

(כז) אֲבִיעֶזֶר הָעַנְּתֹתִי מְבֻנַּי הַחֻשָׁתִי.

Abiezer the Annatothite,

29 Sibbecai the Khushatite,

אֲבִיעֶזֶר הָעַנְּתוֹתִי.(כט) סִבְּכַי הַחֻשָׁתִי

28 Σελμων ὁ Αωίτης, Μοορε ὁ Νετωφαθίτης,

28 EllonBI the AoiteBJ; BKNoere the Netophatite.

28 Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

28 Tsalmon the Akhokhite, Maharai the Netophathite,

(כח) צַלְמוֹן הָאֲחֹחִי מַהְרַי הַנְּטֹפָתִי.

Ilai the Akhokhite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite,

עִילַי הָאֲחוֹחִי.

(ל) מַהְרַי הַנְּטֹפָתִי

29 XΕλαX υἱὸς Βαανα ὁ Νετωφαθίτης, Εθθι υἱὸς Ριβα ἐκ Γαβαεθ υἱὸς Βενιαμιν,

29 EsthaiBL X X X X X the son of Riba of Gabaeth, sonX of Benjamin

29 Heled the son of Baana, [also] a Neto­phathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

29 Khelev son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah – of the sons of Benjamin,

(כט) חֵלֶבBM בֶּן בַּעֲנָה הַנְּטֹפָתִי
אִתַּי בֶּן רִיבַי מִגִּבְעַת
בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן
.

Kheled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Itai son of Ribai from Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin,

חֵלֶד בֶּן בַּעֲנָה הַנְּטוֹפָתִי. (לא) אִיתַי בֶּן רִיבַי מִגִּבְעַת בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן

30 Βαναιας ὁ Φαραθωνίτης, Ουρι ἐκ ΝαχαλιγαιαςBN,

X the Xephrathite...; 30 Adroi of the brooks X X.

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrentX X Gaas,

30 Benaiah the Pirathon­ite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the streams of Gaash,

(ל) בְּנָיָהוּ פִּרְעָתֹנִי הִדַּיBO מִנַּחֲלֵי גָעַשׁ.

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai from the streams of Gaash,

בְּנָיָהx הַפִּרְעָתֹנִי.(לב) חוּרַי מִנַּחֲלֵי גָעַשׁ

31 ΑβιηλX [υἱὸς τοῦ] Αραβωθίτου, Αζμωθ ὁ Βαρσαμίτης,

31 Gadabiel [son of] the Arabothaeite. [BPAsmoth the Bardiamite;

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Asmaveth the Barkhumite,

(לא) אֲבִי עַלְבוֹןBQ הָעַרְבָתִי עַזְמָוֶת הַבַּרְחֻמִי.

Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Bakherumite,

אֲבִיאֵלxx הָעַרְבָתִי.(לג) עַזְמָוֶת הַבַּחֲרוּמִי.

32 Ελιασου ὁ Σαλαβωνίτης, υἱοὶ ΙασανBR, Ιωναθαν,

EmasuBS the Salabonite:]

32 the sons of Asan, Jonathan;

32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

32 Elyakhba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

(לב) אֶלְיַחְבָּא הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִי בְּנֵי יָשֵׁן יְהוֹנָתָן.

Elyakhba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan,

אֶלְיַחְבָּא הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִי

(לד) בְּנֵי הָשֵׁם הַגִּזוֹנִי יוֹנָתָן

33 Σαμμα ὁ ΑρωδίτηςBT, Αχιαν υἱὸς Σαραδ ὁ Αραουρίτης,

33 SamnanBU the Arodite; Amnan the son of XArai the Saraurite.

33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,

33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

33 Shammah the mountain-man, Akhiam son of Sharar the mountain-man,

(לג) שַׁמָּה הַהֲרָרִי אֲחִיאָם בֶּן שָׁרָרBV הָארָרִי.

Ben-Shagah the mountain-man,

35 Akhiam son of Sakar the mountain-man,

בֶּן שָׁגֵה הַהֲרָרִי.

(לה) אֲחִיאָם בֶּן שָׂכָר הַהֲרָרִי

34 Αλιφαλεθ υἱὸς τοῦ Ασβίτου υἱὸς τοῦ Μααχατι, Ελιαβ υἱὸς Αχιτοφελ τοῦ Γελωνίτου,

34 Aliphaleth the son of Asbites, the son of the Machachachite; Eliab the son of Achitophel the Gelonite.

34 Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

34 Eliphelet son of Akhasbai son of the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

(לד) אֱלִיפֶלֶט בֶּן אֲחַסְבַּי בֶּןBW הַמַּעֲכָתִי אֱלִיעָם בֶּן אֲחִיתֹפֶל הַגִּלֹנִי.

Eliphal son of Our,

36 Khepher the Makerathite, X X Akhiyyah the Pelonite,

אֱלִיפַלx בֶּן אוּר.

(לו)x חֵפֶר הַמְּכֵרָתִי X X אֲחִיָּה הַפְּלֹנִי.

35 Ασαραι ὁ Καρμήλιος, Φαραϊ ὁ Ερχι,

35 Asarai the Carmelite XBX [the son] of UraeoerchiBY.

35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

35 {Khetsrai} the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

(לה) חֶצְרַוBZ הַכַּרְמְלִי פַּעֲרַי הָאַרְבִּי.

37 Khetsro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai

(לז) חֶצְרוֹ הַכַּרְמְלִי נַעֲרַי בֶּן אֶזְבָּי.

36 Ιγααλ υἱὸς Ναθαν ἀπὸ δυνάμεως, υἱὸς Γαδδι,

36 XGaal the son of Nathana. [The sonCA] of much valour, the son of GalaaddiCB.

36 Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

36 Igal son of Nathan from Tsobah, Bani the Gadite,

(לו) יִגְאָל בֶּן נָתָן מִצֹּבָה בָּנִי הַגָּדִי.

38 Joel brother of Nathan from Bakhur, Ben the Gerite,

(לח) יוֹאֵל אֲחִיCC נָתָן מִבְחָר בֶּן הַגְרִי.

37 XΕλιεX ὁ Αμμανίτης, Γελωραι ὁ Βηρωθαῖος αἴρων τὰ σκεύη Ιωαβ υἱοῦ Σαρουιας,

XElieX the Ammanite.
37 Gelore the BethoriteCD, armour-bearer to Joab, son of Saruia.

37 Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab the son of Sarvia,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

37 Tseleq the Ammonite, Nakhrai the Beerothite who carried the gear for Joab son of Tseruiah,

(לז) צֶלֶק הָעַמֹּנִי נַחְרַי הַבְּאֵרֹתִי ‎ נֹשְׂאֵיCE כְּלֵי יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרֻיָה.

39 Tseleq the Ammonite, Nakhrai the Berothite who carried the gear for Joab son of Tseruiah,

(לט) צֶלֶק הָעַמּוֹנִי נַחְרַי הַבֵּרֹתִי
נֹשֵׂא כְּלֵי יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה.

38 Ιρας ὁ Ιεθιραῖος, Γαρηβ ὁ Ιεθιραῖος,

38 Iras the Ethirite. Gerab the EtheniteCF.

38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb [also] a Jethrite;

38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

(לח) עִירָא הַיִּתְרִי גָּרֵב הַיִּתְרִי.

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

(מ) עִירָא הַיִּתְרִי
גָּרֵב הַיִּתְרִי.

39 Ουριας ὁ Χετταῖος, πάντες τριά­κοντα καὶ ἑπτά.

39 Urias the Chettite: thirty-seven [in] all.

39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven [in] all.

39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven [in] all.

39 Uriah the Hittite, a total of 37.

(לו) אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי כֹּל שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁבְעָה׃

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zebed son of Akhlai...

(מא) אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי זָבָד בֶּן אַחְלָיCG.


12 Sam. 23:11 calls it a field full of lentils, whereas the parallel passage in 1 Chron. 11 says it was full of barley, but it could have been both.

2A number of commentators have instead suggested that Joab and Asahel’s names were assumed in the 37. Alternately, K&D suggested breaking out Ben-Maacatha as a third name in v. 34.

3Standardly spelled “Kabzeel,” but I am trying to follow the Hebrew pronunciation more closely. The beginning letter is not coph (which is pronounced like an English ‘k’) but rather qoph (which corresponds more to the English ‘q’), and the middle letter is not zayin (which is pronounced like the English ‘z’) but rather tsade (which is pronounced ‘ts’).

4Goldman noted that “Arabs and Persians apply the term ‘lion of God’ (which would be what ari-el would mean in Hebrew) to celebrated warriors.” But he also noted that the term could mean “altar-hearth” (which is how the AJV interpreted it) and that “The altar-hearth [was] an object of special sanctity, and Mesha, king of Moab, boasted of the capture of the altar-hearth from the city of Ataroth (Moabite Stone, line 12.)”

5The Hebrew word is a rare one based on the root ShM’. K&D suggested translating “privy council.”

6K&D commented that that was a “different man,” but Tsumura commented that it was the same man.

7The same goes for the slightly-different spellings for these guys in the 1 Chron. 11 parallel account.

8K&D, however, asserted that he was from Beth-pelet in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:27).

9and whose father’s name was Adiel (1 Chron. 27:25), possibly from the tribe of Simeon (1 Chron. 4:36).

10K&D suggested transliterating “Bney” as part of a proper name instead of translating it “son of.” (I did this in my 1 Chron. translation in the next verse.) Tsumura suggested instead that this verse was an “AXB pattern… meaning Eliahba the Shaalbonite and Jonathan, the sons of Jashen.”

11The Arabic and Syriac versions, to the contrary, indicate that he was from the Mount of Olives.

12The 1 Chronicles list omits “son of,” making it look like Ahithophel the Gilonite is the next name on the list, but Chronicles changes about three letters which turns “Ahithophel the Gilonite” into “Ahijah the Pelonite,” and none of the translators – ancient or modern – attempt to reconcile the two.

131 Chron. also changes one letter of his name in Hebrew to make “Igal” into “Joel” (not to be confused with other Biblical Joels who were born to the prophet Samuel, or commissioned by David to carry the ark to Jerusalem, or who wrote the book in the minor prophets.)

14The MT of 2 Sam. indicates that both of these guys were Joab’s armor-bearers, whereas the ancient versions of 2 Sam. as well as the MT of 1 Chron. 11 tags only Naharai as such.

AMy original chart includes the NASB, NIV, and ESV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. NAW is my translation. When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics or greyed-out text, I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular. I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. There are three known Dead Sea Scrolls containing 2 Samuel 23: 4Q51 Samuela (containing parts of verses 1-6, 14-16, 21-22, 38-39 and dated between 50-25 BC), 1Q7 (containing vs. 9-12 and dated c. 150BC), and 11Q5 Psalms (containing part of v.7 and dated 30-50 AD). Where the DSS is legible and in agreement with the MT, the MT is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX or Vulgate with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.
In the parallel Hebrew readings from 1 Chronicles 11, I have colored orange the words which are spelled differently and colored grey the words which are not in the 2 Sam. text. In most cases, the orange words are synonyms for the words in the 2 Sam. 22 text

BVaticanus reads “soldier,” but the LXX and MT read “wounded.”

CLXX omits the first Josheb (Lucian Rescription does only a little better by rendering it Iesbaal) and renders Tachmonite as “Canaanite” (which is a different Hebrew word), Syriac instead renders it as “rank.”

DThere has historically been some question as to how to translate this: LXX = “third,” Syriac = תליתיא (“third rank”), Lucian Rescription = των τριων (“of the threes”), Old Latin = de tribus (“of the tribes”), Vulgate = inter tres (“among three”).

EQere reads with a yod instead of a vav at the end (הָעֶצְנִי). There are two Hebrew manuscripts which add the text which is in the LXX and in the parallel passage of 1 Chron 11 “he lifted his spear.” The LXX reading, however can be accounted for by its tradition of rendering ambiguous words with both possible meanings. Both “Edino” and “Ezno” mean “his spear/sharp instrument.” The Syriac supports the name “Edno” but translates “Eznite” as “he went down.”

FQere changes to the feminine spelling אֶחָת.

GQere changes the yod to vav to make the masculine gender more obvious, but that is just a spelling update.

HIn the previous phrase, the LXX & Vaticanus translated the Hebrew word in the Qere accurately as “his uncle,” then in this second phrase, MT reads “Akhokhiy,” LXX strangely changes it to “Sousitou,” Vaticanus repeats the MT Ketib reading of “Dodai.” Meanwhile Syriac omits “son of Dodai” and moves on to “son of Akhohi his cousin” (?).

IVaticanus, like the MT, omits “who were… in Serran,” but it’s in the LXX.

JQere suggests adding a yod [וְאַחֲרָיו] to make the suffix (“him”) more obvious, but it does not change the meaning.

KThere are other Hebrew manuscripts which match the Qere [דֹּדוֹ], and the ancient Greek and Latin versions are of that tradition which also matches the spelling of 1 Chron. 11. However, Yod – Vav substitutions are common and probably not thought of as making a change in the ancient Hebrew mind. DSS and Syriac omit the word, however.

LQere suggests adding a definite article (“the”) before this word, but DSS doesn’t have enough space for that extra Hebrew letter between the legible part of this word and the legible part of the previous word.

MSyriac and Targums read “when the Philistines insulted.” The only times in the books of Samuel that this verb appears are the five times Goliath is described in 1 Samuel 17:10ff as “insulting” (this verb) Israel, and the “insult” made by the 6-fingered man in the war at Gath whom David’s nephew struck down in 2 Sam. 21:21. In 1 Sam. 17, it was also Goliath who “went up,” not the Israelites. “Going up” is going to battle in 1 Sam. 29 9 & 11, not withdrawing from battle. A possible fit is 2 Samuel 5:17-19 at the beginning of David’s kingship, but the parallel in 1 Chron 11:13 says the location was [E]P[h]es dammim, which was only mentioned in 1 Sam. 17:1.

NLXX, Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate all insert an “and” here, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

OThis Hebrew word, validated by the DSS, LXX, and Vulgate as “went up,” is a term generally used of mounting an assault, not of retreating. Although the verb in the parallel account of 1 Chron. 11:13 is “fled,” the 1 Chron. account skips a couple of the verses of 2 Sam. and jumps from the beginning of the account of Eleazar to the end of the account of Shammah, so the verb “fled” in 1 Chr. 11:13 is not actually parallel to the the verb “went up” in 2 Sam. 2:9.

Pcf. Ephes-dammim in 1 Sam. 17:1. David wasn’t a warlord with soldiers in 1 Sam. 17, so this can’t be speaking of the same time, but it may be speaking of a later occasion where a border-skirmish occurred in the same place, or perhaps it could be translated figuratively as a “blood-border” and interpreted as the battlefront of any war, rather than a place name, but that is only a tentative hypothesis I have come up with.

QThe ancient unpointed form of this Hebrew word could be interpreted as either “sat” or “returned,” due to the fact that the י in ישב (“sat”) is weak and often disappears, and the ו in שוב (“returned”) is weak and often disappears, leaving only שב, and once the י is added to the front to form the imperfect (vav consecutive) tense, it becomes ישב, which could be what remains of either “sat” or “returned.” The Targums, Vulgate, Syriac, and MT all interpreted it as “returned.”

RDSS and Syriac (and thus the NIV) add “but” (-ו), but it is not in the LXX, Vulgate, Targums, or MT.

SDSS adds a locative he ה- (“struck there”) to the end of this verb and, later in this verse, to the end of “Yahweh wrought there,” but this does not substantially change the meaning.

Tcf. same verb in 1 Sam. 31:8&9 “Then it happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip down their victims, that they found Saul and three of his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.” (NAW) Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate add “the slain.” The DSS and LXX do not support this insertion, but it doesn’t change the meaning.

ULucian Rescription instead strangely reads epi siagona (“upon the cheeks”).

Vcf. 2 Sam. 14 30, where Absalom burned Joab’s “barley lot.”

WDSS spells with ה at the end of the word, but this doesn’t change the meaning.

XThe 1 Chron. account has plural verbs, whereas the 2 Sam. account has singular verbs. The NLT reasonably interprets the plural to be, not “the [Israelite] people” (singular) who had “fled,” but rather “David and Shammah,” since Shammah was “with David.” The 1 Chron. account skips the end of the 2 Sam. account on Eleazar and the beginning of the 2 Sam. account of Shammah, so there is some uncertainty whether it is speaking of Eleazar or Shammah’s exploits here.

YLXX appears to be a transliteration of the Hebrew word in the MT of 2 Sam. here, but the Lucian Rescription follows the 1 Chronicles wording with petran (“rock”).

ZThe Qere suggests the reading from the parallel passage in 1 Chron. 11 שְׁלֹשָׁה (“three”) - singular instead of plural. Normally the plural form would mean “thirty,” but the LXX, Vulgate, Syriac, and Targums (as well as the parallel passage in 1 Chron. 11) all interpreted it as “three.” Possibly the plural form here in 2 Sam. indicates three men (a plurality) or that the thirty split into multiple groups of three. Syriac and Targums interpret “the thirty” as “the mighty-men.”

AANo other manuscripts I know of have this extra phrase. Since it merely repeats the previous verse, it doesn’t change or contradict anything.

ABThe final ה in 2 Sam. is part of the verb, but is a weak letter which can disappear without changing the meaning. Qere suggests inserting a penultimate yod (וַיִּתְאָיו), but this is just a spelling variation which doesn’t change the form or meaning.

ACVulgate follows the MT with “carried and brought,” but Douay omitted the first verb for his English translation.

ADThis is a Hiphil spelling of נסך. The 1 Chron. spelling is Piel, but there is no difference in meaning.

AESyriac, Targums, and Lucian Rescription insert “from” (which is in the 1 Chron. edition), but it doesn’t really make a difference in meaning.

AFLXX & Vulgate insert “that I should drink,” which is in the 1 Chron account, but not in the Syriac or Targums of the 2 Sam. account. Unfortunately, there is no known DSS manuscript where any part of this verse is legible.

AGAs in v.8, there is a variety of interpretation of this number. The MT text here is in construct form “third of,” but Qere suggests changing it to an absolute form “third” (הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה), which would match the 1 Chron. 11 spelling. The LXX and Vulgate render as a numeral (“three”) instead of an ordinal (“third”), a couple of Hebrew manuscripts render it שלשים (“thirty”), as do the Syriac‎ רישׁא דתלתין גברין (“chief of 30 mighty-men”) and Targums‎ רישׁ גִבָרַיָא (“chief of the mighty-men”).

AHcf. v.11

AIThe 2 Sam. reading “to him was a reputation” would have sounded exactly the same in Hebrew as the 1 Chron. “there was no reputation.” Qere suggests changing the last letter here to match the 2 Sam. reading (וְלוֹ).

AJ“first” is not in the Vaticanus or LXX, it was just added by Brenton for interpretation. Jerome appears to have done the same thing Brenton did, for “first” does appear in the Vulgate.

AKVulgate reads as though it were ו (“and”), Syriac & Targums read as though it were הוא (“He”), LXX as though it were אל (“those”). Aquila uses the literal translation of the MT oti (“such that”), and the 1 Chron. parallel is “beside the two.” K&D asserted in their commentary, “הֲכִי has the force of an energetic assurance: “Is it so that,” i.e., it is certainly so (as in 2Sam. 9:1; Gen. 27:36 & 29:15).”

AL Vulgate, Syriac, LXX, and Targums omit the word “son” which is in the MT, probably because it meant “of the class of” rather than “the son of.”

AMQere suggests adding an “L” to the end of this word (חַיִל), changing the meaning from “living” to “strength/means/wealth” and matching the 1 Chron. 11 spelling. This is also what the Vulgate and Syriac and Targums do. LXX, instead reads it as the pronoun “he,” but that would require a different spelling in Hebrew (הוא = “he”).

ANLXX inserts “sons of,” Syriac and Targums substitute “mighty men,” but the Vulgate translated it literally as “lions” (although, as we see later in the verse, the Hebrew word for “lion” does not end with ל, so this is a somewhat different word in Hebrew), and ESV plays it safe by simply transliterating the word as “ariels.”

AOQere suggests omitting the “H” at the end of the word (הָאֲרִי), which would match the spelling in 1 Chron. 11, but it makes no difference in meaning.

APSyriac reads “forest” (יאר) instead of באר (“pit”).

AQThe subject “he” is emphatic in the Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin, but most English translators have not brought this over into English.

ARSince “Egypt” is a definite noun, the translation of the phrase without definite articles in 2 Samuel is exactly the same as it is with the definite articles in the parallel passage in 1 Chron. For what it’s worth, the word “man” is repeated in the MT, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac, but most English versions have not carried the first “man” through into English.

ASQere suggests אִישׁ (“man”) instead of אשר (“who”), which would change the 2 Sam. text to match the 1 Chron. text. Several Hebrew manuscripts support this, as do the ancient Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Targums. Note that two of the three consonants in the word are the same, so this could be an error in the MT copy of 2 Sam.
Concerning the next word, the other three times it appears in the books of Samuel (as well as most of the rest of the Bible), it follows the word for “good” or “beautiful” (1 Sam. 17:42; 2 Sam. 11:2; 14:27), but here “looking” stands alone, as it does in Isa. 53:2.

ATcf. Philistine spears described the same way in 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 21:19; and 1 Chr. 20:5. Also note the insertion in the LXX earlier on in this verse which may be a match.

AUSyriac adds “...and he excelled the thirty...”

AVThe Greek is literally “of the threes… and to the three;” “Second” and “first” are not in the Greek; they were added by Brenton to explain. Lucian Rescription adds a pronoun to the first instance: “his three.”

AW“First” is not in the Vulgate; it was inserted by Douay to explain.

AXTargums and LXX read “three” instead of “thirty” (actually LXX reads “threes”), but Syriac and Vulgate support the MT “thirty.”

AYStrangely, the Syriac instead reads, “he did deeds.”

AZGreek Lucian Rescription reads julakhn (“guard”)which is also Lamsa’s translation of the Syriac. It is a unique word with the root meaning of “hearer” (which is how the LXX translated it) found outside this passage only in 1 Sam. 22:14 (describing David’s role in Saul’s court) and Isa. 11:14 (describing a subservient nation).

BAThe next word only occurs in Numbers 23:17 and Job 2:6 – literally “behold him.”

BBThe LXX translators thought it was debatable whether the Hebrew word dodo should be transliterated as a proper name (“Dodo”) or whether it should be translated “his uncle,” so they put it both ways.

BCThe rest of this verse is missing in the Syriac.

BDVulgate and Targums write in the explicit preposition (“from”) found in the parallel passage of 1 Chron., but it’s not necessary due to the construct grammar of Hebrew by which “of” or “from” would be assumed. It doesn’t change the meaning even when the LXX invents a new preposition “in.”

BEThe Vaticanus edition of the LXX leaves out Elika (like the 1 Chron. account does), but he is there in the majority of LXX editions.

BFDouay slipped here; the Vaticanus actually reads Arari, which is the Hebrew spelling in the MT of 1 Chron. based on the Hebrew word for “mountain,” not that of 2 Sam. which is based on the Hebrew word for “tremble.” The Syriac also supports the 1 Chron. spelling, but with proper names, it doesn’t make a real difference, and it is not reasonable to expect them to retain the exact same spellings across millennia and multiple translations.

BG“Mebunnai” can mean “of the sons of,” so this is a translation rather than a transliteration of the Hebrew.

BHVaticanus reads as though the second radical in the Hebrew name is a nun, but it is actually a shin, and the majority of Greek manuscripts (as well as the Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate) follow the MT with an “s” sound instead of an “n.”

BIThe Vaticanus reads “Illon,” like the 1 Chron. 11 passage does, whereas the majority of Greek manuscripts (as well as the Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate) read Z/Salmon, like the MT of this verse in 2 Sam.

BJThe Greeks seemed to tend to drop out the hard palatal fricative phoneme ח (“kh/ch”) from these Hebrew words. Both of them are missing from the Greek transcription of this Hebrew name, but that is not an intentional corruption, it has mostly to do with the differences between the way different languages handle different alphabet sounds. Both of these characters are in the Vulgate and Targums, but the Syriac has a reading out in left field:‎ טור ביתא (“mount house”).

BKRalphs’ edition of the LXX starts this name with an “m” sound like the MT does, but the Vaticanus started it with an “n” sound. These two liquid phonemes are closely-related sounds, however.

BLThis is the Vaticanus reading, which has nothing to do with the name in Hebrew. Most Greek Septuagint manuscripts (as well as the Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate) instead read like the Hebrew name, except in the LXX, where the first and last letters are missing, the first due to the Greek avoidance of the aspirant character (noted above). The LXX (Rahlfs’ edition) follows the MT exactly in this verse, but the Vaticanus skips Khelev’s heritage as well as Ittai’s name, then adds a bunch of names at the end of the verse.

BMThe parallel passage in 1 Chron. spells this name with a “d” instead of a “b/v” at the end, and the Vaticanus and NIV follow that spelling. The LXX, Targums, and Syriac all support the MT spelling. The phonemes for “d” and “b” are very similar, however, and do not necessarily mean a different name.

BNThe LXX here is a transliteration of the MT Hebrew for “streams of Gaash.”

BOSyriac, Targums, and Vulgate support the MT spelling here, but the LXX supports the spelling found in the MT of the parallel passage in 1 Chron. Curiously, the Vaticanus conflates both spellings, using both a “d” and an “r” in the name!

BPThe following names were printed at the end of v.29 in the Vaticanus instead of here.

BQLXX matches the 1 Chron. spelling “Abiel.” LXX and Syriac add “son of,” and the Syriac changes “Arbathite” to “Gileadite” – which was a different place.

BRLucian Rescription changes it to iassai o gounei (“to heal the knees”?)

BSThe standard LXX edition Eliasou is closer to the Hebrew. The Syriac adapts it to Hannah’s husband’s name Elkhana.

BTThe “r” and the “d” in Hebrew look very similar, to the LXX translators must have misread the 2nd one in this word. The Vulgate reads like the MT, the Targums of 2 Sam. 23 go both ways “harar” and “harad,” and the Syriac goes with “har,” translating it “Mount of Olives”!

BUAgain the Vulgate spelling is further off from the MT spelling than Ralfs’ edition of the LXX is.

BVTargums and Vulgate agree with the MT‎ שָׁרָר, but the Rahlfs-LXX reads as though the Hebrew were שרד , Vaticanus-LXX as though it were ערא, Alexandrinus-LXX as though it were ערדת , and Lucian Rescription LXX as though it were סחרו (which is close to the 1 Chron. spelling), Syriac has אשׁדד (“Ashdod”).

BW “son of” is omitted in the 1 Chron. account and here in the Syriac, so NIV & ESV omit. But it is in the MT, Vulgate, LXX, and Targums of this verse.

BXThe Vaticanus omits the name “Paarai” which is in the Hebrew and the majority of Greek manuscripts. The next phrase, “son of,” is not in the LXX or Vaticanus, but is an interpretation Brenton made in his translation to English.

BYBHS cited some Hebrew manuscripts which read arkhi (instead of arbi), which the Greek versions might have been following.

BZQere reads חֶצְרַי, which is the reading of all the ancient versions (Targums, Syriac, LXX, Vulgate).

CA“The son” is not here in the Vaticanus or LXX. Vaticanus translated mitsobah as poly-dyna-mews. LXX correctly interpreted the mem as meaning “from,” but instead of transliterating Tsobah, translated “valor.”

CBLXX spells the proper names more closely to the MT than the Vaticanus does here.

CCBrenton alone among the English versions attempted to reconcile the 2 Sam. “son of” with the 1 Chron. “brother of,” but this was despite the LXX (and Targums, Syriac, and Vulgate), which supports the MT in both passages. This isn’t necessarily a textual error; it is very common to have a brother and a father with the same name.

CDVaticanus got the middle letters switched, but the standard LXX has them in the same order as the MT.

CEQere removes the final yod, making “bearers” singular, and matching 1 Chron. נֹשֵׂא. It is also singular in the LXX, Syriac, Targums, and Vulgate of 2 Sam.

CFThe Vaticanus inserted a ν (“n”) where there should have been a ρ (“r”), but the standard LXX reads with the ρ. The Syriac, strangely, substitutes “Lachish” for “Ithrite.”

CG“Iunius’ coniecture is, that all those there rehearsed after Vriah, sauing Zabad, v. 41. whom he thinketh to come in place of Elika here mentioned, v. 25. (who might be slaine) were the captaines that kept the confines and borders of Israel.” ~Willett

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