2 Samuel 23:21-31

21 Also he killed a man of Egypt, a man worthy of beholding, having a spear in his hand; and so when he had gone down with a rod to that man, by might he wrung out the spear from the hand of the man of Egypt, and killed him with his own spear. (And he killed an Egyptian man, a man worthy of beholding, who had a spear in his hand; for he had gone down to that man with a staff, and by might he wrung the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and then killed him with his own spear.
22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did these things; and he was named among [the] three strong men (and he had a famous name among The Thirty),
23 that were among the thirty nobler men; nevertheless he came not (up) to the first three. And David made him a counsellor of private to himself. (indeed some said he was the most famous of The Thirty; nevertheless he came not up to, or rivaled, The Three. And David made him his personal counsellor/the head of his bodyguard.)
24 Asahel, the brother of Joah, was among the thirty men; Elhanan, the son of his father's brother, of Bethlehem; (And other members of The Thirty; Asahel, Joah's brother; and Elhanan, the son of Dodo, of Bethlehem;)
25 Shammah, of Harodites; Elika, of Harodites;
26 Helez, of Paltites; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, of Tekoa; (Helez, of Pelet; Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;)
27 Abiezer, of Anathoth (Abiezer the Anethothite); Mebunnai, of Hushathites;
28 Zalmon, of Ahohites; Maharai, of Netophah;
29 Heleb, the son of Baanah, and he was of Netophah; Ittai, the son of Ribai, of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin;
30 Benaiah, of Pirathon; Hiddai, of the strand of Gaash;
31 Abialbon, of Arabah; Azmaveth, of Barhumites;

2 Samuel 23:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 23

In this chapter are recorded the last words of David under a divine inspiration, 2Sa 23:1-7; and an account is given of his great men, famous for warlike exploits, particularly of three mighty men who did very marvellous things, 2Sa 23:8-17; and of two others next unto them, which belonged to another class of three, 2Sa 23:18-23; and then of thirty one more, 2Sa 23:24-39; who are all mentioned by name.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.