Poole on 2 Samuel 23:18-23: David's Mighty Men: Abishai and Benaiah

Verse 18:[1]  And (1 Chron. 11:20) Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three.  And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them (Heb. slain[2]), and had the name among three.

[He was chief of the three, ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֔י]  The Qere is ‎ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה, he was head, or chief, of the three (Montanus, Pagnine, Septuagint, Junius and Tremellius), that is, he was holding the first rank among the three latter (Vatablus, similarly Junius, Malvenda).  The chief of the second three (Castalio); the principal among the three (Strigelius), those three (Munster); the head of the ternary (Tigurinus).  In the second ternary two are named, Abishai and Benaiah (Martyr, Osiander).  The third is not expressed, which is not strange; so it is in Chronicles.  The chief of the first ternary is not named (Martyr).  Indeed, the third here was Asahel (Osiander).

[He lifted the spear, etc., ‎וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל [3]]  He roused or awakened (or brandished [Syriac, Junius and Tremellius, Castalio]) his spear, or lance, over (or against [Pagnine]) three hundred slain (Pagnine, Montanus, Septuagint, Jonathan, Syriac), or whom he pierced, or struck down (Junius and Tremellius, Tigurinus, Vatablus in Tigurinus Notes).

[Against three hundred, whom he killed]  In the place of which our translation of 1 Chronicles 11:20 has quos vulneravit, whom he wounded (Menochius).  It is possible that this happened when he rescued David, growing faint, from danger, 2 Samuel 21:17 (Menochius).  It is not evident whether this happened at one engagement, or at diverse times (Sanchez).

He lifted the spear against three hundred, etc.:  He fought with and killed three hundred men in one battle.

[Named, ‎וְלוֹ־שֵׁם]  There was a name to him (Pagnine), a special reputation; that is, he was most highly renowned (Vatablus); he had the principal name (Tigurinus, similarly Munster).

[In the three]  Or among the three (thus all interpreters).  But the Syriac:  He was the chief of these thirty [as if instead of ‎בַּשְּׁלוֹשָׁה, among the three, the translator had read ‎בַּשְּׁלוֹשׁׅים, among the thirty].

Had the name among the three, that is was the most famous and eminent among them.

Verse 19:[4]  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain:  howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

[To the first thee he had not attained]  In fortitude he was not equaling Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah (Menochius).

He attained not unto the first three:  He fell short of them in strength and valour.

Verse 20:[5]  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of (Josh. 15:21) Kabzeel, who had done many acts (Heb. great of acts[6]), (Ex. 15:15; 1 Chron. 11:22) he slew two lionlike men (Heb. lions of God[7]) of Moab:  he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow…

[Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who was a man most mighty, of great works, בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛י רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים]  The Qere is‎אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל , a man of might.  They translate it, the son of a man of power (or of fortitude, that is, fortitudinous [Vatablus, Pagnine, similarly Munster, Tigurinus, Junius and Tremellius); or the son of Ischai (Osiander), or of Ischail (Strigelius), or of life; that is, lively, strong, and fierce (Vatablus); or a man most vigorous (Syriac); he was a most robust giant (Arabic).  [The Syriac and Arabic refer this to Benaiah himself, not, as the rest do, to his father.]  Much in works (Pagnine, Montanus, Septuagint); great in matters conducted (Munster, Tigurinus, Junius and Tremellius, similarly Osiander, Strigelius), one accomplishing great things (Vatablus).  Nevertheless, I would prefer to refer these great works to his father, Jehoiada, as it is explained in 1 Chronicles 11:22.  Therefore, Benaiah imitated the virtue of his father in his own behavior (Sanchez out of Tostatus).

[Of Kabzeel]  It was a town in the lot of Judah, Joshua 15:21 (Malvenda out of Junius).

Of Kabzeel; a place in Judah, Joshua 15:21.  Who had done many acts:  this may belong either to Benaiah, or to his father, to note that Benaiah was a son becoming such a father.

[He smote two lions of Moab (thus Munster, Castalio, Strigelius)]  Hebrew:  lions of God;[8] that is, most mighty (Mariana, Sanchez).  Perhaps Moabite lions (like the Punic) were more ferocious (Sanchez).  ‎שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב, two mighty men (or mighty like lions [Montanus]) of Moab (Pagnine, Montanus), most valiant Moabites (Junius and Tremellius), magnates (or giants [Syriac], a certain giant [Arabic]) of Moab (Jonathan).  The two sons of that Ariel of Moab (Septuagint).  Two heavily fortified citadels; that is, two incredibly strong places, either of which was called Ariel; that is, the men that were defending the two heavily fortified places of the region of the Moabites (Vatablus).  Two captains of Moab.  Ariel is the same thing as a strong lion (Munster).

Two lionlike men, for courage and strength.  Or, lions of God, that is, great and strong lions.  Or, two gigantic persons; and therefore both so called, as being either equal in might, or brethren by birth.

[He smote a lion, ‎הָאַרְיֵה]  The Qere:  ‎הָאֲרִי, the lion.  In this place he makes use of another term, so that he might signify that here he speaks of a beast, but a little previously of men (Osiander).

[In the midst of a pit[9] (similarly all interpreters)]  Whence he cut off flight for himself, and imposed upon himself the necessity of completing what he had started (Sanchez).

In the midst of a pit; where he put himself under a necessity, either of killing, or being killed.

[In the days of snow]  When lions are bolder (Lapide, thus Vatablus, Sanchez) (as incredibly hot and fiery [Sanchez, Lapide]; having grown accustomed to the injuries of the heavens and seasons [Sanchez]), and fiercer, or more ferocious (Vatablus, Lapide, Sanchez, Martyr), through scarcity of food (Junius, similarly Lapide), and more insidious to man (Munster).  At that time sheep are kept in folds; and, since the feeding-ground is wanting to them, they are enraged:  But anger is the whetstone of boldness (Martyr).  At that time also the members of men are stiff with cold (Mariana), and are less apt to handle arms (Sanchez).  He was not prodigal of life, but it is to be believed that the lion was dangerous to the province (Martyr).

In time of snow; when lions are most fierce, both from the sharpness of their appetite in cold seasons, and from want of provisions, cattle being then shut up, and fed at home.

Verse 21:[10]  And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man (Heb. a man of countenance, or, sight:[11]  called, 1 Chron. 11:23, a man of great stature[12]):  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.

[A man worthy of show, אֲ֣שֶׁר מַרְאֶ֗ה]  The Qere is אִישׁ, a man (which all interpreters follow).  A man of appearance (Montanus, Piscator), to be seen (Septuagint), conspicuous (Jonathan), finely formed (Arabic, Pagnine, similarly the Syriac, Tigurinus), upon whom they were gazing because of his attractive form (Vatablus).  Worth looking at because of his great size (Junius and Tremellius, similarly Castalio), of great appearance, which sort Giants have; in 1 Chronicles 11:23, it is written אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה׀, a man of good looks and great stature (Munster).  A man of terrible appearance (Strigelius).

A goodly man; for stature, as it is expressed, 1 Chronicles 11:23.

[With a rod]  Or staff (thus all interpreters).  That is to say, unarmed, having only his staff in hand (Menochius).

With a staff; without a sword, or any warlike weapon.

Verse 22:[13]  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

[Named among the three]  Hebrew:  to him was a name among the three[14] (Montanus, Pagnine), among these three (Jonathan), among those three (Pagnine), that is, a reputation among those three following.  Or he was almost worthy to be numbered among those three mighty men that brought the water.  Thus those that make him the seventh translate it:  for he was in the middle between those ternaries and the following thirty (Vatablus).

Verse 23:[15]  He was more honourable than the thirty (or, honourable among the thirty[16]), but he attained not to the first three.  And David set him (2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23) over his guard (or, council; Heb. at his command,[17] 1 Sam. 22:14[18]).

[Who were more honorable than the thirty, ‎מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד]  Above the thirty (or above the mighty [Jonathan]) glorious, or honorable (Montanus, similarly Junius and Tremellius); renowned among the thirty (Syriac, similarly Munster); the most excellent of the thirty (Tigurinus); of those thirty (understanding, following [Vatablus]) the most glorious (Pagnine), or the most noble (Vatablus).

[To the three he had not attained]  But, nevertheless, to the three, etc. (Pagnine, Vatablus), that is, to the dignity of the prior three (Vatablus).  To the three first (Munster).

[He made him a counselor, in secret, or and of secrets (Vatablus), ‎אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃]  To his hearing[19] (Pagnine, Montanus, Jonathan), to his reports (Septuagint), to his audience; that is, he made him president of his Council (Munster).  Into his counsel (Munster out of the Hebrews, Castalio).  He made use of his service in secret counsels (Strigelius).  A counsellor, who would hear the disputes of subjects, and would report to the king, and would consult concerning them with the king and others (Osiander).  Therefore, he was powerful, not only in the strength of his body, but also in wisdom (Martyr).  A courageous man is wont to be a good counsellor (Mariana).  To go in to him, and to go out (Arabic, similarly the Syriac); he put him in charge of his escort (Junius and Tremellius, Dutch, English).  Hebrew:  to his obedience; that is, his military retinue, who were always at hand for his command, 2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23 (Junius).  Hebrew:  at his command (English).  Over the men of his obedience; that is, he put him in charge over the men obeying himself, that is, the Cherethites and the Pelethites (certain interpreters in Vatablus, Martyr).  These were always present with the king, so that they might hear his orders, and perform his commands (Martyr).

Over his guard:  Hebrew, over (for אֶל/el is sometimes put for עַל/al) the men (which is oft understood, as hath been noted before) of his command.  So his guard is called, because they were always at the king’s hand, ready to hear and receive the king’s commands, and to put them in execution.  Over the Cherethites and Pelethites, as appears by comparing 2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23, who were faithful and obedient to him, when others revolted from him, 2 Samuel 15:18.

[1] Hebrew: ‎וַאֲבִישַׁ֞י אֲחִ֣י׀ יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה ה֚וּא רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֔י וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

[2] Hebrew:  ‎חָלָל.

[3] עוּר in the Polel signifies to rouse or to awaken.

[4] Hebrew:  ‎מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ הֲכִ֣י נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָֽא׃ ס

[5] Hebrew: ‎וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛י רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאַרְ֛יֵה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃

[6] Hebrew:  ‎רַב־פְּעָלִים.

[7] Hebrew:  ‎אֲרִאֵל/ariel.

[8] אֲרִי signifies lion; אֵל/El, God.

[9] Hebrew:  ‎בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר.

[10] Hebrew: ‎וְהוּא־הִכָּה֩ אֶת־אִ֙ישׁ מִצְרִ֜י אֲ֣שֶׁר מַרְאֶ֗ה וּבְיַ֤ד הַמִּצְרִי֙ חֲנִ֔ית וַיֵּ֥רֶד אֵלָ֖יו בַּשָּׁ֑בֶט וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ מִיַּ֣ד הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַיַּהַרְגֵ֖הוּ בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃

[11] Hebrew:  ‎אִ֣ישׁ מַרְאֶ֗ה.

[12] 1 Chronicles 11:23:  “And he slew an Egyptian, a man of stature (‎אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה׀), five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and 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.”

[13] Hebrew:  ‎אֵ֣לֶּה עָשָׂ֔ה בְּנָיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃

[14] Hebrew:  ‎וְלוֹ־שֵׁ֖ם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה.

[15] Hebrew:  ‎מן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖ד אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ ס

[16] Hebrew:  ‎מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד.

[17] Hebrew:  ‎אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּוֹ.

[18] 1 Samuel 22:14:  “Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding (‎אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתֶּךָ ), and is honourable in thine house?”

[19] שָׁמַע signifies to hear.