2 Samuel 23:20

Contextual Overview

⁸These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. ⁸ These are the names of David's mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. ⁸These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; ⁸ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; ⁸ These be the names of the mightie men whom Dauid had: One that sate in the seate of wisedome, being chiefest among the princes, was Adino of Ezni, he slue eyght hundred at one tyme. ⁸ These are the names of David's special soldiers: Josheb Basshebeth the Tahkemonite was captain of the king's special forces. He used his spear to kill 800 men at one time. ⁸ These are the names of the mighty ones who were called to David: He who sits in the seat of the Tachmonite, chief of the captains; He was called Adino the Eznite, because of the eight hundred he killed at one time. ⁸ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshe'beth a Tah-che'monite; he was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time. ⁸ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time. ⁸ These be the names of the mightie men whome Dauid had: The Tachmonite that sate in the seat, chiefe among the captaines, (the same was Adino the Eznite:) hee lift vp his speare against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Benaiah: 2 Samuel 8:18, 2 Samuel 20:23, 1 Kings 1:8, 1 Kings 1:26, 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 2:29-35, 1 Kings 2:46, 1 Chronicles 18:17, 1 Chronicles 27:5, 1 Chronicles 27:6

Kabzeel: Joshua 15:21

who had done many acts: Heb. great of acts

he slew: Exodus 15:15

lionlike men: Heb. lions of God, 2 Samuel 1:23, 1 Chronicles 11:22-24, 1 Chronicles 12:8

slew a lion: Judges 14:5, Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:35 - smote him 2 Samuel 17:8 - mighty men 2 Samuel 17:10 - heart

Cross-References

Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

Genesis 23:7
So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

Genesis 23:7
So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

Genesis 23:7
Abraham stoode vp and bowed hym selfe before the people of the lande, that is, the chyldren of Heth.

Genesis 23:7
Abraham got up and bowed to the people.

Genesis 23:7
Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.

Genesis 23:7
And Abraham roos, and worschipide the puple of the lond, that is, the sones of Heth.

Genesis 23:7
And Abraham stood vp and bowed himselfe to the people of the land, euen to the children of Heth.

Genesis 23:7
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel,.... A city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:21; the father of this man was a man of great vivacity, valour, and strength, so that it was like father like son. Procopius Gazaeus says Benaiah was David's brother's son, and a grandson of Jesse:

who had done many acts; which may refer either to the father of Benaiah or to Benaiah himself; and indeed the Syriac and Arabic versions refer the preceding character, "a valiant man", not to the father, but the son:

he slew two lionlike men of Moab; two princes of Moab, as the Targum, or two giants of Moab, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; men who were comparable to lions for their strength and courage; for this is not to be understood of two strong towers of Moab, as Ben Gersom, which were defended by valiant men like lions, or which had the form of lions engraved on them: nor of Moabitish altars, as Gussetius f, the altar of the Lord, being called by this name of Ariel, the word used; but of men of uncommon valour and fortitude:

he went down also, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow; not Joab, 1 Kings 2:34, as is the tradition g, but a real lion, the strongest among the beasts; and that in a pit where he could not keep his distance, and turn himself, and take all advantage, and from whence he could not make his escape; and which indeed might quicken his resolution, when he must fight or die; and on a snowy day, when lions are said to have the greatest strength, as in cold weather, or however are fiercer for want of food; and when Benaiah might be benumbed in his hands and feet with cold. Josephus h represents the case thus, that the lion fell into a pit, where was much snow, and was covered with it, and making a hideous roaring, Benaiah went down and slew him; but rather it was what others say, that this lion very much infested the places adjacent, and did much harm; and therefore, for the good of the country, and to rid them of it, took this opportunity, and slew it; which one would think was not one of the best reasons that might offer; it seems best therefore what Bochart i conjectures, that Benaiah went into a cave, for so the word used may signify, to shelter himself a while from the cold, when a lion, being in it for the same reason, attacked him, and he fought with it and slew it; or rather it may be an hollow place, a valley that lay between Acra and Zion, where Benaiah, hearing a lion roar, went down and slew it k.

f Ebr. Comment p. 95. g Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 Reg. fol. 80. C. h Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.) i Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 3. c. 4. col. 758. k See the Universal History, vol. 4. p. 227.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada - He commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites all through David’s reign 2Sa 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23, and took a prominent part in supporting Solomon against Adonijah when David was dying, and was rewarded by being made captain of the host in the room of Joab 1Ki 1:8, 1 Kings 1:26, 1 Kings 1:32-40; 1Ki 2:25-35; 1 Kings 4:4. It is possible that Jehoiada his father is the same as Jehoiada 1 Chronicles 12:27, leader of the Aaronites, since “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada” is called a “chief priest” 1 Chronicles 27:5.

Two lion-like men - The Hebrew word אריאל 'ărı̂y'êl, means literally “lion of God,” and is interpreted to mean “an eminent hero.” Instances occur among Arabs and Persians of the surname “lion of God” being given to great warriors. Hence, it is supposed that the same custom prevailed among the Moabites. But the Vulgate has “two lions of Moab,” which seems to be borne out by the next sentence.

Slew a lion ... - Rather, THE lion, one of those described above as “a lion of God,” if the Vulgate Version is right. Apparently in a severe winter a lion had come up from its usual haunts to some village in search of food, and taken possession of the tank or cistern to the terror of the inhabitants, and Benaiah attacked it boldly and killed it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 23:20. Two lion-like men of Moab — Some think that two real lions are meant; some that they were two savage gigantic men; others, that two fortresses are meant. The words שני אראל מואב sheney ariel Moab may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, ית תרין רברבי מואב yath terein rabrebey Moab, "The two princes of Moab."