1 Chronicles 11:20

1 Chronicles 11:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.

Context of 1 Chronicles 11:20

18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19“God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 21He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

1 Chronicles 11:20 word by word

וְאַבְשַׁ֣י אֲחִֽי־יוֹאָ֗ב ה֤וּא הָיָה֙ רֹ֣אשׁ הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁ֔ה וְהוּא֙ עוֹרֵ֣ר אֶת־חֲנִית֔וֹ עַל־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָלָ֑ל וְלוֹ שֵׁ֖ם בַּשְּׁלוֹשָֽׁה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
• the brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• of Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• he was chiefרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• of the threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• for lifting upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
• his spearחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
• hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• he slewחָלָלchâlâl · slain: killedH2491
• and had a nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 11:20

• 1 Chronicles 2:16Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel.
• 1 Samuel 26:6David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
• 2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
• 2 Samuel 18:2David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
• 2 Samuel 20:6David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”
• 2 Samuel 21:17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”
• 2 Samuel 23:18Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 11:20

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-47Verses 10-47 An account is given of David's worthies, the great men who served him. Yet David reckoned his success, not as from the mighty men that were with him, but from the mighty God, whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they strengthened themselves and their own interest, for his advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David; and those that are faithful to Him…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-47This story about David's mighty warriors shows that Israel's best and bravest men supported him, along with all of Israel (compare 2 Samuel 23:8–39).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 11:20

• Abishai
• Armies

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Chief of the three
• Abishai
• Chief
• Giants
• Amasai
• Chronicles, Books of
• Genealogy
• Text of the Old Testament
• Arms, Armor

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary