2 Samuel 23:20

2 Samuel 23:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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:
• New International Version (NIV)Benaiah 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

Context of 2 Samuel 23:20

18Abishai son of Zeruiah, 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. 19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three. There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 21Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. 22Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.

2 Samuel 23:20 word by word

וּבְנָיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֧ע בֶּן־אִֽישׁ־חַ֛יִל רַב־פְּעָלִ֖ים מִֽקַּבְצְאֵ֑ל ה֣וּא הִכָּ֗ה אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י אֲרִאֵל֙ מוֹאָ֔ב וְ֠הוּא יָרַ֞ד וְהִכָּ֧ה אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י בְּת֥וֹךְ הַבֹּ֖אר בְּי֥וֹם הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Benaiahבְּנָיָ֫הוּbenâyâh benâyâhû · BenaiahH1141
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Jehoiadaיְהוֹיָדָעyehôyâdâ‛ · JehoiadaH3077
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: warriorH1121
• of a valiantחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• manאִישׁ־חַיִל'îysh-chayil 'îysh-chay · heroH381
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Kabzeelקַבְצְאֵלqabtse'êl · KabzeelH6909
• who had done manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• actsפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
• he slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• lionlike menאֲרִיאֵל'ărîy'êl 'ări'êl · ArielH739
• of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
• he went downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• a lionאֲרִי'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
• in the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• of a pitבּוֹרbôr · pitH953
• in timeיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of snowשֶׁ֫לֶגsheleg · snowH7950

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:20

• 2 Samuel 8:18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.
• 2 Samuel 20:23Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard.
• 1 Kings 1:8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.
• 1 Kings 2:29When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.
• 1 Chronicles 18:17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as the king’s chief assistants.
• 1 Chronicles 27:5Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest was commander of the third division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the third month.
• Joshua 15:21The towns of Judah situated along the borders of Edom in the extreme south were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
• Exodus 15:15The leaders of Edom are terrified; the nobles of Moab tremble. All who live in Canaan melt away;
• 2 Samuel 1:23How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.
• 1 Chronicles 12:8Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.
• Judges 14:5As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah.
• 1 Samuel 17:34But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Two 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 מואב אראל שני sheney ariel Moab may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, מואב רברבי תרין ית yath terein rabrebey Moab, "The two princes of Moab."Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada - He commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites all through David‘s reign 2 Samuel 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 1 Kings 1:8, 1 Kings 1:26, 1 Kings 1:32-40; 1 Kings 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-39Verses 8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-23Here are examples of the skills of Abishai and Benaiah. Abishai was very aggressive toward David’s enemies, especially Saul (1 Samuel 26:6–9) and Saul’s relative Shimei (2 Samuel 16:9–11). Abishai saved David’s life during a Philistine war (2 Samuel 21:16–17). Benaiah first appeared as the commander of the mercenaries who were David’s bodyguards. These men were separate from the regular army (2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23). He also led a 24,000-man division of the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3919-39. the first three--The mighty men or champions in David's military staff were divided into three classes--the highest, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; the second class, Abishai, Benaiah, and Asahel; and the third class, the thirty, of which Asahel was the chief. There are thirty-one mentioned in the list, including Asahel; and these added to the two superior orders make thirty-seven. Two of them, we know, were already dead; namely, Asahel [2Sa 3:30]…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:20

• Armies
• Benaiah
• Kabzeel
• Lion
• Moabites
• Pit
• Snow

In the dictionaries

• Benaiah
• Jehoiada
• Moab
• Moab; Moabites
• Moab, Moabite
• Giants
• Hunting
• Kabzeel
• Moabite
• Snow

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23

• 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
• EGW Writings