2 Samuel 23:23

2 Samuel 23:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
• New International Version (NIV)He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

Context of 2 Samuel 23:23

21And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: 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. 22These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. 24Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth–lehem, 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

2 Samuel 23:23 word by word

מִן־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁ֣ים נִכְבָּ֔ד וְאֶל־הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־בָ֑א וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ דָוִ֖ד אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתּֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

• He was more honourableכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• than the thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
• but he attainedבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: appointH7760
• him over his guardמִשְׁמַ֫עַתmishma‛ath · guardH4928

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:23

• 1 Chronicles 27:6This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.
• 2 Samuel 8:8And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
• 2 Samuel 20:23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
• 1 Samuel 22:14Then 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, and is honourable in thine house?

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23David set him over his guard - The Vulgate renders this, Fecitque eun sibi David auricularium a secreto, "David made him his privy counsellor;" or, according to the Hebrew, He put him to his ears, i.e., confided his secrets to him. Some think he made him a spy over the rest. It is supposed that the meaning of the fable which attributes to Midas very long ears, is, that this king carried the system of espionage to a great length; that he had a multitude of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23David set him over his guard - “Made him of his privy council,” would be a better rendering. See 1 Samuel 22:14 note. This position, distinct from his office as captain of the Cherethites and Pelethites, is clearly indicated 1 Chronicles 27:34.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 23:23

• Armies
• Benaiah

In the dictionaries

• David
• Cherethim
• Giants
• Sure
• Troop
• Abishai
• Amasai
• Army
• Attain
• Benaiah

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