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

18Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Thirty. Once he wielded his spear against 300 and killed them—he had a reputation among the Three. 19He was the most honored of the Thirty, so he was made their commander; however, he did not become one of the Three. Then there was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds. He killed the two from Ariel of Moab. Once, on a snowy day, he went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit. 21He also killed an Egyptian—an impressive man—the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22These sort of things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, so that he had a name as famous as that of the Three mighty men.

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 over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.
• 2 Samuel 20:23Now Joab remained over all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
• 1 Kings 1:8But Zadok the kohen, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and David’s mighty men, were not on Adonijah’s side.
• 1 Kings 2:29It was reported to King Solomon that Joab had fled to the Tent of Adonai, and behold, he was by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying: “Go, strike him down!”
• 1 Chronicles 18:17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief officials in the service of the king.
• 1 Chronicles 27:5The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the kohen. He was leader of his division, which consisted of 24,000.
• Joshua 15:21the towns at the end of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the south were Kavzeel, Eder, Jagur,
• Exodus 15:15Then the chiefs of Edom are terrified. Trembling grips Moab’s mighty men. All of Canaan’s inhabitants will melt away.
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, parted neither in life nor death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22Beniah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man from Kabzeel who had done mighty deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab, and went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.
• 1 Chronicles 12:8Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
• Judges 14:5While his father and mother went down to Timnah, Samson went to the vineyards of Timnah, and behold, a young lion came roaring at him.
• 1 Samuel 17:34But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb out of 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