2-Samuel - 23:18



18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 2-Samuel 23:18.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Abisai also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew, and he was renowned among the three,
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the chief of three; and he brandished his spear against three hundred and slew them; and he had a name among the three.
And Abishai brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, he is head of three, and he is lifting up his spear against three hundred, wounded, and he hath a name among three.
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. He put to death three hundred with his spear, and he got for himself a name among the thirty.
Also Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was first among the three. It was he who lifted up his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed. And he was renowned among the three,

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Three - "The three" 2-Samuel 23:22. It was Abishai's prowess on this occasion that raised him to be chief of this triad.

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among the three,.... Another triumvirate, of which he was the head:
and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them; Josephus (e) says six hundred; this seems to confirm the reading of 2-Samuel 23:8, that the number eight hundred is right, for if it was only three hundred, Abishai would have been equal to one, even the first, of the former three; which yet is denied him in 2-Samuel 23:19,
and had the name among three; of which he was one; and he had the chief name among them, or was the most famous of them.
(e) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.

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