He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained riot to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.

He was honoured above the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him in his council.

Of the thirty he is honoured, and unto the three he came not; and David setteth him over his guard.

He was honoured over the rest of the thirty, but he was not equal to the first three. And David put him over the fighting men who kept him safe.

And he was renowned among the three robust men, who were the most noble among the thirty. Yet truly, he did not attain to the three, until David made him his secret advisor.

David 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.

David 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 spies in different places.

He was more honourable than the (m) thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.
(m) He was more valiant than the thirty that follow and not so valiant as the six before.

He was more honourable than the thirty,.... Whose names are after recorded:
but he attained not to the first three; the first triumvirate, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; he was not equal to them for fortitude, courage, and military exploits:
and David set him over his guard; his bodyguard, the Cherethites and Pelethites, 2-Samuel 8:18; who are called in the Hebrew text "his hearing" (m), because they hearkened to his orders and commands, and obeyed them.
(m) "ad auditum suum", Pagninus, Montanus.