2 Samuel 23:8

David’s Warriors

23:8 These are the names of David’s warriors:

Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. ¹  He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle. ² 

2 Samuel 23:1

David’s Final Words

23:1 These are the final words of David:

“The oracle of David son of Jesse,

the oracle of the man raised up as

the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, ³ 

Israel’s beloved ⁴  singer of songs:

1 Tawarikh 11:11

11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors: ⁵ 

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. ⁶  He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. ⁷ 

[23:8]  ¹ tn The Hebrew word is sometimes rendered as “the three,” but BDB is probably correct in taking it to refer to military officers (BDB 1026 s.v. שְׁלִישִׁי). In that case the etymological connection of this word to the Hebrew numerical adjective for “three” can be explained as originating with a designation for the third warrior in a chariot.

[23:8]  ² tc The translation follows some LXX mss (see 1 Chr 11:11 as well) in reading הוּא עוֹרֵר אֶת־חֲנִיתוֹ (hu’ ’orer ’et khanito, “he raised up his spear”) rather than the MT’s הוּא עֲדִינוֹ הָעֶצְנִי (hu’ ’adino ha’etsni [Kethib = הָעֶצְנוֹ, ha’etsno]; “Adino the Ezenite”). The emended text reads literally “he was wielding his spear against eight hundred, [who were] slain at one time.”

[23:1]  ³ tn Heb “the anointed one of the God of Jacob.”

[23:1]  ⁴ tn Or “pleasant.”

[11:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “and these are the number of the warriors who were David’s.”

[11:11]  ⁶ tc The marginal reading (Qere) has “officers;” the consonantal text (Kethib) has “the Thirty” (see v. 15).

[11:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against 300, [who were] slain at one time.”