2 Samuel 23:19
◄  2 Samuel 23:19  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

English Standard Version (©2001)
He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

International Standard Version (©2012)
He was more well-known than the Three, and became their commander, but he never measured up to the Three.

NET Bible (©2006)
From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
and was honored more than they were. So he became their captain, but he didn't become a member of the three.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: however he attained not unto the first three.

American King James Version
Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: however, he attained not to the first three.

American Standard Version
Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.

Darby Bible Translation
Was he not most honourable of three? and he was their captain; but he did not attain to the first three.

English Revised Version
Was he not most honourable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

Webster's Bible Translation
Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: yet he attained not to the first three.

World English Bible
Wasn't he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the [first] three.

Young's Literal Translation
Of the three is he not the honoured? and he becometh their head; and unto the first three he hath not come.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:8-39 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 compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Was he not most honourable of three?.... He was; who, besides the exploit here mentioned, did many other things; he went down with David into Saul's camp, and took away his spear and cruse, which were at his bolster, 1 Samuel 26:6; he relieved David when in danger from Ishbibenob the giant, 2 Samuel 21:16; he beat the Edomites, and slew eighteen thousand of them in the valley of salt, 1 Chronicles 18:12,

therefore he was their captain; of the other two, or was head over them, took rank before them:

howbeit he attained not unto the first three; for fortitude, courage, and warlike exploits, namely, to the Tachmonite, Eleazar, and Shammah.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19-39. 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] and Uriah [2Sa 11:17]; and if the dead, at the drawing up of the list, amounted to seven, then we might suppose a legion of honor, consisting of the definite number thirty, where the vacancies, when they occurred, were replaced by fresh appointments.

2 Samuel 23:19 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


David's Mighty Men
…18And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: however, he attained not to the first three. 20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow: …

2 Samuel 23:18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.
2 Samuel 23:20 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.