2 Samuel 23:26

Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) Helez.—He was general of the seventh army division (1Chronicles 27:10). There, and also in 1Chronicles 11:27, he is called a Pelonite.

Ira was general for the sixth month (1Chronicles 27:9). His home, Tekoah, was about six miles south of Bethlehem.

Benson Commentary

2 Samuel 23:26-39. Helez the Paltite, &c. — None of the memorable acts of these or of the following worthies are recorded; therefore, all that can be said of them is, that when God determined to raise a king to a great height of power and glory, he raised up several great men to co-operate with and assist that king in his designs and undertakings. Thirty and seven in all — Here are only thirty-six named. Either therefore one must be supplied whose name is not expressed among the three worthies of the second rank, or Joab is comprehended in the number, as being the general and head of them all.

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

etc. The early death of Asahel 2 Samuel 2:32 would make it very likely that his place in the 30 would be filled up, and so easily account for the number 31 in the list. Compare throughout the list in 1 Chronicles 11.

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.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Helez the Paltite,.... Who was of a place called Pater, as the Targum; in 1 Chronicles 11:27, he is called the Pelonite:

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; who was of the city of Tekoah, the native place of Amos the prophet, famous for oil, about twelve miles from Jerusalem; See Gill on Amos 1:1.

Geneva Study Bible

Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. Helez the Paltite] Generally explained to mean of Beth-pelet, an unid entified town in the extreme south of Judah, named in the same group with Beer-sheba (Joshua 15:27). But this seems questionable, as he is called an Ephraimite in 1 Chronicles 27:10. 1 Chron. twice reads Pelonite (1 Chronicles 11:27, 1 Chronicles 27:10), but there is no known place or family from which such a name could be formed, and it is either a corruption, or the Hebrew word meaning of so and so, inserted by a scribe who could not read the original word in the text which he was copying. Helez was general of the seventh division of the army (1 Chronicles 27:10).

Ira … the Tekoite] Of Tekoa, see note on ch. 2 Samuel 14:2. He was general of the sixth division of the army (1 Chronicles 27:9), and a different person from David’s minister (ch. 2 Samuel 20:26).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 26. - Helez. He is twice called a Pelonite in Chronicles, and was general of the seventh brigade (1 Chronicles 27:10), where he is said to have belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. Whether Paltite or Pelon-ite is right, no one knows; but Beth-Palet was a town in the tribe of Judah, and not in Ephraim. Ira. Ira had the command of the sixth brigade (1 Chronicles 27:9). Tekoah (see note on 2 Samuel 14:2). This Ira is a distinct person from his namesake, David's confidential minister (2 Samuel 20:26). 2 Samuel 23:26

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Helez the Paltite; i.e., sprung from Beth-pelet in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:27). He was chief of the seventh division of the army (compare 1 Chronicles 27:10 with 1 Chronicles 11:27, though in both passages הפּלטי is misspelt הפּלני). Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoah in the desert of Judah (2 Samuel 14:2), chief of the sixth division of the army (1 Chronicles 27:9).