2 Samuel 23:21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-38

I. The catalogue which the historian has here left upon record of the great soldiers that were in David's time is intended, 1. For the honour of David, who trained them up in the arts of exercises of war, and set them an example of conduct and courage. It is the reputation as well as the advantage of a prince to be attended and served by such brave men as are here described. 2. For the honour of those worthies themselves, who were instrumental to bring David to the crown, settle and protect... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:21

And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man ,.... A person of good countenance and shape, very large and tall; in 1 Chronicles 11:28 , he is said to be a man of great stature, and five cubits high, and so wanted a cubit and a span of the height of Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:4 , and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand ; as large as Goliath's; for in 1 Chronicles 11:23 , it is said to be like a weaver's beam, as Goliath's was; see Gill on 1 Samuel 17:7 , and he went down to him with a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 23:21

He slew an Egyptian - This man in 1 Chronicles 11:23 ; is stated to have been five cubits high, about seven feet six inches. He went down to him with a staff - I have known men who, with a staff only for their defense, could render the sword of the best practiced soldier of no use to him. I have seen even a parallel instance of a man with his staff being attacked by a soldier with his hanger; he soon beat the weapon out of the soldier's hand, and could easily have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-39

The facts are: 1 . A general statement of the names of David's mighty men, with a comparative reference to some of their deeds. 2 . A more special account of the daring of three who procured water for David at the risk of their lives. 3 . The refusal of the king to drink that which had been obtained at so great a risk. Mighty men. The account here of the heroes who figured in the course of David's life is supplementary to the general history, and, while intended to set forth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:18-23

( 1 Chronicles 11:22-25 ). The heroism of Benaiah. He was son of Jehoiada, chief priest and leader of the Aaronites who came to David at Hebron ( 1 Chronicles 12:27 ); one of (a second) three "mighties" (with Abishai and, perhaps, Asahel), and above the thirty ( 1 Chronicles 27:5 , 1 Chronicles 27:6 ); captain of the host for the third month; and commander of the body guard ( 2 Samuel 8:18 ; 2 Samuel 20:23 ). He remained faithful to Solomon in the conspiracy of Adonijah, was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:21

A goodly man. The Hebrew text has "who a sight," for which the Massorites read, "a man of sight," that is, handsome, and worth looking at. In Chronicles 2 Samuel 11:23 we find what, no doubt, is the right reading, "a man of measure [equivalent to 'a tall man'], five cubits high." The height of Goliath was six cubits and a span ( 1 Samuel 17:4 ). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 23:21-22

2 Samuel 21:21-22. An Egyptian, a goodly man A person of great stature, 1 Chronicles 11:23. He plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand This shows him to have been both fearless, and a person of great skill and dexterity in managing a combat, either with man or beast. And had the name among three mighty men That is, among the three in the second rank, for it is said in the following verse that he did not attain or come up to the first three. Who the third was of this second rank... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-39

David’s mighty men (23:8-39)From the hundreds of men who gathered around him during his flight from Saul, David had built a loyal and tough fighting unit. This unit remained the central strength of his army throughout his long reign (see 1 Samuel 22:1-2; 1 Samuel 30:9; 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 18:1-2; 2 Samuel 20:7; 1 Chronicles 11:10; 1 Chronicles 11:10). The commander-in-chief of his army was Joab (see 8:16, 20:23).Next in rank below Joab were three generals, or commanders,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 23:21

goodly of appearance . Hebrew = a sight to see. 1 Chronicles 11:23 stature. with his own spear . Often done now spiritually by the servants of the true David. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 23:8-23

1. Selected adventures of outstanding warriors 23:8-23There were three warriors who received higher honor than all the rest (2 Samuel 23:8-12): Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. What their relationship to The Thirty was is hard to determine. [Note: B. Mazar, "The Military Elite of King David," Vetus Testamentum 13 (1963):310-20.] One writer assumed they were over The Thirty. [Note: Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., p. 282.] Three unnamed men from The Thirty received special mention (2 Samuel... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 23:21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-39

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:18-23

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 23:21-22

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:8-39

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 23:21

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 23:8-23

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