2 Samuel 23:8

8. Tachmonite Better, son of the Hackmonite, as in Chronicles.

That sat in the seat ישׁב בשׁבת , Josheb-basshebeth. This is evidently a corruption of the name Jashobeam, which appears in Chronicles, some transcriber having, as Kennicott supposes, carelessly inserted בשׁבת from the preceding verse in the place of עם .

Captains The original word, שׁלשׁי or שׁלישׁים , shalishim, designates a superior order of soldiers who fought from chariots, (Exodus 14:7; Exodus 15:4,) and were also a part of the royal body-guard. 1 Kings 9:22; 2 Kings 10:25. In 2 Kings 7:2; 2 Kings 7:17; 2 Kings 7:19, it is translated lord. From 2 Samuel 23:18 it appears that Abishai was also a chief among this order of soldiers. Ewald thinks that David’s army had thirty officers of this kind, and hence the name shalishim, a thirty man, or one of thirty.

Adino the Eznite Most recent critics agree that these words are not to be taken as a proper name. Gesenius makes them mean, He brandished it, his spear, but his criticism is too arbitrary. Better is the supposition that it is a spurious reading for עורר את חניתו , lifted up his spear, which agrees with Chronicles.

Eight hundred Chronicles has three hundred. Which is the correct reading it is impossible to decide. The supposition of Kimchi that in one battle he killed eight hundred and in another three hundred is mere conjecture.