2 Samuel 23:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

NIV: Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

NASB: He was the most honored among the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the reputation of the three.

CSB: Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

NLT: Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

KJV: Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

NKJV: Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

Second Samuel 23:18–19 (1 Chronicles 11:20–21) moves on from David's three greatest warriors to two of his greatest commanders. Joab isn't mentioned, but his brother Abishai, David's nephew, is. Abishai was chief of "the thirty," a band of warriors that numbered about thirty at any given time. The 300 men probably reflect his lifetime kill number, although his division once slaughtered 18,000 Edomites (1 Chronicles 18:12). He also defended David against a giant Philistine (2 Samuel 21:15–17) and earned the respect of "the three." It seems he led the primarily Jewish guard while Benaiah led the Gentiles (2 Samuel 8:18).

Second Samuel 23 has two distinct sections. David has already written a psalm honoring God for his deliverance and blessing (2 Samuel 22). Second Samuel 23:1–7 is a shorter psalm that identifies David as a prophet and compares good kings, God, and bad men. Second Samuel 23:8–39 lists many of the men God used to protect David, make him king, and keep Israel safe. The roll call is repeated, with some variations, in 1 Chronicles 11:10–47. The book of 1 and 2 Samuel ends with David's decision to count his troops; a sin that God punishes with a pestilence that kills 70,000 men (2 Samuel 24).

Second Samuel 23 gives David's last psalm and a roll call of his warriors. The psalm is part of the center of a reflection structure seen in 2 Samuel 21—24. The mirror of themes, called a "chiasm," emphasizes that God alone is responsible for David's success and safety. Second Samuel 21:15–22 and 23:8–39 list some of the warriors God used to protect David and Israel. Second Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 show that God's blessings are despite the kings' failures, not because they deserved God's favor. The book of 1 Kings begins the transfer of power from David to his son Solomon.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 5/25/2026 2:33:26 AM