1 Chronicles 11:11

[See comments on 1 Chronicles 11:1]

And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. Jashobeam, an Hachmonite - or son of Hachmoni.

An Hachmonite; called the Tachmonite, and Adino the Eznite, . Slain by him, to wit, by his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory that he alone got, and in the pursuit slew five hundred, both which sums make up the eight hundred numbered , the slaughter of all which is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour. But concerning that and other differences about these persons or things, see my notes on 2Sa 23.

1 Chronicles 11:11 And this [is] the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain [by him] at one time.Ver. 11. Jashobeam, a Hachmonite.] See on 2 Samuel 23:8, where he is called Adino the Eznite; for he had two names. Against three hundred.] At one time, and eight hundred at another.

(11) And this is the number of the mighty men.—The heading of the catalogue in Samuel is merely, “These are the names of the warriors whom David had.” The chronicler resumes, after the parenthetic explanation of the last verse, with “These, the number of the warriors.” The word “number” (mispar) seems to refer to the fact that the corps was originally known as the Thirty (comp. 1 Chronicles 11:12). In 1 Chronicles 12:23, the plural (misperκ) is used. Jashobeam, an Hachmonite.—Literally, Jasho-beam, son of a Hakmonite; but ben may be spurious, as in 1 Chronicles 9:7, and Nehemiah 11:10. The Hebrew of 2 Samuel 23:8 has yoshebbashshebeth Tahkemoni, which has been supposed to be a corruption of Ishbosheth ha-hahmoni (“Ishbosheth the Hachmonite”). If this guess be right, the Jashobeam of our text may be a disguise of Eshbaal. This seems to be borne out by the readings of the Vatican LXX. here and at 1 Chronicles 27:2 : Ἰεσεβαὅά and Ἰσβοάς. The Alex. MS., however, reads Ἰσβαάμ and Ἰσβοάμ, that is, Jashobeam. The chief of the captains.—The Hebrew text has “head of the Thirty,” and so the LXX. and Syriac. “Captains” (“knights,” or “members of the royal staff.”) is the reading of Samuel and the Hebrew margin here. The corps of the Thirty may also have been called the Knights; but the two Hebrew words might easily be confused (shelβshξm, shalξshξm). It is possible that the original reading was “head of the Three” (shelτshah), as 1 Chronicles 11:11-14 describe an exploit of three champions. He lifted up his spear.—Literally, he it was who brandished his lance over three hundred slain in a single encounter. Samuel says eight hundred, but. the text there is otherwise very faulty. Yet as 1 Chronicles 11:20 records that the lesser hero, Abishai, slew three hundred, the greater number may be correct here. (Comp. the like exploit of Shamgar (Judges 3:31), and the feats ascribed to Rameses II. and to the heroes of the Iliad.) A well-armed champion might cut down whole companies of ordinary fighting-men.

Verse 11. The number of the mighty men] See 2 Samuel 23:8, c., and the notes there. The Targum has a remarkable addition here. "These are the numbers of the strong men who were with David he was the potent chief of the army; he sat upon the throne of judgment, anointed with the holy oil, all the prophets and wise men standing about him. When he went to battle, he was assisted from on high; and when he sat down to teach the law, the true meaning arose up in his mind. He was elect and pleasant, of a beautiful mien and lovely countenance, exercised in wisdom, prudent in counsel, and strong in virtue; the prince of the assembly, of a melodious voice, master in hymns, and chief among the mighty. He was instructed in the use of martial weapons; he carried a spear, to which was appended the ensign of the host of Judah; he went forth according to the voice of the Holy Spirit, was victorious in battle, and overthrew with his spear three hundred men at one time." - T. On this and some of the following verses there is a judicious note of Dr. Kennicott, which I shall take the liberty to introduce, referring to his first Dissertation on the Hebrew text for farther illustration and proof, p. 128-144. "Among the parallel places, a comparison of which may be of very considerable service, scarce any passages will appear more effectually to correct each other than the catalogue of David's mighty men of valour, as it now stands in 2 Samuel 23:8-39, and in this chapter. About thirty-four Hebrew words have been lost out of this part of the passage in Chronicles, which are happily preserved in Samuel. "The chief point of proof is this, that the catalogue divides these thirty-seven warriors into the captain-general, a first three, a second three, and the remaining thirty; and yet that the third captain of the first ternary is now here omitted. The following juxtaposition will show the whole deficiency, and properly supply it. But let it be observed that Jashobeam, the first captain of the first ternary, had been already mentioned, and that the history is here speaking of the second captain, namely, Eleazar. 2 Samuel 23:9: And after him was Eleazar the son 1 Chronicles 11:12: And after him was Eleazar the son S. of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty C. of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. S. men with David when they defied C. 13. He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there S. the Philistines that were there gathered together to C. the Philistines were gathered together to S. battle, and the men of Israel were gone away. C. battle, * * * * * * S. 10. He arose and smote the Philistines until his C. * * * * * * * S. hand was weary and his hand clave unto the S. sword; and the Lord wrought a great victory S.

11. this is the number] More suitably in Samuel, “These be the names.” Jashobeam] Called “Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel” in 1 Chronicles 27:2. The name “Jashobeam” is however uncertain. In 2 Sam. (1 Chronicles 23:8, R.V.) it appears as “Josheb-basshebeth,” which is certainly wrong. LXX. (B) varies in reproducing the name, but it seems to have read “Ish-bosheth” in Samuel, and “Ish-baal” (Esh-baal) In both places of Chron. These readings are probably right. For the identity of the names “Ish-bosheth,” “Esh-baal” see 1 Chronicles 8:33, note. a Hachmonite] R.V. the son of a Hachmonite; cp. 1 Chronicles 27:32. In Samuel (wrongly) “a Tahchemonite.” chief of the captains] So Heb. (K’rî), but the C’thîb (which the R.V. follows) reads, chief of the thirty. Neither A.V. nor R.V. gives satisfactory sense. In 2 Samuel 23:8 the LXX. gives, chief of the third part [of the army], cp. ib. 2 Samuel 18:2; and this is perhaps right; the Heb. text of Sam. (if not faulty) probably bears the same sense. he lift up his spear] Lit. “he aroused his spear” (a poetic expression). Lift is an obsolete form of the past tense. against three hundred] Samuel “against eight hundred”; so Pesh. (good MSS.) of Chron. Some light is thrown on this exploit by 1 Samuel 18:25-27; the two hundred Philistines slain by David and his men were carefully counted and reckoned to the credit of David personally. slain by him at one time] R.V. and slew them at out time.

Chief of the captains - Or, “of the thirty,” according to another and better reading (see 1 Chronicles 11:15, 1 Chronicles 11:25; compare 2 Samuel 23:8 note).