2 Samuel 23:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man of intimidating appearance: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, and he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear

Berean Standard Bible:

He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

American Standard Version:

And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he slew^{H2026} an Egyptian^{H4713}, a goodly^{H4758} man^{H376}: and the Egyptian^{H4713} had a spear^{H2595} in his hand^{H3027}; but he went down^{H3381} to him with a staff^{H7626}, and plucked^{H1497} the spear^{H2595} out of the Egyptian's^{H4713} hand^{H3027}, and slew^{H5221} him with his own spear^{H2595}.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 23:21

2 Samuel 23:21 is part of a passage that recounts the valor of King David's mighty warriors, known as "The Thirty." This verse specifically highlights the bravery and ingenuity of one of these warriors, identified as Abishai, the brother of Joab, who was the commander of David's army. The verse describes a confrontation between Abishai and an Egyptian, characterized as a formidable opponent ("a goodly man").

During this encounter, the Egyptian wielded a spear, a common and deadly weapon of the time. However, Abishai showed remarkable courage and combat skill by approaching the Egyptian with only a staff, a less lethal weapon typically used for herding or walking, not for battle. Abishai managed to disarm the Egyptian by pulling the spear from his adversary's grasp. With the Egyptian's own weapon, Abishai then killed him, turning the tables on his armed opponent with a combination of audacity and martial prowess.

This act of heroism would have been seen as a testament to Abishai's loyalty to King David and his elite status among David's warriors. The verse underscores themes of bravery, skill in battle, and the idea that a warrior's courage and wit can overcome a disadvantage in arms. It also reflects the broader context of the period, where such feats of strength and cunning were highly esteemed and essential for the survival and expansion of a warrior-king's realm, as was the case during David's reign over Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2026
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַג
   Transliteration: hârag
   Pronunciation: haw-rag'
   Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4713
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרִי
   Transliteration: Mitsrîy
   Pronunciation: mits-ree'
   Description: from מִצְרַיִם; a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim; Egyptian, of Egypt.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4758
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַרְאֶה
   Transliteration: marʼeh
   Pronunciation: mar-eh'
   Description: from רָאָה; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision; [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.
   
4. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2595
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲנִית
   Transliteration: chănîyth
   Pronunciation: khan-eeth'
   Description: lemma חֲניִת second vowel, corrected to חֲנִית; from חָנָה; a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent); javelin, spear.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3381
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרַד
   Transliteration: yârad
   Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
   Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7626
   There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁבֶט
   Transliteration: shêbeṭ
   Pronunciation: shay'-bet
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan; [idiom] correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1497
   There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּזַל
   Transliteration: gâzal
   Pronunciation: gaw-zal'
   Description: a primitive root; to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob; catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5221
    There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָכָה
    Transliteration: nâkâh
    Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.