Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder, Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests, and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
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2 Samuel 20:23-26 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder, Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests, and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
Parallel Translations
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Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
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Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
Show all 3 translations
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Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
and Adoram was over the levy; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;
and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
and Ira also the Jairite was chief minister unto David.
Cross-references (19)
- 2 Samuel 8:16-18 (v23) Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of…
- 2 Samuel 23:38 (v26) Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
- 1 Kings 4:3 (v24) Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
- 1 Kings 12:18 (v24) Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam…
- Exodus 2:14 (v26) He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said,…
Show all 19 cross-references
- 2 Samuel 8:17 (v25) Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
- 1 Kings 4:4 (v25) Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
- 1 Kings 4:6 (v24) Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
- Genesis 41:43 (v26) He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt.
- Genesis 41:45 (v26) Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over…
- Exodus 2:16 (v26) Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
- Exodus 24:11 (v26) He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.
- Judges 10:4-5 (v26) He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts. They had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the…
- 2 Samuel 8:18 (v26) Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.
- 1 Kings 4:3-6 (v23) Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the…
- 1 Chronicles 11:40 (v26) Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
- 1 Chronicles 18:15-17 (v23) Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of…
- 1 Chronicles 18:16 (v25) Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
- 2 Chronicles 35:15 (v26) The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v26 Either in dignity or familiarity.
Either in dignity or familiarity.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–26 2Sa 20:23 Now Joab [was] over all the host…
2Sa 20:23 Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
Ver. 23. Now Joab was over all the host.] He would be so; neither was it in David’s power to put him by; so great a sway bare he in the army, who were all for General Joab. Neither, indeed, could David well spare him, so necessary was his service.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Joab was over all the host of Israel: the…
Joab was over all the host of Israel: the good success of this and of the former expedition, under the conduct of Joab, had so fixed his interest in the army, and others of David’s fastest friends, that the king could not without danger to the public weal displace him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v23 Here is an account of the state of David's…
Here is an account of the state of David's court after his restoration. Joab retained the office of general, being too great to be displaced. Benaiah, as before, was captain of the guards. Here is one new office erected, which we had not (Sa2 8:16-18), that of treasurer, or one over the tribute, for it was not till towards the latter end of his time that David began to raise taxes. Adoram was long in this office, but it cost him his life at last, Kg1 12:18.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel,....…
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel,.... Established in the post in which he formerly was; either having been never displaced, which though David thought to do, he was not able to effect it, because of his power and influence with the people; or if he had displaced him, which by some things in this chapter seemed to be the case, yet Amasa being dead, and the rebellion crushed by Joab, which still made him more haughty, and increased his popularity, David saw it most advisable to replace him; and because mention is made of him, as established in his office as general over the whole army, an account is given of the rest of David's officers; and the rather, as it was a sort of beginning his reign anew, after quelling the above rebellions:
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites, and over the Pelethites; was continued in his post, see Sa2 8:18.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Verse 23. Joab was over all the host] He…
Verse 23. Joab was over all the host] He had murdered Amasa, and seized on the supreme command: and such was his power at present, and the service which he had rendered to the state by quelling the rebellion of Sheba, that David was obliged to continue him; and dared not to call him to account for his murders without endangering the safety of the state by a civil war.
Benaiah - over the Cherethites] Benaiah was over the archers and slingers. 2Sa 8:18.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v23 2Sa 20:23-24. Joab was over all the host —…
2Sa 20:23-24. Joab was over all the host — The king continued him in the chief command of the army, because the good success of this, and of the former expedition under his conduct, had so fixed his interest with the soldiers, and others of David’s fastest friends, that he could not be displaced without danger. Adoram was over the tribute — That is, he was the treasurer or receiver of the king’s revenue. Jehoshaphat was recorder — See on 2Sa 8:16.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Now Joab ... - This is by no means…
Now Joab ... - This is by no means an unmeaning repetition. Joab had been dismissed to make room for Amasa, and was now, as the result of his successful expedition against Sheba, and the death of Amasa, reinstated in his command. Moreover, this was a fresh beginning of David’s reign, and therefore a statement of his chief officers is as proper as in 2Sa 8:16, when he had just established himself on the throne of Israel. Compare 1Ki 4:2-6.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v26 Jairite, a descendant of Jair, (Calmet) son of Manasses.…
Jairite, a descendant of Jair, (Calmet) son of Manasses. (Haydock) --- Priest. Hebrew cohen, respected like a priest, (Haydock) chief favourite, (Worthington) the Rab., (Chaldean) chief counsellor of David, (Vatable) almoner, &c. It is not certain that he was of the family of Aaron, or qualified to be the domestic chaplain of the king. See chap. viii. 16, &c. No other king of Israel had an officer to whom this title was given. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v23 DAVID'S GREAT OFFICERS. (Sa2 20:23-26)
DAVID'S GREAT OFFICERS. (Sa2 20:23-26)
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel--David, whatever his private wishes, found that he possessed not the power of removing Joab; so winking at the murder of Amasa, he re-established that officer in his former post of commander-in-chief. The enumeration of David's cabinet is here given to show that the government was re-established in its wonted course.
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Next: 2 Samuel Chapter 21
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23–26 DAVID’S OFFICIALS, 2Sa_20:23-26.
DAVID’S OFFICIALS, 2Sa_20:23-26.
This list differs from that given in 2Sa_8:16-18, only in the addition of the names of Adoram and Ira the Jairite, and belongs to a later period of David’s reign. Our author seems to have had before him the records of Jehoshaphat, the king’s recorder, and finding therein these two lists, he inserted them both at the proper places in his own narrative to show how few changes the king made among his officials in a reign of forty years.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23–26 23. Joab] Retaining his post in spite of David’s…
23. Joab] Retaining his post in spite of David’s resolution to depose him.
the Cherethites] So the Qrî and the Sept. and Vulg.: but the Kthîbh has the Cari, a word found in 2Ki_11:4; 2Ki_11:19 (E. V. wrongly captains), and like Cherethites variously explained to mean executioners, the body-guard acting in that capacity, or Carians, foreign mercenaries employed as a body-guard.
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23–26. The officers of David’s court
A similar list has already been given in ch. 2Sa_8:16-18. There the account of the general administration of the kingdom appropriately follows the summary record of the wars by which that kingdom was established; and the repetition of it here, after David’s restoration to the throne, is equally appropriate. Some differences between the lists are explained by their belonging to different periods.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv24–26 (24) Adoram was over the tribute.—The same office was…
(24) Adoram was over the tribute.—The same office was held by Adoniram in Solomon’s reign (1Ki_4:6; 1Ki_5:14), and by Adoram at the beginning of the reign of his successor (1Ki_12:18). Αll those may have been the same person, or at least of the same family. “The tribute” should rather be the levy, the forced labour so largely employed by Solomon. It is remarkable that there is no trace of such an office in 2Sa_8:16-18, nor in the parallel (1Ch_18:14-17). It was a feature of Oriental despotism only introduced towards the close of David’s reign, and carried to much greater length under Solomon.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Now Josh, etc. With this list of his chief…
Now Josh, etc. With this list of his chief officers, the narrator closes the history of David"s reign; for the remaining four chapters form a kind of appendix. A similar list closes ch. 8., where, too, there is a break in the history, the previous narra-tire having been a summary of the rapid rise of David"s empire. In this section, ch. 9-20, we have a more full and detailed account of David"s wars, leading on to his crime and its punishment. The rest of David"s life we may trust was calm and uneventful, but it was the life of a sorrow stricken man; and the sword again woke up against his family when his end was approaching, and filled his dying hours with grief and trouble. This list is much later in date than that previously given, though most of the officers are the same. Cherethites. This is a correction of the Massorites to make the passage agree with 2Sa_8:18. The K"tib has cari, a word which occurs in 2Ki_11:4, 2Ki_11:19, where in the Authorized Version it is translated "captains," but in the Revised Version Carites, which here appears only in the margin. But there is no reason why the place of the Cherethites should not have been taken by Carian mercenaries later on in David"s reign, though really we know too little about such matters to be able to form a judgment. Some commentators translate cari "digger," and suppose that it means executioner; but why a digger should have such a meaning is inexplicable. It may be interesting to add that the Caftans were famous in old times as mercenaries. During the reign of Manasseh, Psammetichus won the throne of all Egypt by the aid of Caftans, and from that period they took a leading part in all Egyptian wars. The age of David is much more antique, but as there was constant communication between Phoenicia and Asia Minor and Greece, there is nothing improbable in David taking Caftans into his service in place of the Philistine Cherethites. His connection with them would soon cease after he left Ziklag.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 "Now" marks a break in the main story line.…
Now
"Now" marks a break in the main story line. This new section gives background information about the men who served King David. (See: Background Information)
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Joab was over ... Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over ... Adoniram was over
The phrase "was over" refers to having authority over a group of people. AT: "Joab had authority over ... Benaiah son of Jehoiada had authority over ... Adoniram had authority over" (See: Idiom)
Jehoiada ... Jehoshaphat ... Ahilud
Translate the names of these men the same as you did in 2 Samuel 8:16-18. (See: How to Translate Names)
Kerethites ... Pelethites
Translate the names of these people groups the same as you did in 2 Samuel 8:16-18. (See: How to Translate Names)
the men who did forced labor
"the slave workers"
Adoniram ... Sheva ... Ira
These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
Jairite
This is the name of a people group. (See: How to Translate Names)
translationWords
Joab
Benaiah
labor
Jehoshaphat
scribe
Zadok
Abiathar
priest
chief
to minister
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv23–26 20:23-26 This list of David’s leaders and the similar…
20:23-26 This list of David’s leaders and the similar list in 8:15-18 bracket chs 9–20 in David’s life. Even after the major crises described in these 12 chapters, David’s monarchy did not fall apart; he still had an intact administration.
20:23 In 8:16, Joab was called “commander of the army,” but here he is commander of the army of Israel. David’s wider control of Israel was established when the northern secessionist movements were defeated.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.