Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: 2 Kings
Ver. 25. Semma. The same with the third hero, though his country is differently written, ver. 11. (Calmet) --- But this is very improbable, as the number of 37 would be thus destroyed. The former was an Hararite. The Septuagint style the present captain, Samoth, in 1 Paralipomenon; Vulgate Sammoth; and the Ald. copy has Semoth here. He was the fifth captain; (1 Paralipomenon xxvii. 8,) and the four subsequent ones relieved each other in waiting on the king. --- Harodi, more correct than Arorite, 1 Paralipomenon, (Haydock) as the Septuagint also there terminate with di. --- Elica is omitted, 1 Paralipomenon xi., (Kennicott) as he perhaps died soon; and Zabad succeeding to his honours, comes at the end of these 30 heroes, Ibid. ver. 30.[1 Paralipomenon xi. 41.?] (Junius)
Ver. 26. Phalti. Paralipomenon, Phalonite. (Haydock) --- Nu has been mistaken for t. This is the seventh captain in waiting. Hebrew, "Heletz, the Pelonite." It will suffice here to express how Kennicott would write the names of the following mighty men; referring for more particulars to his learned Diss. on 1 Chronicles xi., and to the notes on that chapter, ver. 28, &c. In the body of 30, he places, 1. Elehanan, the son of Dodo, of Bethlehem; 2. Shamhoth, the Harodite; 3. Elika, the Harodite; (supplied by Zabad) 4. Heletz, the Pelonite; 5. Ira, the son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite; 6. Abiezer, the Anathothite; 7. Sibbecai, the Hushathite; (as chap. xxi 18., 1 Paralipomenon xx. 4., and xxvii. 11,) 8. Ilai, the Ahohite; 9. Maharai, the Netophathite; 10. Heled, the son of Baanah, the Netophathite; 11. Ithai, the son of Ribai, of Gibea, of the sons of Benjamin; 12. Benaiah, the Pirathonite; 13. Hurai, of the brooks of Gaash; 14. Abialbon, the Arbathite; 15. Azmaveth, the Bahurimite; 16. Elihaba, the Shaalbonite; 17. Gouni, (a word lost in Hebrew) of the sons of Hassum; 18. Jonathan, the son of Shamha, the Hararite; (see chap. xxi. 21,) 19. Ahiham, the son of Shacar, the Hararite; 20. Eliphelet, the son of Abasbai, the Maacathite; 21. Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite; 22. Hetzrai, the Carmelite; 23. Naarai, the son of Azbai; 24. Joal, the brother of Nathan, of Tzobah; (see 1 Paralipomenon) 25. Bani, the Gadite; 26. Tzelek, the Ammonite; 27. Naharai, the Barothite, armour-bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah; 28. Ira, the Ithrite; 29. Gareb, the Ithrite; 30. Uriah, the Hethite. After these follow Zabad and 15 other brave men, though less renowned than the preceding, 1 Paralipomenon xi. 42. It is a pity that the Masorets have introduced a new mode of pronunciation, and that it has been adopted by the Protestants, so that it is almost impossible to recognize in their work the scriptural names of the most ancient versions of the Septuagint and Vulgate. (Haydock)
Ver. 27. Mobonnai. Septuagint have translated the Hebrew, "of the sons," mobni, (Kennicott) which is corrupted from sobci, or (Haydock) Sobbochai, who was a Husathite, 1 Paralipomenon xi. 29. (Calmet)
Ver. 28. Selmon, or Ilai.
Ver. 29. Heled. Hebrew ends improperly in b.
Ver. 30. Heddai: d is exchanged for r in Paralipomenon Hurai.
Ver. 31. Abialbon, or Abiel. --- Beromi, or Azmoth, a Bauramite.
Ver. 32. Jonathan. David's nephew, (1 Paralipomenon) of the sons of Assem, a Gezonite. This ought, perhaps, to be "Gouni, of the sons," &c., otherwise the name will be lost, contrary to the design of the sacred writer. The verse is not terminated at Jonathan. But he was the son of Sage, (or rather of Semma, as here, ver. 33) an Ararite, 1 Paralipomenon. (Haydock) --- Sage was also the son of Samma, (ver. 11,) as Sage and Age are visibly the same; (Calmet) though of this we may doubt. (Haydock)
Ver. 33. Aliam, &c. Paralipomenon, Ahiam, the son of Sachar. The change is easy.
Ver. 34. Eliphelet, &c., or Eliphal, the son of Ur; Hepher, a Macherathite; Ahia, a Phelonite; Hesro, a Carmelite. See 1 Paralipomenon xi. 35.
Ver. 35. Arbi. Paralipomenon, "Naari, the son of Azbai." (Haydock)
Ver. 36. Igaal, or Joel, the brother of Nathan. To reconcile these texts, we may say the person was adopted by his brother, or had married his daughter, which was not prohibited by the law. --- Bonni, or Mibahar, the son of Agarai.
Ver. 37. Bearer, or "squire." (Worthington) --- He is the only one specified, though there were others. (Haydock)
Ver. 39. Urias, the husband of Bethsabee. We have observed (ver. 25,) that in Paralipomenon the number of 37 is completed by Zabad, instead of Elica. (Haydock) --- Only 36 are specified in these catalogues, as the name of the sixth hero (ver. 18,) is omitted, whom some take to be Sobati, Jonathan, (chap. xxi. 22,) Joiada, (ver. 20,) or Joab. (Calmet) --- But the truth is, Joab is not mentioned here at all, as he was sufficiently known for the chief; (1 Paralipomenon xi. 6,) and he makes up the number of 37. The sixth, therefore, was Asael; (ver. 24,) and after him there are exactly 30. For though Gouni be lost, (ver. 32,) Semma is substituted in the following verse. (Haydock)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The last words of David. A catalogue of his valiant men.
1 Now these are David's last words. David, the son of Isai, said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Jacob, *the excellent psalmist of Israel, said:
2 The Spirit of the Lord hath spoken by me, and his word by my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.
4 As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning, without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain.
5 Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things, and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof, that springeth not up.
6 But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns, which are not taken away with hands.
7 And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron, and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire, and burnt to nothing.
8 *These are the names of the valiant men of David. Jesbaham, sitting in the chair, was the wisest chief among the three; he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset.
9 After him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David, when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle.
10 And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and smote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain.
11 And after him was Semma, the son of Age, of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,
12 He stood in the midst of the field, and defended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.
13 Moreover, also before this, these three who were princes *among the thirty, went down, and came to David, in the harvest time, into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.
14 And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate.
16 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,
17 Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: Shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.
18 Abisai, also the brother of Joab, the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, whom he slew; and he was renowned among the three,
19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief; but to the three first he attained not.
20 And Banaias, the son of Joiada, a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow.
21 He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.
22 These things did Banaias, the son of Joiada.
23 And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first three: And David made him of his privy council.
24 Asael, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty; Elehanan, the son of Dodo, of Bethlehem,
25 Semma, of Harodi, Elica, of Harodi,
26 Heles, of Phalti, Hira, the son of Acces, of Thecua,
27 Abiezer, of Anathoth, Mobonnai, of Husati,
28 Selmon, the Ahohite, Maharai, the Netophathite,
29 Heled, the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai, the son of Ribai, of Gabaath, of the children of Benjamin,
30 Banaia, the Pharathonite, Heddai, of the torrent Gaas,
31 Abialbon, the Arbathite, Azmaveth, of Beromi,
32 Eliaba, of Salaboni: of the sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
33 Semma, of Orori, Aliam, the son of Sarar, the Arorite,
34 Eliphelet, the son of Aasbai, the son of Machati, Eliam, the son of Achitophel, the Gelonite,
35 Hesrai, of Carmel, Pharai, of Arbi,
36 Igaal, the son of Nathan, of Soba, Bonni, of Gadi,
37 Selec, of Ammoni, Naharai, the Berothite, armour-bearer of Joab, the son of Sarvia,
38 Ira, the Jethrite, Gareb, also a Jethrite;
39 Urias, the Hethite; thirty and seven in all.
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*
1: Acts ii. 10.
8: 1 Paralipomenon xi. 11.
13: 1 Paralipomenon xi. 15.