2 Samuel 23:8-39

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 23:8 This list of David’s mighty men is divided into two groups: the three (vv. 2 Samuel 23:8), and the thirty (vv. 2 Samuel 23:18). Together, these two groups include thirty-seven in all (v. 2 Samuel 23:39). Actually, the list of the “thirty” includes 34 names. This could mean that (1) “thirty” is a round number; or (2) the group began with 30 members and continued to be called “the thirty” when other men were added to the group; or (3) the group remained at 30, but when some died they were replaced by others on this list (the parallel list in 1 Chronicles 11:10 has 16 additional names, probably for this reason).