How many men did David’s chief captain slew at one time?

Answer:

The list in I Chronicles 11 was compiled when David had just conquered Jerusalem. It contains 53 names.

The list in II Samuel 23 was compiled at the end of David's life. "Now these are the last words of David" (II Samuel 23:1). Among them is a list of those David remembered as his mighty men. This list says it contains 37 names (II Samuel 23:29) but only 35 names are listed. The problem appears to be around II Samuel 23:32-33 with:

• Eliahba the Shaalbonite
• the sons of Jashen
• Jonathan
• Shammah the Haraite
• Ahaim the son of Sharar the Ararite

I Chronicles 11:33-35 has:

• Eliahba the Shaalbonite
• The sons of Hashem the Gizonite
• Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite
• Ahaim the son of Sacar the Hararite

Most likely there were three sons of Jashen (or Hashem) and Jonathan's parentage was accidentally separated to make two people in the II Samuel 23 account. Other than slight spelling differences, which is quite common since the lists were written centuries apart, the two lists are very similar except for the first name.

"These are the names of the mighty men (warriors) whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, also called Adino the Eznite (spear) because of the eight hundred men killed [by him] at one time" (II Samuel 23:8 AMP).

"These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men that he killed at one time" (II Samuel 23:8 CSB).

"These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time" (II Samuel 23:8 ESV).

"These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; he was called Adino the Eznite because of eight hundred who were killed by him at one time" (II Samuel 23:8 NASB).

The variations seem extreme between the versions. Most are due to debates about what should be translated as a name or translated literally.

• The name Josheb-basshebeth can also be literally translated as "one who sits in the seat." In other words, a reference to being an advisor.
• The name Tahchemonite refers to a wise man.
• The Hebrew word shalosh can be translated as either three or thirty. "Captains" is an assumption that the three refer to the captains of units.
• "Adino the Eznite". The name Adino or Adina means "delightful" or "voluptuous." Some Hebrew manuscripts have 'etsen (Eznite) and others chanith (spear). If it is the latter, it could be a nickname because of his prowess with the weapon.

If there are two names in this passage, then one of the two is a nickname based on either being a strategist for the king or being good with a spear.

"This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty [heroes]. He lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time" (I Chronicles 11:11 AMP).

"This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the Thirty; he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time" (I Chronicles 11:11 CSB).

"This is an account of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time" (I Chronicles 11:11 ESV).

"And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time" (I Chronicles 11:11 NASB).

"And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time" (I Chronicles 11:11 NKJV).

This passage has fewer problems. There is still the question of whether the Hebrew word hassheloshim should be translated as "the three" or "the thirty." The NASB sidestepped the debate by translating it as what they believe the group represented.

The name Jashobeam could be a condensation of Josheb-basshebeth. Hachmonite is considered to be an alternative spelling for Tahchemonite.

This leaves only the difference in the number killed. There are three commonly offered explanations:

1. There was a scribal error in copying the text. In this case, I'm not so inclined to agree.
2. Since there were two timeframes, it is supposed that Jashobeam upped his record from 300 to 800.
3. We have to remember that a leader of a unit is often credited with what his unit accomplished. This could be a case where Jashobeam personally killed 300 men but his unit killed 800.

An example of the latter can be found in I Samuel 29:5; II Samuel 8:5; 10:18. We know more than David was involved in these battles.

I'm inclined to see the last option as the simpler explanation of the difference.