2 Samuel 23:36

Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(36) Igal.—Chronicles has Joel. The two names differ in Hebrew only in one letter, and that a very similar one; but he is described here as the son of Nathan of Zobah, in Chronicles as the brother of Nathan. Brother is in Hebrew ahi, and some MSS. in Chronicles read the son of Ahinathan. If this be accepted, the only difference would be in the form of a name, Nathan or Ahinathan.

Bani the Gadite.—In Chronicles Mibhar the son of Haggeri. Entirely unlike as these readings appear, they are not so very different in the original. Mibhar is for Zobah of the previous clause, a word at present missing in Chronicles; the son of (Ben) is for Bani; and the Gadite (with the article) differs from Haggeri only by the change of the often confused letters d and r. The text here is the true one.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It is remarkable that we have several foreigners at this part of the list: Igal of Zobah, Zelek the Ammonite, Uriah the Hittite, and perhaps Nahari the Beerothite. The addition of Zelek to the mighty men was probably the fruit of David's war with Ammon 2 Samuel 8:12; 10; 2 Samuel 12:26-31.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19-39. the first three—The mighty men or champions in David's military staff were divided into three classes—the highest, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; the second class, Abishai, Benaiah, and Asahel; and the third class, the thirty, of which Asahel was the chief. There are thirty-one mentioned in the list, including Asahel; and these added to the two superior orders make thirty-seven. Two of them, we know, were already dead; namely, Asahel [2Sa 3:30] and Uriah [2Sa 11:17]; and if the dead, at the drawing up of the list, amounted to seven, then we might suppose a legion of honor, consisting of the definite number thirty, where the vacancies, when they occurred, were replaced by fresh appointments.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah,.... kingdom in Syria, 2 Samuel 8:3; according to Hillerus (s) the same with Joel, 1 Chronicles 11:38,

Bani the Gadite; who was of the tribe of Gad, as the Targum; in the room of this stands "Mibhar, the son of Haggeri", in 1 Chronicles 11:38.

(s) Onomastic. Sacr. p. 856.

Geneva Study Bible

Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah] In Chron. “Joel the brother of Nathan.” The consonants of Igal (ינאל) and Joel (יואל) are so similar that one or other of the names is probably corrupt. Igal occurs in Numbers 13:7; 1 Chronicles 3:22. If the text is correct he was a Syrian of Zobah. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 8:3.

Bani the Gadite] This is probably the true reading, and Mibhar the son of Haggeri in 1 Chronicles 11:38 is a corruption of the words here of Zobah Bani the Gadite.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 36. - Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah. In Chronicles, "Joel the brother of Nathan," Igal and Joel in Hebrew being almost the same. If the text here is correct, he was by birth a Syrian of Zobah, for which see note on 2 Samuel 10:6. Bani the Gadite. In Chronicles, "Mibhar the son of Haggeri," "Mibhar" taking the place of "from Zobah;" "the son," ben, that of "Bani;" and Haggadi, "the Gadite," becoming "Haggeri." 2 Samuel 23:36

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Jigal the son of Nathan of Zoba (see at 2 Samuel 8:3): in the Chronicles, Joel the brother of Nathan. Bani the Gadite: in the Chronicles we have Mibhar the son of Hagri. In all probability the names inf the Chronicles are corrupt in this instance also.