SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:20
Después , Benaía hijo de Joiada, hijo de un varón esforzado, grande en hechos, de Cabseel. Este hirió dos leones de Moab: y él mismo descendió, e hirió un león en medio de un foso en el tiempo de la nieve:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:20
Verse 20. Two lion-like men of Moab] Some think that two real lions are meant; some that they were two savage gigantic men; others, that two fortresses are meant. The words bawm lara yn sheney ariel Moab may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, bawm ybrbr yrt ty yath terein rabrebey Moab, "The two princes of Moab."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel , etc.] A city in the tribe of Judah, ( Joshua 15:21); the father of this man was a man of great vivacity, valour, and strength, so that it was like father like son. Procopius Gazaeus says Benaiah was David’s brother’s son, and a grandson of Jesse: who had done many acts ; which may refer either to the father of Benaiah or to Benaiah himself; and indeed the Syriac and Arabic versions refer the preceding character, “a valiant man”, not to the father, but the son: he slew two lionlike men of Moab ; two princes of Moab, as the Targum, or two giants of Moab, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; men who were comparable to lions for their strength and courage; for this is not to be understood of two strong towers of Moab, as Ben Gersom, which were defended by valiant men like lions, or which had the form of lions engraved on them: nor of Moabitish altars, as Gussetius f397 , the altar of the Lord, being called by this name of Ariel, the word used; but of men of uncommon valour and fortitude: he went down also, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow ; not Joab, ( 1 Kings 2:34), as is the tradition f398 , but a real lion, the strongest among the beasts; and that in a pit where he could not keep his distance, and turn himself, and take all advantage, and from whence he could not make his escape; and which indeed might quicken his resolution, when he must fight or die; and on a snowy day, when lions are said to have the greatest strength, as in cold weather, or however are fiercer for want of food; and when Benaiah might be benumbed in his hands and feet with cold. Josephus represents the case thus, that the lion fell into a pit, where was much snow, and was covered with it, and making a hideous roaring, Benaiah went down and slew him; but rather it was what others say, that this lion very much infested the places adjacent, and did much harm; and therefore, for the good of the country, and to rid them of it, took this opportunity, and slew it; which one would think was not one of the best reasons that might offer; it seems best therefore what Bochart f400 conjectures, that Benaiah went into a cave, for so the word used may signify, to shelter himself a while from the cold, when a lion, being in it for the same reason, attacked him, and he fought with it and slew it; or rather it may be an hollow place, a valley that lay between Acra and Zion, where Benaiah, hearing a lion roar, went down and slew it f401 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-39 - David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. I 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 wa without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forwar to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, an 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 drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sobe thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Di David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazar of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefit for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all bewar of neglecting so great salvation __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ובניהו 1141 בן 1121 יהוידע 3077 בן 1121 אישׁ 376 חי 2416 רב 7227 פעלים 6467 מקבצאל 6909 הוא 1931 הכה 5221 את 853 שׁני 8147 אראל 739 מואב 4124 והוא 1931 ירד 3381 והכה 5221 את 853 האריה 738 בתוך 8432 הבאר 953 ביום 3117 השׁלג׃ 7950
