SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:21
También hirió él a un egipcio, hombre de grande estatura; y tenía el egipcio una lanza en su mano; mas descendió a él con un palo, y arrebató al egipcio la lanza de la mano, y lo mató con su propia lanza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:21
Verse 21. He slew an Egyptian] This man in 1 Chron. xi. 23; is stated to have been five cubits high, about seven feet six inches. He went down to him with a staff] I have known men who, with a staff only for their defense, could render the sword of the best practiced soldier of no use to him. I have seen even a parallel instance of a man with his staff being attacked by a soldier with his hanger; he soon beat the weapon out of the soldier's hand, and could easily have slain him with his own sword.
We have a good elucidation of this in a duel between Dioxippus the Athenian and Horratas a Macedonian, before Alexander: "The Macedonian, proud of his military skill, treated the naked Athenian with contempt, and then challenged him to fight with him the ensuing day. The Macedonian came armed cap-a-pie to the place; on his left arm he had a brazen shield, and in the same hand a spear called sarissa; he had a javelin in his right hand, and a sword girded on his side; in short, he appeared armed as though he were going to contend with a host. Dioxippus came into the field with a chaplet on his head, a purple sash on his left arm, his body naked, smeared over with oil, and in his right hand a strong knotty club, (dextra validum nodosumque stipitem praeferebat.) Horratas, supposing he could easily kill his antagonist while at a distance, threw his javelin, which Dioxippus, suddenly stooping, dexterously avoided, and, before Horratas could transfer the spear from his left to his right hand, sprang forward, and with one blow of his club, broke it in two. The Macedonian being deprived of both his spears, began to draw his sword; but before he could draw it out Dioxippus seized him, tripped up his heels, and threw him with great violence on the ground, (pedibus repente subductis arietavit in terram.) He then put his foot on his neck, drew out his sword, and lifting up his club, was about to dash out the brains of the overthrown champion, had he not been prevented by the king." -Q. Curt. lib. ix., cap. 7.
How similar are the two cases! He went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hands, and slew him with his own spear. Benaiah appears to have been just such another clubsman as Dioxippus.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man , etc.] A person of good countenance and shape, very large and tall; in ( 1 Chronicles 11:28), he is said to be a man of great stature, and five cubits high, and so wanted a cubit and a span of the height of Goliath, ( 1 Samuel 17:4); and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand ; as large as Goliath’s; for in ( 1 Chronicles 11:23), it is said to be like a weaver’s beam, as Goliath’s was, (see Gill on “ 1 Samuel 17:7”): and he went down to him with a staff ; with a walking staff only, having no other weapon: and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand ; and therefore must be a man very nimble and dexterous, as well as bold and courageous: and slew him with his own spear ; as David cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword. This is supposed to be Shimei, the son of Gera, ( Kings 2:46).
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
והוא 1931 הכה 5221 את 853 אישׁ 376 מצרי 4713 אשׁר 834 מראה 4758 וביד 3027 המצרי 4713 חנית 2595 וירד 3381 אליו 413 בשׁבט 7626 ויגזל 1497 את 853 החנית 2595 מיד 3027 המצרי 4713 ויהרגהו 2026 בחניתו׃ 2595
