2 Samuel 23:37

(37) The Ammonite.—A foreigner, like “Igal of Zobah” (a Syrian), and “Ittai the Gittite,” and “Uriah the Hittite,” who rose to distinction in David’s service, and all of whom were probably proselytes.

Armourbearer.—It appears from 2Sa_18:15 that Joab had ten armourbearers. This one was probably their chief.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. Zelek the Ammonite] Like Igal the Syrian, and Ittai the Philistine, a foreigner who rose to distinction in David’s service.

Naharai the Beerothite] Of Beeroth (see note on ch. 2Sa_4:2), and therefore perhaps a Gibeonite by race.

armourbearer] The Kthîbh has the plural armourbearers, but the singular is supported by the Sept. and Chron., and is probably the correct reading. Joab had ten armourbearers or attendant squires (ch. 2Sa_18:15).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Zelek the Ammonite,.... Who was so either by birth, and became a proselyte; so the Targum says, he was of the children of Ammon; or is so called, because he had sojourned some time in their land, or had done some exploits against them; unless he was of Chepharhaammonai, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:24,

Naharai the Beerothite; native of Beeroth, a city in the same tribe, Jos 18:25,

armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah; Joab had ten of them, this perhaps was the chief of them, Sa2 18:15; who was advanced to be a captain, and therefore has a name and place among the thirty, very likely for some military, exploits performed by him; he is in the list of David's worthies, though not Joab his master, as before observed; the reason of Joab being left out is either because he was over them all, as before noted; according to Josephus (t), Uriah the Hittite, after mentioned, was an armourbearer to Joab.

(t) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 7. sect. 1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Bearer, or "squire." (Worthington) --- He is the only one specified, though there were others. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Zelek the Ammonite. The presence of an Ammonite among the thirty reminds us of the fidelity of Shobi, the son of Nahash the Ammonite king, to David. (see 2Sa_17:27) Armourbearer. The written text has the plural, "armourbearers," for which the Kri has substituted the singular. The plural is probably right, and if so, both Joab"s chief armourbearers, or squires, were foreigners, Zelek being an Ammonite, and Nahari a Gibeonite. (see note on 2Sa_4:2) In actual warfare we find Joab attended by ten esquires. (2Sa_18:15)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

This concludes the list of David's greatest soldiers. (See: How to Translate Names)

thirty-seven in all

"there were 37 total" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

Ammon

armor

Joab

Uriah

Hittite

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.