Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 23:24
Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
24. The list in Chron. is headed “And the mighty men of valour were Asahel,” &c.
Asahel ] David’s nephew. See note on ch. 2Sa 2:18.
Elhanan ] Apparently not the same as Elhanan the son of Jair of Beth-lehem (ch. 2Sa 21:19), if the text is sound.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
24 39. The Thirty Heroes
The names in this list vary considerably from those in the corresponding list in 1Ch 11:26-41. In all probability both lists have suffered considerably from textual corruption, by which names are especially liable to be affected, and many of the differences can clearly be traced to this source. But it cannot be assumed as absolutely certain that the lists were originally identical. This catalogue may possibly have been revised at a later period of David’s reign, when the body was to some extent differently constituted.
The heroes are for the most part distinguished by the names of their native places or residences; and these are in some cases identical with clan or family names, because the head of the clan gave his name to the place where his family settled.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
etc. The early death of Asahel 2Sa 2:32 would make it very likely that his place in the 30 would be filled up, and so easily account for the number 31 in the list. Compare throughout the list in 1 Chr. 11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Asahel – was one of the thirty] Asahel was one of those officers, or troops, called the shalishim. This Asahel, brother of Joab, was the same that was killed by Abner, 2Sa 2:23.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
One of the thirty; Heb. with or among the thirty; not only as one, but as the chief of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty,…. Or rather over the thirty n, who are next mentioned; since there are thirty reckoned besides him, and the Arabic version calls him the prince of the thirty; Joab is not named at all, because he was general of the whole army, and so not to be reckoned in any of the three classes:
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem: a townsman of David.
n “supra triginta istos”, Junius & Tremellius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Other Heroes of David, 2Sa 23:24-39 AND 1Ch 11:26-47
These two passages are the listing of David’s mighty men. It appears that, in the beginning, the elite group consisted of a round thirty men, but in time it was enlarged to include other outstanding warriors. The Samuel account states there were thirty-seven in all at the time of that writing, though all the thirty-seven are not named. On the other hand the Chronicles account lists about fifty names. It is likely that these contain names of notable persons who had died before they were recorded (e.g., Asahel, the brother of Joab, who was slain by Abner).
When the Chronicles account was compiled by the scribes after the Babylonian captivity the group had long since ceased to exist.
Each list contains names not found in the other, which should not be surprising. Also the differences in spelling of names of persons and of places can be attributed to linguistic and orthographical changes during the centuries separating the compilation of the two books. Other differences occur where one account names the father, or town, of the man, whereas the other does not.
It is clear that the majority of the mighty men came from David’s own tribe of Judah. Near half of them can be directly traced to a famous father or town in Judah. This is also not surprising. The tribe of Judah was sympathetic to their fugitive son even before the death of Saul. It is to be remembered, too, that for seven and a half years David reigned over Judah before becoming king of all the tribes. The famous group was certainly organized by that time, as witness again the example of Asahel, who was killed in the civil war between the men of David and Abner the captain of the host of Israel (2Sa 2:18-23).
Many of the other tribes were represented among the mighty men, however. Several came from Benjamin (Saul’s own tribe) and the proud tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. Brave men from the tribes east of Jordan were among the mighty men, and there was at least one from the tribe of Da Men also from the surrounding Gentile nations made the honored roster, the most notable of whom was Uriah, the Hittite, who was, however, probably a proselyte to the religion of Israel. Others came from Maachah, Zobah, Ammon, and Moab.
Of the three called `The first three” (verse 25) and “the mightiest” (verse 19) Jashobeam is not listed again, though he was surely in the number. Eleazar (called Elhanan here) and Shammah are listed. Other notable include Asahel and Uriah (already mentioned); Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, and father of Bathsheba. Of the twelve divisions of David, who went in and out in his service month by month, all seem to have been commanded by one of the mighty men (1Ch 27:1-15).
Some lessons: 1) Several passages in the Old Testament claim inspiration for it; 2) rulers are directly accountable to God for their manner of ruling; 3) the Lord will enable His people to withstand their spiritual enemies; 4) devotion to the Lord’s service should be so complete as to disregard physical desire in order to serve Him; 5) God keeps a record of those who are heroes of faith, and it cannot be expunged (Lu 10:20; cf. Rev 20:15).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(24) Asahel.As he was killed by Abner while David reigned over Judah only, it is plain that this list is not restricted to any one definite time in Davids reign. Leaving out Asahel, however, the names that follow are exactly thirty. Of but few of them is anything further known.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Asahel. The third of the second three.
brother of Joab, but not Joab. His name here but not himself, because when the time of the end comes. with its “last words”, loyalty will be the one test. Joab remained true in Absalom’s rebellion, but fell away in Adonijah’s. Hence in 1Co 16:22 “love” is the test, in the light of “Maranatha”, not the “strifes” of 1Co 3, or the wrong judgments of 1Co 4, or the uncleanness of 1Co 5, or going to law of 1Co 6; not the fornication of 1Co 7, not a wrong conscience of 1Co 9and 1Co 10, not ecclesiastical disorders of 1Co 11, not the misuse of special gifts (1Co 12, 1Co 13, 1Co 14), not orthodoxy (1Co 15), but “love” and loyalty to the Person of Christ, the true David, David’s son and David’s Lord.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Asahel: 2Sa 2:18, 1Ch 11:26, 1Ch 27:7
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2. A list of notable warriors among The Thirty 23:24-39
Thirty-two more soldiers obtained special distinction (2Sa 23:24-39), including Uriah the Hittite (2Sa 23:39). The writer referred to them as "The Thirty." This designation seems to have been a title for their exclusive group (cf. 2Sa 23:18). Since more than 30 names appear in this list of "The Thirty" it may be that when one died, someone else took his place. Asahel, the first name listed, and Uriah, the last, had, of course, already died by the end of David’s reign.
The Thirty may have been "a kind of supreme army council which was largely responsible for framing the internal army regulations, deciding on promotions and appointments, and handling other military matters." [Note: Yadin, p. 277.]
Compared with the list in 1 Chronicles 11 there are several variations in spelling, which occurs occasionally in the Hebrew Bible. Also some of the differences may be because some soldiers had replaced others. Perhaps in some cases the same man had two different names. [Note: See the comparative chart in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, pp. 478-79.]
Note that each of these spiritual warriors received individual honor by God (cf. 1Sa 2:30). Each had a different background reflected in his identification in this list; his background did not determine his success. Each was a special blessing to David because David chose to follow the Lord faithfully. Conspicuous by its absence is the name of Joab, David’s commander-in-chief.
The whole pericope (2Sa 23:8-39) illustrates the fact that God enables those who follow His anointed faithfully and wholeheartedly to do great works of spiritual significance for Him.