Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 23:21
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
21. a goodly man ] Lit. a man of appearance, a notable man; which is explained in 1Ch 11:23 to mean “a man of great stature,” with the addition, “five cubits high.”
a spear ] The Sept. adds, like the beam of a bridge (or, of a ladder): Chron. like a weaver’s beam, as in ch. 2Sa 21:19.
with a staff ] Cp. (though the word is different) 1Sa 17:40; 1Sa 17:43.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 21. He slew an Egyptian] This man in 1Ch 11:23 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 defence, could render the sword of the best practised 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A goodly man; for stature, as it is expressed, 1Ch 11:23.
With a staff; without a sword, or any warlike weapon.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man,…. A person of good countenance and shape, very large and tall; in 1Ch 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, 1Sa 17:4;
and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; as large as Goliath’s; for in
1Ch 11:23, it is said to be like a weaver’s beam, as Goliath’s was,
[See comments on 1Sa 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 l to be Shimei, the son of Gera, 1Ki 2:46.
l Hieron. Trad. Heb. ut supra. (in. 2 Reg. fol. 80. C.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(21) A goodly man.The meaning is explained in the parallel place in Chronicles, where he is called a man of stature, and it is added five cubits high. Benaiahs exploit, therefore, consisted in coming, armed only with a staff, to this giant Egyptian, wresting his spear from him, and then slaying him with it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. A goodly man A man of commanding aspect. Chronicles says: “A man of great stature, five cubits high.”
Went down to him with a staff By the dexterous use of which he made the Egyptian’s sword of no avail to him. “I have seen,” says Clarke, “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.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
Ver. 21. A goodly man. ] A man of great stature. 1Ch 11:23
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
goodly of appearance. Hebrew = a sight to see. 1Ch 11:23 stature.
with his own spear. Often done now spiritually by the servants of the true David.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a goodly man: Heb. a man of countenance, or sight, called, 1Ch 11:23, a man of great stature
slew him: 1Sa 17:51, Col 2:15
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 21:21-22. An Egyptian, a goodly man A person of great stature, 1Ch 11:23. He plucked the spear out of the Egyptians hand This shows him to have been both fearless, and a person of great skill and dexterity in managing a combat, either with man or beast. And had the name among three mighty men That is, among the three in the second rank, for it is said in the following verse that he did not attain or come up to the first three. Who the third was of this second rank of mighty men is not mentioned.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a {l} spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
(l) Which was as big as a weavers beam, 1Ch 11:23.