The Meaning of 2 Samuel 20:23 Explained

2 Samuel 20:23

KJV: Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

YLT: And Joab is over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada is over the Cherethite, and over the Pelethite,

Darby: And Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;

ASV: Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now Joab  [was] over all the host  of Israel:  and Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada  [was] over the Cherethites  and over the Pelethites: 

What does 2 Samuel 20:23 Mean?

Context Summary

2Sa 20:14-26 - One Head Saves Many
This wise woman, by her intervention, saved many lives, and reminds us of the value of presence of mind in a great crisis. She gave Joab to understand, first, that he ought to have given the inhabitants of Abel the opportunity of saying whether or not they intended to fight for Sheba, Deuteronomy 20:10, etc.; and, secondly, that he ought to have taken into account the peaceableness and fidelity of the citizens of that city. A great deal of misunderstanding and bloodshed would be prevented if contending parties would only confer with each other. There is crying and universal need for boards of compulsory arbitration.
Sheba's head saved the city. Bishop Hall says: "Spiritually the case is ours; every man's breast is a city enclosed; every sin is a traitor that lurks within the walls. If we love the head of one traitor above the life of our soul, we shall justly perish. We cannot be more willing to part with our sin than our merciful God is to withdraw His judgments." Oh, that every reader of these lines would heed the command of the Savior, Matthew 5:29-30, so as to enter into everlasting life! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2Sa 20

1  By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba rebels in Israel
3  David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life
4  Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab
14  Joab pursues Sheba to Abel
16  A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head
23  David's officers

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 20:23 mean?

And Joab [was] over all the army of Israel and Benaiah son of Jehoiada [was] over bodyguards the Cherethites and the Pelethites
וְיוֹאָ֕ב אֶ֥ל כָּל־ הַצָּבָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנָיָה֙ בֶּן־ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל־ [הכרי] (הַכְּרֵתִ֖י) וְעַל־ הַפְּלֵתִֽי

וְיוֹאָ֕ב  And  Joab  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
אֶ֥ל  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַצָּבָ֖א  the  army 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וּבְנָיָה֙  and  Benaiah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּנָיָה 
Sense: one of David’s mighty warriors, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, a Levite, set by David over his bodyguard, later having remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah’s attempt on the crown, was raised into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the army.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע  of  Jehoiada  [was] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹויָדָע  
Sense: father of Benaiah, David’s mighty warrior.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
[הכרי]  bodyguards 
Parse: Article, Noun, mb
(הַכְּרֵתִ֖י)  the  Cherethites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּרִי  
Sense: a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners.
הַפְּלֵתִֽי  the  Pelethites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פְּלֵתִי  
Sense: a collective name for the guardsmen of David.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Samuel 20:23?

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