11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three 1 elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear 2 and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 3
Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. 5 He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. 6
1 tc The Syriac reads “thirty” here and at the beginning of v. 21; this reading is followed by some English translations (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT).
2 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against three hundred, [who were] slain.”
3 tn Heb “and to him [reading with the Qere] there was a name among the three.”
4 tn Heb “and these are the number of the warriors who were David’s.”
5 tc The marginal reading (Qere) has “officers;” the consonantal text (Kethib) has “the Thirty” (see v. 15).
6 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against 300, [who were] slain at one time.”