2 Samuel 23:3

23:3 The God of Israel spoke,

the protector ¹  of Israel spoke to me.

The one who rules fairly among men,

the one who rules in the fear of God,

2 Samuel 23:18

23:18 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. ²  He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three. ³ 

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¹ tn Heb “rock,” used as a metaphor of divine protection.

² tc The translation follows the Qere, many medieval Hebrew mss, the LXX, and Vulgate in reading הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה (hashÿlosa, “the three”) rather than the Kethib of the MT הַשָּׁלִשִׁי (hashalisi, “the third,” or “adjutant”). Two medieval Hebrew mss and the Syriac Peshitta have “thirty.”

³ tn Heb “and he was wielding his spear against three hundred, [who were] slain, and to him there was a name among the three.”