23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior 1 from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. 2 He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day. 23:21 He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. 3 The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked 4 him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 23:22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite warriors. 23:23 He received honor from 5 the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
1 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
2 tc Heb “the two of Ariel, Moab.” The precise meaning of אריאל is uncertain; some read “warrior.” The present translation assumes that the word is a proper name and that בני, “sons of,” has accidentally dropped from the text by homoioarcton (note the preceding שׁני).
3 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
4 tn Heb “and he went down to.”
5 tn Or “more than.”