Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 20. Banaias. The v at the end of this man’s name, is wanting in Par. It serves to distinguish him more from one of the Thirty, who was the 11th captain in waiting on the king; (1 Chronicles 27:14,) whereas this was the third, (Ib. 5) and one of great renown. 3 Kennicott. 1:32.—Lions. Hebrew ari, “a lion;” and el, “god,” designate people “of extraordinary valour.” Ken.—Hence the Arabians give the title to Ali, the son-in-law of Mahammed. Bochart, Anim. iii. 1.—These two were noblemen, (Chal.) giants, (Joseph.) or fortresses; (Vatab.) namely, Areopolis, which is divided into two parts by the Arnon. Calmet.—Some suppose that he slew three real lions. The last, being in such a confined situation, enhanced his merit. Cajet. Menochius.—The Alex. copy of the Septuagint has a great omission of the words between slew, occasioned by the word recurring twice; as also verse 21. Dr. Milles attributes the omission of the famous text 1 John 5:7, to a similar case; μαρτυρουντις, being found in the subsequent verse. “Proclivi admodum errore, quod norunt, quibus cum veteribus membranis res est.” 2nd edit.—“A source of frequent mistakes, as all know who have consulted old MSS.”