Abishai the brother of Joab. — Heb., Abshai, but in Samuel, Abishai. (Comp. Abram and Abiram.) Samuel adds “son of Zeruiah” after Joab. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 2:16 and 1 Chronicles 18:12; 1 Chronicles 19:11 ff. for other deeds of Abishai.)

He was chief of the three. — Apparently the second triad, one of whose famous exploits has just been related (1 Chronicles 11:15). The Hebrew text of Samuel seems to read “knights,” but some MSS., the Hebrew margin, and all the versions, agree with Chronicles.

For lifting up... — Literally, and he had bran. dished his spear over three hundred slain. The exploit of Jashobeam (1 Chronicles 11:11).

And had a name among the three. — That is, among the second triad, of which he was captain.

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