Jashobeam (II)

II. JASHOBEAM, the son of Hachmoni, Captain over thirty men, or an Officer in David’s Army. He lift up his Spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one rencounter. He was one of the three Heroes, who passed through the Enemies Camp, and went to procure water for David out of the Cistern of Bethlehem. 1 Chron. xi. 16, 17.

The Hebrew Text of the second book of Samuel, which speaks of Jashobeam, runs literally thus:¹ He who sate in the throne of Wisdom, the head of the three, Adino of Ezni, who lifted up his spear against eight hundred men, whom he slew. But the Text of Chronicles, which is parallel to this, imports b Jashobeam an as follows: Hachmonite, chief of the thirty, he lift up his spear against three hundred, whom he slew at one time. The difference between the two Texts might persuade one, that these two persons are intirely different; but how are these matters to be reconciled? Jashobeam is the son of Hachmoni, he kills three hundred men; he is chief of the thirty. Adino, on the contrary, is head of the three, and kills eight hundred men. Notwithstanding, when we examine the thing nearly, it appears, that all the difference proceeds only from some letters which are read differently in the Texts of these two passages. I would therefore mend the Text in the second book of Samuel thus: c Jashobeam the son of Hachmoni, head of the thirty, he lifted up the wood of his spear against three hundred men whom he slew. The Septuagint read, Jeshbaal son of Techemani, was head of the three. This is Adino the Eznite, who drew his sword against eight hundred. In the Roman Edition, Jebosthe the Canaanite, head of the three, &c. We cannot see from whence they took Adino the Eznite, which is intirely superfluous in this place.

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