Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 23:8

8 ¶ These be the names of the mighty men whom David had ; The Tachmonite that sate in the seat, chief among the captains (the fame was Adino the Eznite he lift up his spear against eight hundred , whom he slew at one time .

i. e. Of his chief and most valiant Commanders. And as it was noted upon Chap. 21. 1. that the things related in that Chapter were done before Absalom's and Sheba's Rebellion, though they be mentioned after them; so that Opinion is confirm'd by this Catalogue, which though placed here, was taken long before, as is manifest from hence, that Asahel and Uriah are named here. And whereas there are some differences between this list, and that, 1 Chron. 11. most of them are easily reconciled by these two Considerations; 1. That nothing is more common than for one person to have divers Names. 2. That as some of the Worthies died, and others came in their steads; so this must needs cause some alteration in the latter Catalogue, 1 Chron. 11. from this which was the former.

Or, Hachmonite, called Iashobeam, 1 Chron. 11. 11. from his place; or, as here, Iosheb-basshebeth, i. e. as we render it, that sate in the seat: i. e. Was, under Ioab, Chief, or President of the Council of War, or Lieutenant (locum tenens.)

This was his Proper Name.

So called, either from his Family, or from the place of his Birth or Education.

Which Words are fitly supplied out of 1 Chron. 11. 11. where they are expressed. Or thus, he was above 800; i. e. He conquered them. So there is onely an Ellipsis of the Verb substantive, which is most frequent.

In one Battel, which though it be strange, yet cannot seem incredible, supposing him to be a Person of extraordinary Strength and Activity, and his Enemies to be weak, or discouraged, and fleeing away; and especially, Gods singular Blessing, and Assistance: all which may very reasonably be supposed. Obj. But this man is said to have slain onely 300. in 1 Chron. 11. 11. Answ. 1. Possibly he slew 800 at one time, and 300 at another; whereof the former is related here, as being most considerable; and the latter in the Book of Chronicles, which supplies many Passages omitted in the former Writings. 2. He Slew 300 with his own Hands, and the other 500. though killed by his Men, are said to be Slain by him, because he was the chief Cause of all their Death; for he by his undaunted Courage killing 300. put the rest to Flight, who were easily Slain by his Soldiers, in the Pursuit. 3. Some of the Hebrew Writers Affirm, That these were Two distinct Persons, being called by differing Names; the one the Father, and the other the Son, who Succeeded his Father, as in Strength and Valour, so also in his place of Honour and Trust.

Marginal references: Or, Ioshebbassebet the Tachmonite head of the three, &c.; See 1 Chron. 11. 11. and 27. 2.; Heb. slain.