Bible Strands
2 Samuel 20:23
Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places this statement immediately after Joab returns to Jerusalem following the defeat of Sheba’s rebellion, functioning as a brief administrative update rather than dialogue. It records the military and royal guard leadership structure at that specific moment in David’s reign.
The words — The phrase אֶל־ כָּל (el kol) literally renders “to all” or “over the whole,” establishing Joab’s command authority. The text explicitly states he held this position over the army of Israel, while Benaiah son of Jehoiada commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites.
The thread — The leadership listing parallels the administrative roster recorded in 2 Samuel 8:16 and 1 Chronicles 18:15, which similarly place Joab over the army. The surrounding administrative roster appears in the immediately following verses of 2 Samuel 20:24–26, not in 1 Kings 4:3.
Why it lands — The text records institutional continuity by naming established commanders after a civil crisis. It asks the reader to recognize how David’s government maintained operational structure through appointed officials rather than relying on ad hoc arrangements.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Kings 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Chronicles 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;