Bible Strands
2 Samuel 23:28
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records two names from David’s roster of mighty men without narrative context or dialogue. It functions as a straightforward administrative list of military personnel.
The words — צַלְמוֹן (tzalmôn) literally means "shade" and מַהְרַי (mahray) denotes a "swift one." The suffixes הָֽאֲחֹחִי and הַנְּטֹפָתִי identify the men as originating from the Ahohite clan and the town of Netophah.
The thread — This roster parallels the warrior lists in 1 Chronicles 11:30 and 1 Chronicles 27:13, where Maharai appears as a division commander during the tenth month. The regional identifiers also connect to other military and administrative records in the Davidic kingdom.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that David's kingdom relied on a structured network of regional leaders rather than a single hero. Readers must accept that biblical authority often rests on documented, ordinary service rather than dramatic events.
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
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 25:23 When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men.
- 1 Chronicles 27:13 The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 1 Chronicles 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,