2 Samuel 23 34

2 Samuel 23:34 kjv

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2 Samuel 23:34 nkjv

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2 Samuel 23:34 niv

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2 Samuel 23:34 esv

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2 Samuel 23:34 nlt

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;

2 Samuel 23 verses

2 Samuel 23 34 Meaning

This verse lists two more individuals, Eliphelet and Eliam, among David’s valiant warriors. Eliphelet is identified by his father Ahasbai and connection to the Maachathites. Eliam is significantly identified as the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite. This short inclusion extends the roster of David's loyal and powerful military elite, concluding a chapter that begins with David’s final words, establishing the character of the king through divine mandate and the strength of his devoted men. The naming by lineage and place highlights their individual identities within the larger force.

2 Samuel 23 34 Context

This verse is the penultimate entry in a meticulously cataloged list of David's "mighty men" (2 Sam 23:8-39). This comprehensive roster follows David's "last words" (2 Sam 23:1-7), which declare his divinely ordained reign and the nature of a righteous ruler. Juxtaposing these sections highlights how God used human instruments – David's valiant and loyal warriors – to establish and maintain his kingdom in the face of adversaries. The listing is more than a historical record; it serves as a testament to the dedication of those who stood with David through many battles, underscoring the foundational strength and military might upon which his golden age was built. Historically, identification by parentage and geographical origin was common, affirming tribal and clan ties, crucial for social and military structure in ancient Israel. The inclusion of Eliam, Ahithophel’s son, introduces a profound subtext, silently pointing to the intricate and sometimes tragic family dynamics linked to David's personal life and later challenges, particularly regarding the Bathsheba affair and Ahithophel’s subsequent betrayal.

2 Samuel 23 34 Word analysis

• Eliphelet: אֱלִיפֶלֶט (’Elîp̄eleṭ). This Hebrew name means "God is deliverance" or "God of escape." It signifies divine intervention or salvation. There are several individuals named Eliphelet in the Bible (e.g., a son of David in 2 Sam 5:16), making the following identifying details crucial to distinguish this specific warrior.
• the son of Ahasbai: Identifying individuals by their father (ben) was standard practice, crucial for establishing lineage and family connections in ancient Israelite society. "Ahasbai" (אֲחַסְבַּי, ’Ăḥasbay) is a less common name, possibly meaning "my brother hastens." This clearly distinguishes Eliphelet from others bearing the same name.
• the son of the Maachathite: ha-Ma‘ăḵāṯî (הַמַּעֲכָתִי). This designates a person from Maachah, a small Aramean kingdom situated east of the Jordan River, near Bashan and Hermon (Deut 3:14, Josh 12:5). The fact that a Maachathite is among David's mighty men demonstrates the broad and diverse origins of his loyal followers, some drawn from beyond the direct Israelite tribes, or from territories bordering or within traditional Israelite influence, suggesting inclusivity and possibly successful integration of foreign elements into his elite forces.
• Eliam: אֱלִיעָם (’Ēlî‘ām). This Hebrew name means "God is my people" or "God of the people." This name gains immense significance in the larger biblical narrative. In 2 Samuel 11:3, Eliam is identified as the father of Bathsheba, connecting him directly to David's profound moral failing.
• the son of Ahithophel: אֲחִיתֹפֶל (’Ăḥîṯōp̄el). "My brother is folly" or "brother of folly," an ironic name considering Ahithophel's legendary wisdom (2 Sam 16:23). Ahithophel was David's trusted and highly esteemed counselor who famously betrayed David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-17). This lineage reveals that Bathsheba was Ahithophel's granddaughter, providing a strong personal motive for Ahithophel's bitter opposition and counsel against David during Absalom’s revolt. The inclusion of Eliam, Ahithophel's son, among David's loyal mighty men before his father's treachery highlights a complex web of loyalties and disloyalties within David’s inner circle.
• the Gilonite: הַגִּלֹנִי (ha-Gilōni). This specifies Ahithophel's (and therefore Eliam's) origin from Giloh, a city in the hill country of Judah (Josh 15:51). This geographical marker further roots Ahithophel within David’s own tribe of Judah and signifies the local connection and familiarity, making his eventual betrayal all the more poignant and devastating.

2 Samuel 23 34 Bonus section

The positioning of Eliam and Eliphelet towards the end of the full list of David's mighty men often places them among "the Thirty" or a larger group, distinguishing them from the supreme "Three" (like Ish-Bosheth, Eleazar, Shammah). The specific numbers of men vary between 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, indicating either slight textual variations, changing composition over time, or categorization differences (e.g., some were added after the primary list). This list as a whole portrays David's human foundation – his military might drawn from men of varying origins, demonstrating the widespread support for his leadership that encompassed both those from Judah and regions beyond. Ahithophel's wisdom was so renowned that his counsel was "as if one had inquired of the oracle of God" (2 Sam 16:23), making his eventual betrayal incredibly impactful. The connection here via Eliam subtly reminds the reader that this "oracle-like" wisdom, when turned against David, had roots in the severe offense David committed against Bathsheba and her family, hinting at divine justice or natural consequences even years later.

2 Samuel 23 34 Commentary

2 Samuel 23:34 serves as a precise identifier for two additional, skilled warriors within David's esteemed cohort of "mighty men." While Eliphelet from Maachah showcases the diverse geographical recruitment of David’s loyalists, the listing of Eliam carries profound narrative weight. Eliam's identity as "the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite" directly connects this warrior to the infamous counselor who later betrayed David. More significantly, 2 Samuel 11:3 identifies Eliam as the father of Bathsheba, whom David unlawfully took as his wife, leading to Uriah’s death. This means Bathsheba was Ahithophel's granddaughter, establishing a clear personal motivation for Ahithophel's fierce counsel against David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 16:20-23). The verse, seemingly just a part of a list, thus reveals an intimate and tragic family entanglement at the heart of David’s reign, underscoring the deep and long-lasting consequences of David’s actions, reverberating through loyalties, alliances, and eventual betrayal, shaping his kingdom's history. It’s a silent testament to how personal actions can impact generations and crucial national events.