Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Samuel 23:8

"These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time." — 2 Samuel 23:8 (ASV)

The parallel account for this passage is in 1 Chronicles 11, where it appears in immediate connection with David’s accession to the throne of Israel. In that account, the mighty men are named as those who helped make David king. This record likely dates to the early part of David’s reign.

The text of 2 Samuel 23:8–9 should perhaps be corrected by comparing it with 1 Chronicles 11:11–12.

Chief among the captains. There is great doubt about the exact meaning of this phrase.

1. The title is also given to two other individuals: Abishai in 2 Samuel 23:18 and 1 Chronicles 11:20, and Amasa in 1 Chronicles 12:18.
2. The word translated “captain” has an uncertain meaning. Its spelling fluctuates repeatedly throughout this passage and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 11 between “Shalish” (a captain) and “Sheloshah” (three).
3. If the text of Chronicles is taken as the guide, the sense of “captain” is not used. Instead, the word becomes a numeral throughout—either “three” or “thirty”—describing David’s band of thirty mighty men, along with a triad or triads of heroes who were even more illustrious than the thirty.

Therefore, in this verse, the phrase “chief among the captains” should likely be rendered as “chief of the thirty.”

Eight hundred. The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles has “three hundred,” as does 2 Samuel 23:18. Such variations in numbers are very common. (Compare the numbers in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7).