Verses 26–41a (= 2 Samuel xxiii. 24–39) contain thirty names of heroes whose exploits are not recorded. It is to be noted that Chronicles, verses 41b–47, adds some sixteen names at the end which are not given in Samuel.
Joab is not included in the formal list because he has been already mentioned (verse 6).
Lists of names are favourite features in oriental Histories. Thus Ibn Hishām in his Life of Mohammed gives a list of the 83 Moslems who took refuge in Abyssinia from the persecution of the Koreish, of the 75 inhabitants of Medina who swore allegiance to the Prophet before the Hegira, and even of the 314 Moslems who were present at the battle of Bedr.
¹⁰Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who shewed[¹] themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
[¹] held strongly with him.
10. Now these] This verse is the Chronicler’s own heading which he prefixes to the list of heroes taken from Samuel, while retaining (in verse 11) the original heading given in Samuel.
who shewed themselves strong with him] Render as margin, who held strongly with him. Compare xii. 23.
to make him king] as though all the mighty men participated in the coronation at Hebron, whereas in reality many must have won their place and fame only in the later campaigns of David.
¹¹And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty[¹]; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and[²] slew them at one time.
[¹] Another reading is, captains.