KJV ORIGINAL
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Now Joab was commander over all of Israel's army, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse lists the military leaders in David's kingdom, with Joab commanding the main army and Benaiah leading the elite royal guard units.
📚 Historical Context
This comes at the end of David's reign when his kingdom had become well-established and organized. The Cherethites and Pelethites were foreign mercenary troops, likely from Crete and Philistia, who served as David's personal bodyguards and elite forces. These administrative records show how David had created a professional military structure similar to other ancient Near Eastern kingdoms.
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