26 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
etc. The list of names here given corresponds generally with that in 2 Sam. 23:24-39, but presents several remarkable differences.
(1) the number in Chronicles is 47; the number in Samuel is 31.
(2) Four names in the list of Chronicles are not in Samuel.
(3) five names in Samuel are not in Chronicles.
(4) many of the other names, both personal and local, vary in the two lists.
It is quite possible that the two lists varied to some extent originally. The writer of Chronicles distinctly states that he gives the list as it stood at the time of David's becoming king over all Israel 1-Chronicles 11:10. The writer of Samuel does not assign his list to any definite period of David's reign, but probably delivers it to us as it was constituted at a later date. It is quite possible therefore that the names which occur only in Chronicles are those of persons who had died or quitted the army before the other list was made out, and that the new names in Samuel are the names of those who had taken their places. See the 2-Samuel 23:39 note.
Also the valiant men of the armies--This was the third degree of military rank, and Asahel was their chief; the names of few of those mentioned are historically known.
*More commentary available at chapter level.