And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

Moreover also before this the three who were princes among the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.

And three of the thirty chiefs went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, when the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

And three of the thirty heads go down and come unto the harvest, unto David, unto the cave of Adullam, and the company of the Philistines are encamping in the valley of Rephaim,

And three of the thirty went down at the start of the grain-cutting, and they came to David at the strong place of Adullam; and the band of Philistines had taken up their position in the valley of Rephaim.

Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim.

And moreover, before this, the three who were leaders among the thirty descended and went to David at harvest time, in the cave of Adullam. But the camp of the Philistines was positioned in the Valley of the giants.

The feat at Bethlehem by three of the thirty was the occasion of their being formed into a distinct triad; Abishai 2-Samuel 23:18, Benaiah 2-Samuel 23:20, and a third not named, were probably the three.
In the harvest time - An error for "to the rock" (compare the marginal reference).
The troop of the Philistines - The word rendered "troop" occurs in this sense only here (and, according to some, in 2-Samuel 23:11), and perhaps in Psalm 68:11. In 1 Chr. 11, as in 2-Samuel 23:16 the reading is "host" or "camp," which may be the true reading here.
Pitched - The same Hebrew word as "encamped" in 1-Chronicles 11:15.
Valley of Rephaim - Or Giants. See 2-Samuel 21:16 note.

And three of the thirty - The word שלשים shalishim, which we translate thirty, probably signifies an office or particular description of men. Of these shalishim we have here thirty-seven, and it can scarcely be said with propriety that we have thirty-seven out of thirty; and besides, in the parallel place, 1-Chronicles 11:11-47, there are sixteen added. The captains over Pharaoh's chariots are termed שלשים shalishim, Exodus 14:7.
The Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim - This is the same war which is spoken of 2-Samuel 5:17, etc.

And three of the thirty chiefs went down,.... Or three that were chief of the thirty, superior to them; which some understand of the three before mentioned, so Josephus (w); and that having related some particular exploits of theirs, here observes one, in which they were all concerned; and others think the three next are meant, of whom Abishai was the chief, Benaiah the next, and the third Asahel; but the first sense is best:
and came to David in the harvest time, unto the cave of Adullam; not when he was there, upon his flight from Saul, 1-Samuel 22:1; but after he was king, when engaged in war with the Philistines; perhaps wheat harvest is here meant:
and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim; the army of the Philistines, as the Targum; of the valley of Rephaim; see Gill on Joshua 15:8.
(w) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 4.