Bible Dictionary
Jashen
Jashen was apparently one of David’s mighty men, probably identical with Hashem the Gizonite in the parallel list.
Definition
Jashen was apparently a member of David’s group of valiant men, probably identical with Hashem the Gizonite in the parallel list.
Biblical Usage
Jashen is associated with the catalogue of David’s mighty men and with the men serving in David’s guard.
Historical Background
The Hebrew text appears to contain a repetition, and the supplied material proposes reading Jashen as a Gunite, one of the thirty valiant men. The identification remains textual and uncertain.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Sleeping, called also Hashem (1 Chr. 11:34); a person, several of whose sons were in David’s body-guard (2 Sam. 23:32).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(sleeping). Bene-Jashen—“sons of Jashen”— are named in the catalogue of the heroes of David’s guard in (2 Samuel 23:32) (B.C. 1046.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ja'-shen, jash'-en (yashen, "asleep"(?)): Seemingly the father of some of David s thirty valiant men (2Sa 23:32 f). The Massoretic Text reads "Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, .... " 1Ch 11:33 f has Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite .... " It is clear that "sons of" are a dittography of the last three consonants of the previous word. Septuagint, Lucian in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles has ho Gouni, "the Gunite," for "the Gizonite," perhaps correctly (compare Ge 46:24; Nu 26:48 for "Guni," "Gunite"). So 2Sa 23:32 may be corrected thus: "Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite, Jonathan the son of Shammah the Hararite." Jashen then becomes one of the thirty = "Hashem" of 1Ch 11:34.</p><p>David Francis Roberts</p>