Zalmon צַלְמוֹן
One of David's mighty men
Biography
Zalmon, also referred to as Ilai, is listed among the mighty men of King David. These mighty men were renowned warriors who demonstrated exceptional bravery and military prowess. Zalmon is specifically mentioned as being from Ahlai, which is likely a reference to his place of origin or his family lineage. His inclusion in the list of David's mighty men indicates that he was a skilled fighter and played a significant role in David's military campaigns. The variation in his name between Zalmon and Ilai may be due to different textual traditions or translations.
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 1 verse
- 2 Samuel 23:28
"Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 11:29
"Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צַלְמוֹן | H6756B |
| Named | Hebrew | עִילַי | H5866 |
Zalmon
ey burned down "the stronghold of the house of El-berith," which may have been the citadel of Shechem (Jud 9:46). The mountain therefore was not far from the city; but no name resembling this has yet been recovered in Mt. Ephraim. It is just possible that in the modern Arabic name of Mt. Ebal, es-Sulemiyeh, there may be an echo of Zalmon. It is precisely to this mountain, especially to the western slopes, that one would expect Abimelech and his people to go for the purpose in view. The name occurs again in Ps 68:14, a passage of admitted difficulty. Snow in Palestine is mainly associated with Mt. Hermon, where it may be seen nearly all the year round; hence, doubtless the Greek reading "Mt. Hermon" in Judges. But snow is well known among the uplands in winter; and the Psalmist may simply have meant that the kings were scattered like snowflakes in the wind on Mt. Zalmon. We need not therefore look to Bashan or elsewhere for the mountain. The locality is fixed by the narrative in Jgs.
(2) One of David's heroes (2Sa 23:28).
See ILAI.
W. Ewing
zal-mo'na (tsalmonah, "gloomy"): A desert camp of the Israelites, the first after Mt. Hor (Nu 33:41,42). The name "suggests some gloomy valley