1 Then all Israel H3478 gathered H6908 themselves to David H1732 unto Hebron, H2275 saying, H559 Behold, we are thy bone H6106 and thy flesh. H1320
And Laban H3837 said H559 to him, Surely H389 thou art my bone H6106 and my flesh. H1320 And he abode H3427 with him the space H3117 of a month. H2320
And they ascended H5927 by the south, H5045 and came H935 unto Hebron; H2275 where Ahiman, H289 Sheshai, H8344 and Talmai, H8526 the children H3211 of Anak, H6061 were. (Now Hebron H2275 was built H1129 seven H7651 years H8141 before H6440 Zoan H6814 in Egypt.) H4714
Thou shalt in any wise H7760 set H7760 him king H4428 over thee, whom the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall choose: H977 one from among H7130 thy brethren H251 shalt thou set H7760 king H4428 over thee: thou mayest H3201 not set H5414 a stranger H5237 H376 over thee, which is not thy brother. H251
Speak, H1696 I pray you, in the ears H241 of all the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 Whether is better H2896 for you, either that all the sons H1121 of Jerubbaal, H3378 which are threescore and ten H7657 persons, H376 reign H4910 over you, or that one H259 reign H4910 over you? remember H2142 also that I am your bone H6106 and your flesh. H1320
And it came to pass after this, H310 that David H1732 enquired H7592 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Shall I go up H5927 into any H259 of the cities H5892 of Judah? H3063 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Go up. H5927 And David H1732 said, H559 Whither shall I go up? H5927 And he said, H559 Unto Hebron. H2275
Then came H935 all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to David H1732 unto Hebron, H2275 and spake, H559 saying, H559 Behold, we are thy bone H6106 and thy flesh. H1320 Also in time past, H865 H8032 when Saul H7586 was king H4428 over us, thou wast he that leddest out H3318 and broughtest in H935 Israel: H3478 and the LORD H3068 said H559 to thee, Thou shalt feed H7462 my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and thou shalt be a captain H5057 over Israel. H3478 So all the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 came H935 to the king H4428 to Hebron; H2275 and king H4428 David H1732 made H3772 a league H1285 with them in Hebron H2275 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and they anointed H4886 David H1732 king H4428 over Israel. H3478 David H1732 was thirty H7970 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and he reigned H4427 forty H705 years. H8141 In Hebron H2275 he reigned H4427 over Judah H3063 seven H7651 years H8141 and six H8337 months: H2320 and in Jerusalem H3389 he reigned H4427 thirty H7970 and three H7969 years H8141 over all Israel H3478 and Judah. H3063 And the king H4428 and his men H582 went H3212 to Jerusalem H3389 unto the Jebusites, H2983 the inhabitants H3427 of the land: H776 which spake H559 unto David, H1732 saying, H559 Except thou take away H5493 the blind H5787 and the lame, H6455 thou shalt not come in H935 hither: thinking, H559 David H1732 cannot come in H935 hither. Nevertheless David H1732 took H3920 the strong hold H4686 of Zion: H6726 the same is the city H5892 of David. H1732 And David H1732 said H559 on that day, H3117 Whosoever getteth up H5060 to the gutter, H6794 and smiteth H5221 the Jebusites, H2983 and the lame H6455 and the blind, H5787 that are hated H8130 of David's H1732 soul, H5315 he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, H559 The blind H5787 and the lame H6455 shall not come H935 into the house. H1004 So David H1732 dwelt H3427 in the fort, H4686 and called H7121 it the city H5892 of David. H1732 And David H1732 built H1129 round about H5439 from Millo H4407 and inward. H1004 And David H1732 went H3212 on, H1980 and grew great, H1419 and the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts H6635 was with him. And Hiram H2438 king H4428 of Tyre H6865 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to David, H1732 and cedar H730 trees, H6086 and carpenters, H2796 and masons: H7023 H68 and they built H1129 David H1732 an house. H1004 And David H1732 perceived H3045 that the LORD H3068 had established H3559 him king H4428 over Israel, H3478 and that he had exalted H5375 his kingdom H4467 for his people H5971 Israel's H3478 sake. And David H1732 took H3947 him more concubines H6370 and wives H802 out of Jerusalem, H3389 after H310 he was come H935 from Hebron: H2275 and there were yet sons H1121 and daughters H1323 born H3205 to David. H1732 And these be the names H8034 of those that were born H3209 unto him in Jerusalem; H3389 Shammua, H8051 and Shobab, H7727 and Nathan, H5416 and Solomon, H8010 Ibhar H2984 also, and Elishua, H474 and Nepheg, H5298 and Japhia, H3309 And Elishama, H476 and Eliada, H450 and Eliphalet. H467
But Absalom H53 sent H7971 spies H7270 throughout all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 As soon as ye hear H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 then ye shall say, H559 Absalom H53 reigneth H4427 in Hebron. H2275
Ye are my brethren, H251 ye are my bones H6106 and my flesh: H1320 wherefore then are ye the last H314 to bring back H7725 the king? H4428 And say H559 ye to Amasa, H6021 Art thou not of my bone, H6106 and of my flesh? H1320 God H430 do H6213 so to me, and more H3254 also, if thou be not captain H8269 of the host H6635 before H6440 me continually H3117 in the room H8478 of Joab. H3097
And these are the numbers H4557 of the bands H7218 that were ready armed H2502 to the war, H6635 and came H935 to David H1732 to Hebron, H2275 to turn H5437 the kingdom H4438 of Saul H7586 to him, according to the word H6310 of the LORD. H3068 The children H1121 of Judah H3063 that bare H5375 shield H6793 and spear H7420 were six H8337 thousand H505 and eight H8083 hundred, H3967 ready armed H2502 to the war. H6635 Of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 for the war, H6635 seven H7651 thousand H505 and one hundred. H3967 Of the children H1121 of Levi H3878 four H702 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And Jehoiada H3077 was the leader H5057 of the Aaronites, H175 and with him were three H7969 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred; H3967 And Zadok, H6659 a young man H5288 mighty H1368 of valour, H2428 and of his father's H1 house H1004 twenty H6242 and two H8147 captains. H8269 And of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 the kindred H251 of Saul, H7586 three H7969 thousand: H505 for hitherto the greatest H4768 part of them had kept H8104 the ward H4931 of the house H1004 of Saul. H7586 And of the children H1121 of Ephraim H669 twenty H6242 thousand H505 and eight H8083 hundred, H3967 mighty H1368 men H582 of valour, H2428 famous H8034 throughout the house H1004 of their fathers. H1 And of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand, H505 which were expressed H5344 by name, H8034 to come H935 and make David H1732 king. H4427 And of the children H1121 of Issachar, H3485 which were men that had understanding H998 H3045 of the times, H6256 to know H3045 what Israel H3478 ought to do; H6213 the heads H7218 of them were two hundred; H3967 and all their brethren H251 were at their commandment. H6310 Of Zebulun, H2074 such as went forth H3318 to battle, H6635 expert H6186 in war, H4421 with all instruments H3627 of war, H4421 fifty H2572 thousand, H505 which could keep rank: H5737 they were not of double H3820 heart. H3820 And of Naphtali H5321 a thousand H505 captains, H8269 and with them with shield H6793 and spear H2595 thirty H7970 and seven H7651 thousand. H505 And of the Danites H1839 expert H6186 in war H4421 twenty H6242 and eight H8083 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And of Asher, H836 such as went forth H3318 to battle, H6635 expert H6186 in war, H4421 forty H705 thousand. H505 And on the other side H5676 of Jordan, H3383 of the Reubenites, H7206 and the Gadites, H1425 and of the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4519 with all manner of instruments H3627 of war H6635 for the battle, H4421 an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 thousand. H505 All these men H582 of war, H4421 that could keep H5737 rank, H4634 came H935 with a perfect H8003 heart H3820 to Hebron, H2275 to make David H1732 king H4427 over all Israel: H3478 and all the rest H7611 also of Israel H3478 were of one H259 heart H3824 to make David H1732 king. H4427 And there they were with David H1732 three H7969 days, H3117 eating H398 and drinking: H8354 for their brethren H251 had prepared H3559 for them. Moreover they that were nigh H7138 them, even unto Issachar H3485 and Zebulun H2074 and Naphtali, H5321 brought H935 bread H3899 on asses, H2543 and on camels, H1581 and on mules, H6505 and on oxen, H1241 and meat, H3978 meal, H7058 cakes H1690 of figs, and bunches of raisins, H6778 and wine, H3196 and oil, H8081 and oxen, H1241 and sheep H6629 abundantly: H7230 for there was joy H8057 in Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 11
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
1Ch 11:1-3. David Made King.
1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron—This event happened on the death of Ish-bosheth (see on 2Sa 5:1). The convention of the estates of the kingdom, the public and solemn homage of the representatives of the people, and the repeated anointing of the new king in their presence and by their direction, seem to have been necessary to the general acknowledgment of the sovereign on the part of the nation (compare 1Sa 11:15).
1Ch 11:4-9. He Wins the Castle of Zion from the Jebusites by Joab's Valor.
4. David and all Israel went to … Jebus—(See on 2Sa 5:6).
8. Joab repaired the rest of the city—David built a new town to the north of the old one on Mount Zion; but Joab was charged with a commission to restore the part that had been occupied by the ancient Jebus, to repair the breaches made during the siege, to rebuild the houses which had been demolished or burned in the sacking of the town, and to preserve all that had escaped the violence of the soldiery. This work of reconstruction is not noticed elsewhere [Calmet].
1Ch 11:10-47. A Catalogue of His Worthies.
10. These … are the chief of the mighty men—(See on 2Sa 23:8). They are here described as those who held strongly with him (Margin) to make him king, &c. In these words the sacred historian assigns a reason for introducing the list of their names, immediately after his account of the election of David as king, and the conquest of Jerusalem; namely, that they assisted in making David king. In the original form of the list, and the connection in which it occurs in Samuel, there is no reference to the choice of a king; and even in this passage it is only in the clause introduced into the superscription that such a reference occurs [Keil].
11-13. Jashobeam, an Hachmonite—or, "son of Hachmoni." He is called also son of Zabdiel (1Ch 27:2), so that, strictly speaking, he was the grandson of Hachmoni (compare 1Ch 27:32).
lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time—The feat is said (2Sa 23:8) to have been a slaughter of eight hundred in one day. Some endeavor to reconcile the statements in that passage and in this by supposing that he slew eight hundred on one occasion and three hundred on another; while others conjecture that he attacked a body of eight hundred, and, having slain three hundred of them, the rest fled [Lightfoot].
12. the three mighties—Only two are mentioned; namely, Jashobeam and Eleazar—the third, Shammah (2Sa 23:11), is not named in this passage.
13. He was with David at Pas-dammim—It was at the time when he was a fugitive in the wilderness, and, parched with thirst under the burning heat of noonday, he wistfully thought of the cool fountain of his native village [2Sa 23:15; 1Ch 11:17]. This is a notice of the achievement, to which Eleazar owed his fame, but the details are found only in 2Sa 23:9-11, where it is further said that he was aided by the valor of Shammah, a fact corroborated in the passage before us (1Ch 11:14), where it is recorded of the heroes, that "they set themselves in the midst of that parcel." As the singular number is used in speaking of Shammah (2Sa 23:12), the true view seems to be that when Eleazar had given up from exhaustion, Shammah succeeded, and by his fresh and extraordinary prowess preserved the field.
barley—or lentils (2Sa 23:11). Ephes-dammim was situated between Shocoh and Azekah, in the west of the Judahite territory. These feats were performed when David acted as Saul's general against the Philistines.
15-19. David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink … of the well of Beth-lehem—(See on 2Sa 23:15). This chivalrous act evinces the enthusiastic devotion of David's men, that they were ready to gratify his smallest wish at the risk of their lives. It is probable that, when uttering the wish, David had no recollection of the military posted at Beth-lehem. It is generally taken for granted that those who fought a way to the well of Beth-lehem were the three champions just mentioned [see on 1Ch 11:13]. But this is far from being clear. On the contrary, it would seem that three different heroes are referred to, for Abishai (1Ch 11:20) was one of them. The camp of the Philistines was in the valley of Rephaim (1Ch 11:15), which lay on the west of Jerusalem, but an outpost was stationed at Beth-lehem (1Ch 11:16), and through this garrison they had to force a passage.
21. howbeit he attained not to the first three—(See on 2Sa 23:19).
22. Benaiah … of Kabzeel—a town in the south of Judah (Jos 15:21; Ne 11:25). It is said that "he had done many acts," though three only are mentioned as specimens of his daring energy and fearless courage.
slew two lionlike men of Moab—literally, "lions of God," that is, great lions or champions. This gallant feat was probably achieved in David's hostile invasion of Moab (2Sa 8:2).
also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day—probably a cave into which Benaiah had taken refuge from the snowstorm, and in which he encountered a savage lion which had its lair there. In a spacious cave the achievement would be far greater than if the monster had been previously snared or cabined in a pit.
23. he went down—the ordinary phraseology for expressing an engagement in battle. The encounter of Benaiah with this gigantic Egyptian reminds us, in some respects, of David's combat with Goliath. At least, the height of this giant, which was about eight feet, and his armor, resembled his of Gath.
with a staff—that is, having no other weapon in his hand than his walking stick.
25. David set him over his guard—the Cherethites and Pelethites that composed the small bodyguard in immediate attendance on the king.
26. 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.
27. Shammoth—Between this name and Hebez, that of Elikah has evidently fallen out, as we may see (2Sa 23:25, 26) [Bertheau].
30. Maharai—chief of the detachment of the guards who attended on the king in the tenth month, January (1Ch 27:13; 2Sa 23:28).
39. Naharai—armorbearer to Joab (2Sa 23:37). The non-occurrence of Joab's name in any of the three catalogues is most probably to be accounted for by the circumstance that his office as commander-in-chief raised him to a position superior to all these orders of military knighthood.
41. Uriah the Hittite—The enrolment of this name in such a list, attesting, as it does, his distinguished merits as a brave and devoted officer, aggravates the criminality of David's outrage on his life and honor. The number of the names at 1Ch 11:26-41 (exclusive of Asahel and Uriah, who were dead) is thirty, and at 1Ch 11:41-47 is sixteen—making together forty-eight (see on 1Ch 27:1-34). Of those mentioned (1Ch 11:26-41), the greater part belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; the sixteen names (1Ch 11:41-47) are all associated with places unknown, or with cities and districts on the east of the Jordan. The northern tribes do not appear to have furnished any leaders [Bertheau].