8 These be the names H8034 of the mighty men H1368 whom David H1732 had: The Tachmonite H8461 that sat H3427 in the seat, H7675 H3429 chief H7218 among the captains; H7991 the same was Adino H5722 the Eznite: H6112 he lift up his spear against eight H8083 hundred, H3967 whom he slew H2491 at one H259 time. H6471
And this is the number H4557 of the mighty men H1368 whom David H1732 had; Jashobeam, H3434 an Hachmonite, H2453 the chief H7218 of the captains: H7991 H7970 he lifted up H5782 his spear H2595 against three H7969 hundred H3967 slain H2491 by him at one H259 time. H6471 And after H310 him was Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Dodo, H1734 the Ahohite, H266 who was one of the three H7969 mighties. H1368 He was with David H1732 at Pasdammim, H6450 and there the Philistines H6430 were gathered together H622 to battle, H4421 where was a parcel H2513 of ground H7704 full H4392 of barley; H8184 and the people H5971 fled H5127 from before H6440 the Philistines. H6430 And they set H3320 themselves in the midst H8432 of that parcel, H2513 and delivered H5337 it, and slew H5221 the Philistines; H6430 and the LORD H3068 saved H3467 them by a great H1419 deliverance. H8668 Now three H7969 of the thirty H7970 captains H7218 went down H3381 to the rock H6697 to David, H1732 into the cave H4631 of Adullam; H5725 and the host H4264 of the Philistines H6430 encamped H2583 in the valley H6010 of Rephaim. H7497 And David H1732 was then in the hold, H4686 and the Philistines' H6430 garrison H5333 was then at Bethlehem. H1035 And David H1732 longed, H183 and said, H559 Oh that one would give me drink H8248 of the water H4325 of the well H953 of Bethlehem, H1035 that is at the gate! H8179 And the three H7969 brake through H1234 the host H4264 of the Philistines, H6430 and drew H7579 water H4325 out of the well H953 of Bethlehem, H1035 that was by the gate, H8179 and took H5375 it, and brought H935 it to David: H1732 but David H1732 would H14 not drink H8354 of it, but poured it out H5258 to the LORD, H3068 And said, H559 My God H430 forbid H2486 it me, that I should do H6213 this thing: H2063 shall I drink H8354 the blood H1818 of these men H582 that have put their lives in jeopardy? H5315 for with the jeopardy of their lives H5315 they brought H935 it. Therefore he would H14 not drink H8354 it. These things did H6213 these three H7969 mightiest. H1368 And Abishai H52 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 he was chief H7218 of the three: H7969 for lifting up H5782 his spear H2595 against three H7969 hundred, H3967 he slew H2491 them, and had a name H8034 among the three. H7969 Of the three, H7969 he was more honourable H3513 than the two; H8147 for he was their captain: H8269 howbeit he attained H935 not to the first three. H7969 Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 the son H1121 of a valiant H2428 man H376 of Kabzeel, H6909 who had done many H7227 acts; H6467 he slew H5221 two H8147 lionlike men H739 of Moab: H4124 also he went down H3381 and slew H5221 a lion H738 in H8432 a pit H953 in a snowy H7950 day. H3117 And he slew H5221 an Egyptian, H4713 a man H376 of great stature, H4060 five H2568 cubits H520 high; and in the Egyptian's H4713 hand H3027 was a spear H2595 like a weaver's H707 beam; H4500 and he went down H3381 to him with a staff, H7626 and plucked H1497 the spear H2595 out of the Egyptian's H4713 hand, H3027 and slew H2026 him with his own spear. H2595 These things did H6213 Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and had the name H8034 among the three H7969 mighties. H1368 Behold, H2009 he was honourable H3513 among the thirty, H7970 but attained H935 not to the first three: H7969 and David H1732 set H7760 him over his guard. H4928 Also the valiant men H1368 of the armies H2428 were, Asahel H6214 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 Elhanan H445 the son H1121 of Dodo H1734 of Bethlehem, H1035 Shammoth H8054 the Harorite, H2033 Helez H2503 the Pelonite, H6397 Ira H5896 the son H1121 of Ikkesh H6142 the Tekoite, H8621 Abiezer H44 the Antothite, H6069 Sibbecai H5444 the Hushathite, H2843 Ilai H5866 the Ahohite, H266 Maharai H4121 the Netophathite, H5200 Heled H2466 the son H1121 of Baanah H1196 the Netophathite, H5200 Ithai H863 the son H1121 of Ribai H7380 of Gibeah, H1390 that pertained to the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 Benaiah H1141 the Pirathonite, H6553 Hurai H2360 of the brooks H5158 of Gaash, H1608 Abiel H22 the Arbathite, H6164 Azmaveth H5820 the Baharumite, H978 Eliahba H455 the Shaalbonite, H8170 The sons H1121 of Hashem H2044 the Gizonite, H1493 Jonathan H3129 the son H1121 of Shage H7681 the Hararite, H2043 Ahiam H279 the son H1121 of Sacar H7940 the Hararite, H2043 Eliphal H465 the son H1121 of Ur, H218 Hepher H2660 the Mecherathite, H4382 Ahijah H281 the Pelonite, H6397 Hezro H2695 the Carmelite, H3761 Naarai H5293 the son H1121 of Ezbai, H229 Joel H3100 the brother H251 of Nathan, H5416 Mibhar H4006 the son H1121 of Haggeri, H1905 Zelek H6768 the Ammonite, H5984 Naharai H5171 the Berothite, H1307 the armourbearer H5375 H3627 of Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 Ira H5896 the Ithrite, H3505 Gareb H1619 the Ithrite, H3505 Uriah H223 the Hittite, H2850 Zabad H2066 the son H1121 of Ahlai, H304 Adina H5721 the son H1121 of Shiza H7877 the Reubenite, H7206 a captain H7218 of the Reubenites, H7206 and thirty H7970 with him, Hanan H2605 the son H1121 of Maachah, H4601 and Joshaphat H3146 the Mithnite, H4981 Uzzia H5814 the Ashterathite, H6254 Shama H8091 and Jehiel H3273 the sons H1121 of Hothan H2369 the Aroerite, H6200 Jediael H3043 the son H1121 of Shimri, H8113 and Joha H3109 his brother, H251 the Tizite, H8491 Eliel H447 the Mahavite, H4233 and Jeribai, H3403 and Joshaviah, H3145 the sons H1121 of Elnaam, H493 and Ithmah H3495 the Moabite, H4125 Eliel, H447 and Obed, H5744 and Jasiel H3300 the Mesobaite. H4677
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 23
Commentary on 2 Samuel 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
2Sa 23:1-7. David Professes His Faith in God's Promises.
1. Now these be the last words of David—Various opinions are entertained as to the precise meaning of this statement, which, it is obvious, proceeded from the compiler or collector of the sacred canon. Some think that, as there is no division of chapters in the Hebrew Scriptures, this introduction was intended to show that what follows is no part of the preceding song. Others regard this as the last of the king's poetical compositions; while still others consider it the last of his utterances as an inspired writer.
raised up on high—from an obscure family and condition to a throne.
the anointed of the God of Jacob—chosen to be king by the special appointment of that God, to whom, by virtue of an ancient covenant, the people of Israel owed all their peculiar destiny and distinguished privileges.
the sweet psalmist of Israel—that is, delightful, highly esteemed.
2. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me—Nothing can more clearly show that all that is excellent in spirit, beautiful in language, or grand in prophetic imagery, which the Psalms of David contain, were owing, not to his superiority in natural talents or acquired knowledge, but to the suggestion and dictates of God's Spirit.
3. the Rock of Israel—This metaphor, which is commonly applied by the sacred writers to the Almighty, was very expressive to the minds of the Hebrew people. Their national fortresses, in which they sought security in war, were built on high and inaccessible rocks.
spake to me—either preceptively, giving the following counsels respecting the character of an upright ruler in Israel, or prophetically, concerning David and his royal dynasty, and the great Messiah, of whom many think this is a prophecy, rendering the words, "he that ruleth"—"there shall be a ruler over men."
4. as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain—Little patches of grass are seen rapidly springing up in Palestine after rain; and even where the ground has been long parched and bare, within a few days or hours after the enriching showers begin to fall, the face of the earth is so renewed that it is covered over with a pure fresh mantle of green.
5. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure—"the light of the morning," that is, the beginning of David's kingdom, was unlike the clear brilliant dawn of an Eastern day but was overcast by many black and threatening clouds; neither he nor his family had been like the tender grass springing up from the ground and flourishing by the united influences of the sun and rain; but rather like the grass that withereth and is prematurely cut down. The meaning is: although David's house had not flourished in an uninterrupted course of worldly prosperity and greatness, according to his hopes; although great crimes and calamities had beclouded his family history; some of the most promising branches of the royal tree had been cut down in his lifetime and many of his successors should suffer in like manner for their personal sins; although many reverses and revolutions may overtake his race and his kingdom, yet it was to him a subject of the highest joy and thankfulness that God will inviolably maintain His covenant with his family, until the advent of his greatest Son, the Messiah, who was the special object of his desire, and the author of his salvation.
6. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns—that is, the wicked enemies and persecutors of this kingdom of righteousness. They resemble those prickly, thorny plants which are twisted together, whose spires point in every direction, and which are so sharp and strong that they cannot be touched or approached without danger; but hard instruments and violent means must be taken to destroy or uproot them. So God will remove or destroy all who are opposed to this kingdom.
2Sa 23:8-39. A Catalogue of His Mighty Men.
8. These be the names of the mighty men whom David had—This verse should be translated thus: He who sits in the seat of the Tachmonite (that is, of Jashobeam the Hachmonite), who was chief among the captains, the same is Adino the Eznite; he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. The text is corrupt in this passage; the number eight hundred should be three hundred [Davidson, Hermeneutics]. Under Joab he was chief or president of the council of war. The first or highest order was composed of him and his two colleagues, Eleazar and Shammah. Eleazar seems to have been left to fight the Philistines alone; and on his achieving the victory, they returned to the spoil. In like manner Shammah was left to stand alone in his glory, when the Lord, by him, wrought a great victory. It is not very easy to determine whether the exploits that are afterwards described were performed by the first or the second three.
15, 16. the well of Beth-lehem—An ancient cistern, with four or five holes in the solid rock, at about ten minutes distance to the north of the eastern corner of the hill of Beth-lehem, is pointed out by the natives as Bir-Daoud; that is, David's well. Dr. Robinson doubts the identity of the well; but others think that there are no good grounds for doing so. Certainly, considering this to be the ancient well, Beth-lehem must have once extended ten minutes further to the north, and must have lain in times of old, not as now, on the summit, but on the northern rise of the hill; for the well is by or (1Ch 11:7) at the gate. I find in the description of travellers, that the common opinion is, that David's captains had come from the southeast, in order to obtain, at the risk of their lives, the so-much-longed-for water; while it is supposed that David himself was then in the great cave that is not far to the southeast of Beth-lehem; which cave is generally held to have been that of Adullam. But (Jos 15:35) Adullam lay "in the valley"; that is, in the undulating plain at the western base of the mountains of Judea and consequently to the southwest of Beth-lehem. Be this as it may, David's men had in any case to break through the host of the Philistines, in order to reach the well; and the position of Bir-Daoud agrees well with this [Van De Velde].
19-39. the first three—The mighty men or champions in David's military staff were divided into three classes—the highest, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; the second class, Abishai, Benaiah, and Asahel; and the third class, the thirty, of which Asahel was the chief. There are thirty-one mentioned in the list, including Asahel; and these added to the two superior orders make thirty-seven. Two of them, we know, were already dead; namely, Asahel [2Sa 3:30] and Uriah [2Sa 11:17]; and if the dead, at the drawing up of the list, amounted to seven, then we might suppose a legion of honor, consisting of the definite number thirty, where the vacancies, when they occurred, were replaced by fresh appointments.