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
9 And after H310 him was Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Dodo H1734 the Ahohite, H266 one of the three H7969 mighty men H1368 with David, H1732 when they defied H2778 the Philistines H6430 that were there gathered together H622 to battle, H4421 and the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gone away: H5927
10 He arose, H6965 and smote H5221 the Philistines H6430 until H3588 his hand H3027 was weary, H3021 and his hand H3027 clave H1692 unto the sword: H2719 and the LORD H3068 wrought H6213 a great H1419 victory H8668 that day; H3117 and the people H5971 returned H7725 after H310 him only to spoil. H6584
11 And after H310 him was Shammah H8048 the son H1121 of Agee H89 the Hararite. H2043 And the Philistines H6430 were gathered together H622 into a troop, H2416 where was a piece H2513 of ground H7704 full H4392 of lentiles: H5742 and the people H5971 fled H5127 from H6440 the Philistines. H6430
12 But he stood H3320 in the midst H8432 of the ground, H2513 and defended H5337 it, and slew H5221 the Philistines: H6430 and the LORD H3068 wrought H6213 a great H1419 victory. H8668
13 And three H7969 H7970 of the thirty H7970 chief H7218 went down, H3381 and came H935 to David H1732 in the harvest time H7105 unto the cave H4631 of Adullam: H5725 and the troop H2416 of the Philistines H6430 pitched H2583 in the valley H6010 of Rephaim. H7497
14 And David H1732 was then in an hold, H4686 and the garrison H4673 of the Philistines H6430 was then in Bethlehem. H1035
15 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 which is by the gate! H8179
16 And the three H7969 mighty men H1368 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 nevertheless he would H14 not drink H8354 thereof, but poured it out H5258 unto the LORD. H3068
17 And he said, H559 Be it far H2486 from me, O LORD, H3068 that I should do H6213 this: is not this the blood H1818 of the men H582 that went H1980 in jeopardy of their lives? H5315 therefore he would H14 not drink H8354 it. These things did H6213 these three H7969 mighty men. H1368
18 And Abishai, H52 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 was chief H7218 among three. H7992 And he lifted up H5782 his spear H2595 against three H7969 hundred, H3967 and slew H2491 them, and had the name H8034 among three. H7969
19 Was he not most honourable H3513 of three? H7969 therefore he was their captain: H8269 howbeit he attained H935 not unto the first three. H7969
20 And Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 the son H1121 of a valiant H2428 man, H376 H381 of Kabzeel, H6909 who had done many H7227 acts, H6467 he slew H5221 two H8147 lionlike men H739 of Moab: H4124 he went down H3381 also and slew H5221 a lion H738 in the midst H8432 of a pit H953 in time H3117 of snow: H7950
21 And he slew H2026 an Egyptian, H4713 a goodly H4758 man: H376 and the Egyptian H4713 had a spear H2595 in his hand; H3027 but 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 H5221 him with his own spear. H2595
22 These things did H6213 Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and had the name H8034 among three H7969 mighty men. H1368
23 He was more honourable H3513 than the thirty, H7970 but he attained H935 not to the first three. H7969 And David H1732 set H7760 him over his guard. H4928
24 Asahel H6214 the brother H251 of Joab H3097 was one of the thirty; H7970 Elhanan H445 the son H1121 of Dodo H1734 of Bethlehem, H1035
25 Shammah H8048 the Harodite, H2733 Elika H470 the Harodite, H2733
26 Helez H2503 the Paltite, H6407 Ira H5896 the son H1121 of Ikkesh H6142 the Tekoite, H8621
27 Abiezer H44 the Anethothite, H6069 Mebunnai H4012 the Hushathite, H2843
28 Zalmon H6756 the Ahohite, H266 Maharai H4121 the Netophathite, H5200
29 Heleb H2460 the son H1121 of Baanah, H1196 a Netophathite, H5200 Ittai H863 the son H1121 of Ribai H7380 out of Gibeah H1390 of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144
30 Benaiah H1141 the Pirathonite, H6553 Hiddai H1914 of the brooks H5158 of Gaash, H1608
31 Abialbon H45 the Arbathite, H6164 Azmaveth H5820 the Barhumite, H1273
32 Eliahba H455 the Shaalbonite, H8170 of the sons H1121 of Jashen, H3464 Jonathan, H3083
33 Shammah H8048 the Hararite, H2043 Ahiam H279 the son H1121 of Sharar H8325 the Hararite, H2043
34 Eliphelet H467 the son H1121 of Ahasbai, H308 the son H1121 of the Maachathite, H4602 Eliam H463 the son H1121 of Ahithophel H302 the Gilonite, H1526
35 Hezrai H2695 the Carmelite, H3761 Paarai H6474 the Arbite, H701
36 Igal H3008 the son H1121 of Nathan H5416 of Zobah, H6678 Bani H1137 the Gadite, H1425
37 Zelek H6768 the Ammonite, H5984 Naharai H5171 the Beerothite, H886 armourbearer H5375 H3627 to Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870
38 Ira H5896 an Ithrite, H3505 Gareb H1619 an Ithrite, H3505
39 Uriah H223 the Hittite: H2850 thirty H7970 and seven H7651 in all.
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.