Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’ ”
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh’s word by Samuel. David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city. David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city. He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him. Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh’s word concerning Israel.
This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time. After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory. Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time. David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to Yahweh, and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.
The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29 This was after the death of Ishbosheth Saul’s son,…
This was after the death of Ishbosheth Saul’s son, when David had reigned over Judah seven years and six months in Hebron, 2 Sam. 5:5.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 39, 41, 42 1Ch 11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David…
1Ch 11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.
Ver. 1. Then all Israel.] See on 2Sa 5:1-5.
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We are thy bone and thy flesh.] And may not we safely say as much to Jesus Christ, {Eph 5:30} and bespeak him as Ruth did Boaz, Thou art my kinsman; oh, stretch the skirt of thy garment over me? {Rth 3:9}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 32, 34, 38, 41, 42, 44, 46 All Israel, i.e. all the tribes of Israel, as…
All Israel, i.e. all the tribes of Israel, as it is expressed, 2Sa 5:1, i.e. their elders, as it is there said, 2Sa 5:3, and officers, and a great multitude of the soldiers and people.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv1, 10 David is here brought to the possession.
David is here brought to the possession.
I. Of the throne of Israel, after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only. In consideration of his relation to them (Ch1 11:1), his former good services, and especially the divine designation (Ch1 11:2), they anointed him their king: he covenanted to protect them, and they to bear faith and true allegiance to him, Ch1 11:3. Observe, 1. God's counsels will be fulfilled at last, whatever difficulties lie in the way. If God had said, David shall rule, it is in vain to oppose it. 2. Men that have long stood in their own light, when they have long wearied themselves with their lying vanities, it is to be hoped, will understand the things that belong to their peace and return to their own mercies. 3. Between prince and people there is an original contract, which both ought religiously to observe. If ever any prince might have claimed an absolute despotic power, David might, and might as safely as any have been entrusted with it; and yet he made a covenant with the people, took the coronation-oath, to rule by law.
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II. Of the strong-hold of Zion, which was held by the Jebusites till David's time. Whether David had a particular eye upon it as a place fit to make a royal city, or whether he had a promise of it from God, it seems that one of his first exploits was to make himself master of that fort; and, when he had it, he called it the city of David, Ch1 11:7. To this reference is had, Psa 2:6. I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. See here what quickens and engages resolution in great undertakings. 1. Opposition. When the Jebusites set David at defiance, and said, Thou shalt not come hither. he resolved to force it, whatever it cost him. 2. Prospect of preferment. When David proposed to give the general's place to him that would lead the attack upon the castle of Zion, Joab was fired with the proposal, and he went up first, and was chief. It has been said, "Take away honour out of the soldier's eye and you cut off the spurs from his heels."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 21, 41, 42 David is made king, ver. 1-3. He takes the…
David is made king, ver. 1-3. He takes the castle of Zion, ver. 4-9. A catalogue of his mighty men, ver. 10-47.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1, 11, 17, 22, 23, 25 David is anointed king in Hebron, 1-3.
CHAPTER XI
David is anointed king in Hebron, 1-3.
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He wars against the Jebusites, and takes their city, 4-9.
An account of David's three mightiest heroes; and particularly
of their hazardous exploit in bringing water from the well of
Beth-lehem, 10-19.
A list of the rest, and an account of their acts, 20-47.
NOTES ON CHAP. XI
Verse 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David] See 2Sa 5:1-10, for the history contained in the first nine verses of this chapter, and the notes there.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv1, 4, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 41, 44, 46 1Ch 11:1-2. All Israel gathered themselves to David —…
1Ch 11:1-2. All Israel gathered themselves to David — That is, all the tribes of Israel, as it is expressed 2Sa 5:1, by their elders (1Ch 11:3) and officers, and a great multitude of their soldiers and people. The Lord said unto thee — Or, concerning thee: for it is apparent that they knew it was God’s will David should be king, and therefore many of them had opposed David hitherto against their own consciences.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv1, 6, 10, 11, 13, 23, 26, 34 This chapter runs parallel with 2 Sam. 5 as…
This chapter runs parallel with 2 Sam. 5 as far as 1Ch 11:9, after which it is to be compared with 2 Sam. 23:8-39 as far as 1Ch 11:40, the remainder 1Ch 11:41-47 being an addition, to which Samuel has nothing corresponding. Compare throughout the notes in Samuel.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46 David. This name is written without i, in the…
David. This name is written without i, in the books composed before the captivity, (the year before Christ 588) but i is inserted in the latter works, which is an argument against the antiquities of [Canticle of] Canticles, where the i is found. Yet the manuscripts vary so, that great stress is not laid on this (Kennicott) proof, and it is not sufficient weight to stand against the general opinion, which attributes that work to Solomon. (Haydock) --- Hebron, after the death of Isboseth, 2 Kings v. (Calmet) --- Flesh; related, as the children of Jacob.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v1 b. David’s Elevation to the Kingdom; Fixing of his…
b. David’s Elevation to the Kingdom; Fixing of his Residence at Jerusalem; Wars and Numbering of the People.—Ch. 11–21
α. The Anointing of David in Hebron, and his Removal thence to Jerusalem: 1Ch_11:1-9
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1Ch_11:1 And all Israel gathered to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy 2bone and thy flesh. Also heretofore, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that led Israel out and in; and the Lord thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt 3feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over my people Israel. And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
4And David went and all Israel to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus; and there the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land. 5And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither; and David took the castle of Zion: this is the city of David. 6And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain; and Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. 7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8And he built the city around, from Millo to the 9circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater; and Jehovah Zebaoth was with him.
β. List of David’s Heroes: 1Ch_11:10-47
10And these are the chiefs of the heroes of David, who held fast to him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, by the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11And this is the number of the heroes of David: Jashobam son of Hachmoni, the chief of the thirty;1 he lifted his spear against three hundred slain at one time. 12And after him Eleazar son of Dodo2 the Ahohite; he was among the three heroes. 13He was with David at Pas-dam-mim, and the Philistines were gathered there for battle,3 and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the Philistines. 14And they stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and smote the Philistines; and the Lord granted them a great salvation.
15And three of the thirty chiefs went down the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam; and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of Rephaim. 16And David was then in the hold, and a post of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17And David longed, and said, Who will give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate? 18And the three brake through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, at the gate, and took and brought it to David; but David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 19And said, My God, forbid it me that I should do this thing; shall I drink the blood of these men at the risk of their lives? for at the risk of their lives they brought it: and he would not drink it; these things did the three heroes.
20And Abshai, Joab’s brother, he was chief of the three; and he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain, and had4 a name among the three. 21Above the three he was honoured among the two, and was their captain; but he attained not to the three, 22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hail, great in deeds, from Kabzeel; he smote two [sons] of Ariel of Moab, and he 23went down and smote a lion in a pit in a snowy day. And he smote the Egyptian, a man of stature,5 of five cubits; and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear like a weaver’s beam, and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three heroes. Before the thirty, 25behold, he was honoured; but he attained not to the three; and David set him over his guard.
26And the heroes of war were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son 27, 28of Dodo of Bethlehem. Shammoth the Barorite,6 Helez the Pelonite. Ira 29the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite. Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite. 30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite. 31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, 32Benaiah the Pirathonite. Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite. 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite. 34The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite. 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur. 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah 37, 38the Pelonite. Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri. 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armour-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah. 40Ira the Ithrite, 41Gareb the Ithrite. Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai. 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him.7 43, 44Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite. Uzziah the 45Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite. Jediaei 46the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite. Eliel the Mahavim,8 and Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite. 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel of Hammezobaiah.9
EXEGETICAL
Preliminary Remark.—In the history of David, the author dwells chiefly on the bright and prosperous side of the Davidic kingdom; the troubles and disorders of his glorious career, occasioned by misfortune and his own guilt, he passes over as much as possible (comp. Introd. § 4, p. 11). Hence the mention of his anointing at Hebron, 1Ch_11:1-3, and yet the entire omission of the rival kingdom of Ishbosheth at Mahanaim, to which there is not even an indirect allusion in stating the seven years’ duration of David’s residence at Hebron. An account of the taking of Jerusalem, and the valour of Joab therein displayed, 1Ch_11:4-9, is then followed by a list of the other famous warriors of David, 1Ch_11:10-47, wherein again a shadow in the bright picture, the unprincipled and barbarous conduct of Joab (the murderer of Abner, Uriah, Absalom, etc.), is passed over in silence. And after this list, the appendix in 1 Chronicles 12, containing the heroes devoted to David during the reign of Saul, and the proceedings in his elevation to the throne at Hebron, makes no reference to the rival kingdom of Ishbosheth, though many occasions of doing so were presented; so that it appears almost as if the statement in 1Ch_10:6, that Saul and all his house together had fallen in the battle of Gilboa, were meant by the author to be literally true. But besides the conscious tendency to glorify as much as possible the kingdom of David, as the prototype of all theocratic excellence, his propensity to communicate long lists and mere enumerations, his statistical rather than historical mode of representation, also contributes more or less to the one-sidedness of his narrative. This method leads him to place the list of heroes, which in the books of Samuel (at least in its greater part; see 2Sa_23:8-39) stands at the end of David’s history, at the very head of it. Besides, not only this list, of which the closing verses only (41–47) are peculiar to Chronicles, but also the account of the anointing at Hebron, has its parallel in the books of Samuel, 2Sa_5:1-10. The agreement between the two is tolerably exact; comp. 1Ch_11:1-3 with 2Sa_5:1-3, and 1Ch_11:4-9 with 2Sa_5:6-10. Yet the note of the length of David’s reign, 2Sa_5:4-5, is wanting in our text, not from an oversight of the Chronist (Then.), but because he preferred to introduce it at the end of his report, 1Ch_29:27.
1. The Anointing of David at Hebron: 1Ch_11:1-3.—And all Israel gathered to David unto Hebron. The phrase “all Israel” (comp. Ezr_2:70) includes the northern and trans-jordanic tribes; it is therefore not the earlier anointing of David in Hebron by the tribes of Judah only, 2Sa_2:4, which is here reported, but that which was performed after the deaths of Abner and Ishbosheth by all the tribes together, 2Sa_5:1 ff., to which there is a still fuller reference in 1Ch_12:23 ff.—Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh, thy relatives by tribe and blood; comp. Gen_29:14.
1Ch_11:2. Also heretofore, literally, “yesterday and ere yesterday,” that is, a long time since; comp., besides 2Sa_5:2, also Gen_31:2; 2Ki_13:5.—That led Israel out and in, out to the battle, and home after the victory; comp, 1Sa_18:13; 1Sa_18:16.—And the Lord thy God said unto thee, by the mouth of Samuel the prophet; comp. 1Sa_16:1-3; 2Sa_3:9; 2Sa_3:18, etc.
1Ch_11:3. And all the elders of Israel came, as the representatives of the people, to establish the rights of the kingdom (1Sa_8:11; 1Sa_10:25) by contract (by making a covenant or elective treaty).—According to the word of the Lord by Samuel. These words, wanting in the corresponding place in 2Sa_5:3, appear to be an explanatory addition of our author; for it is not probable that they originally stood in the text of Samuel, and fell out by ὁμοιοτέλ. (שמואל—ישראל); comp. 1Ch_11:10 with 2Sa_23:8 (against Then.). On the absence of the date here appended in the parallel text 2Sa_5:4 f. as intentional on the part of the writer, who reserves it for 1Ch_29:27, comp. Preliminary Remark.
2. The Taking of Zion, and the Change of Residence to Jerusalem: 1Ch_11:4-9.—To Jerusalem, that is, Jebus; and there the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land. For this circumlocution 2Sa_5:6 gives more briefly: “to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.” That the latter reading has been obtained by corruption of the text from the former (Berth., Then.) it is by no means needful to assume; the הִיא יְבוּם after יְרוּשָׁלִַם seems rather to be an addition of the Chronist, serving as a transition from “Jerusalem” to the Jebusites, which then further necessitates the insertion of the notice: “and there the Jebusites were” (properly, the Jebusite was); comp. Wellh. p. 162 f.
1Ch_11:5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Only the close of this threat, given in full in 2 Samuel, is here recorded, after the abbreviating manner of the author.
1Ch_11:6. Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first. Only these first words of David’s speech occur in 2Sa_5:8, where something quite different is given as spoken by him. “The highly peculiar account in 2Sa_5:8, clearly resting on strictly historical recollection, is obviously the more original and exact. It may well be conceived that in other accounts of the conquest of Jebus, the great captain of David, Joab (in like manner as Othniel, Jdg_1:12 ff., in the conquest of Kiriath-sepher), was mentioned; and a celebrated saying of David in the siege was referred to Joab, not from clear recollection, but from a conjecture which might rest on the account of Joab in 1Ch_11:8. Thus two different accounts of this saying might arise; the simpler, presenting apparently no difficulties, found its way into Chronicles.” Such is Bertheau’s view, at all events more probable than that of Then, on 2 Samuel, who makes the Chronist complete a critically corrupt text on the ground of tradition by conjecture.—And Joab the son of Zeruiah (comp. 1Ch_2:16) went up first and became chief. That this “becoming chief” is only a confirmation of Joab in his previous office is shown by 2Sa_2:3.
1Ch_11:7. And David dwelt in the castle.מְצָד, the same as מְצוּדָה in 1Ch_11:5; comp. 1Ch_12:8; 1Ch_12:16.—Therefore they called it the city of David. According to 2Sa_5:9, David himself gave it this name; but the one does not exclude the other.
1Ch_11:8. And he built the city around, from Millo to the circuit, beginning from Millo, and returning to it in a circuit. Somewhat different is 2Sa_5:9 : “around from Millo and inward; that is, from the circumference to the centre. For the fortress Millo, situated probably on the north-west corner of Zion, comp. Thenius and Bähr on 1Ki_9:11. The name מִלּוֹא signifies filling; that is, probably not wall or sconce, but a strong tower (bastion, castle); comp. בֵּית מִלּוֹא, 2Ki_12:21 and 2Ch_32:5.—And Joab repaired the rest of the city, properly, “quickened, made alive;” comp. חיה in the same sense, Neh. 3:34, as the similar expression “heal,” 1Ki_18:30. On account of the supposed trace of ancient style contained in the use of חיה for בנה “rebuild, Wellhausen, p. 164, declares this addition peculiar to the Chronist regarding Joab’s co-operation in the building of Jerusalem, especially its fortification, to be not even historically credible. But that חיה in this sense occurs only here and in Nehemiah does not prove the lateness of this usage; and the circumstance that David’s field-marshal took part in the fortification of the capital is so far from being improbable, that the statement seems a genuine trace of ancient history. Wherefore Kennicott’s emendation, accepted by Thenius, is unnecessary: ויואב יהיה לשׂר העיר, “and Joab became governor of the city.”
1Ch_11:9. And David became greater and greater. The construction with הלךְ is like that in Gen_8:3; Gen_8:5; Gen_12:9; Gen_26:13, Jdg_4:24; comp. Ew. § 280, b. On b, comp. 1Ch_9:20. The general remarks of the verse prepare very suitably for the following list of the numerous heroes of David.
3. List of David’s Heroes: 1Ch_11:10-47; and first of Jashobam, Eleazar (and Shammah): 1Ch_11:10-14.—And these are the chief of the heroes of David. By these words, peculiar to the Chronist (the parallel text 2Sa_23:8 opens the list merely with the clause: “and these are the names of the heroes of David”), the communication of the following list is justified, as standing in relation with David’s elevation to the kingdom and confirmation in it. Hence the designation: “chiefs of the heroes,” chief heroes, heroes of the first rank.—Who held fast to him in his kingdom, who stood bravely by him (in common with him) during his reign. הִתְחַזֵּק עִם, as in Dan_10:21.—To make him king. Rightly Keil: “לְהַמְלִיכוֹ is not to be limited to the appointment to the kingdon, but includes also confirmation in it; for of the men named, heroic deeds are mentioned, which they performed in the wars which David as king waged with his foes, to maintain and extend his sway.”—By the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Comp. on 1Ch_11:2-3; for the same word of God in and by Samuel is meant here also, as there.
1Ch_11:11. And this is the number of the heroes of David. In 2Sa_23:8 : “and these are the names of the heroes of David.” The term מִסְפַּר instead of שֵׁמוֹת is not surprising, especially after the plur. אֵלֶּה. If מִסְפַּר be the original, the expression must mean: “that these heroes at first formed a corps definite in number (the thirty)” (Keil). Moreover, Bertheau’s conjecture, מִבְחַר for מספר (“and this is the choice, the élite, of the heroes”), deserves all attention.—Jashobam son of Hachmoni, the chief of the thirty. After the perhaps right reading here is to be corrected the corrupt ישב בשבת תחכמני2Sa_23:8. It remains doubtful, however, in this respect, that Jashobam in 1Ch_27:2 is called son of Zabdiel, not of Hachmoni, and that the mss. of the Sept. differ surprisingly in the writing of the name, inasmuch as cod. Alex, presents ’Ισβαάμ ( or ’Ισβοάμ , 1Ch_27:2), but Vatic, the first time, 1Ch_11:11, ’Ιεσαβαδά, the second time, 1Ch_27:2, ’Ισβοάζ. Hence Wellhausen (p. 212) might possibly be right in his conjecture, that the true. name may have been “Ishbosheth the Hachmonite” יִשְׁבּשֶׁת הַחַכְמוֹני, and that the ישבעם of our verse is corrupted from יִשְׁבַּעַל, the well-known by-form or rather primitive form of the name Ishbosheth. The “head of the thirty” (see Crit. Note) is given as an epithet to Jashobam as leader of the thirty heroes of second rank who are set down by name in 1Ch_11:26 ff.—He lifted his spear against three hundred slain at one time. The same heroic deed is recorded, 1Ch_11:20, of Abshai; whence Thenius, Keil, and Wellh., starting from the supposition that Jashobam was a greater hero than Abshai, wish to correct our passage after 2Sa_23:8, where the number of those slain at once by Jashobam is set down as 800 (otherwise Ew. Gesch. 2. p. 603, who defends the number 300 for both places; while Bertheau gives no decision).
1Ch_11:12. And after him Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite.הָאֲחוֹחִי is the correct reading, as appears from 1Ch_27:4, not בֶּן אֲחֹחִי2Sa_23:9. Whether the name דּוֹדוֹ is to be changed, with the Sept. (as in 1Ch_27:4), into דּוֹדַי appears less certain.—He was among the three heroes, among the three warriors of the first rank, Jashobam, Eleazar, and Shamma, of whom the name of the third has fallen out of the middle of 1Ch_11:13, as the parallel 2Sa_23:11 shows. On the surprising but still grammatically admissible combination בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה הַגִּבֹּרִים instead of בִּשְׁלשֶׁת הג׳ (comp. 1Ch_5:19), see Berth., who justly rejects as unnecessary the emendation of Thenius: בְּשָׁלִישֵׁי הַגִּבֹּרִים, “among the knights (Shalishim) of the heroes.”
1Ch_11:13. He was with David at Pas-dammim, and the Philistines. These words refer still to Eleazar; see 2Sa_23:9. Pas-dammim, or Ephes-dammim, 1Sa_17:1, is a place between Socho and Azekah, not otherwise known; in 2 Samuel 23 the name is wanting, from the great corruption of the text, which is otherwise fuller than our text here, as it describes more exactly the heroic deed of Eleazar. It is there said, 1Ch_11:9-10, at the close of the sentence “and the Philistines were gathered there for battle:” “and the men of Israel were gone away (to the mountain, fleeing before the Philistines); and he stood and smote the Philistines, until his hand was weary and clave unto the sword; and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. And after him was Shammah the son of Age the Hararite ; and the Philistines were gathered for battle,” etc. This not inconsiderable gap in our text, by which that which follows in 1Ch_11:13 b and 1Ch_11:14 seems to be a description of a heroic deed, not of Shammah, but of Eleazar, appears to have been occasioned by the eye of the transcriber wandering from בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶֽאֶסְפוּ שָׁם, 2Sa_23:9, to וַיֵּאָֽסְפוּ ,פְלִשְׁתִּים 1Ch_11:11.—And there was a plot of ground full of barley. For barley (שְׂעוֹרִים) in 2Sa_23:11, the plot is said to be full of lentiles (עֲדָשִׁים) which is the original reading it is hard to decide, but it may be a mere slip of the pen (Movers, Wellh.).—And they stood in the midst of the plot. More correctly 2 Samuel 23 : “and he stood,” namely, Shammah. The two following verbs also, “defended” and smote,” are to be changed into the sing., as, according to 2 Samuel, the one Shammah clearly achieved the successful defence of the plot. The three plurals have come into our text after the lines referring to Shammah had fallen out.
4. Continuation. The Three Heroes who fetched Water to David from Bethlehem: 1Ch_11:15-19 (comp. 2Sa_23:13-17).—And three of the thirty chiefs went down: three other than those already named. The thirty chiefs or captains are those mentioned 1Ch_11:11 and given by name in 1Ch_11:26 ff.—The rock to David, to the cave of Adullam. This cave must have been either in the rock itself or in its immediate neighbourhood. On the rock itself, however, stood the hold (מְצוּדָה) mentioned 1Ch_11:16. The valley of Rephaim (valley of giants, κοιλὰς τῶν Γιγάντων; Joseph. Antiq.vii. 4. 1), mentioned as the camping ground of the Philistines, lies, according to Robinson, “between the present convent Mar-Elias and Jerusalem; is wide, bounded on the north by a small ridge of rock, that forms the margin of the valley of Hinnom, and sinks gradually to the south-west” (Winer, Realwörterb. ii. 322); comp. Jos_15:8; Jos_18:16; 2Sa_5:18; 2Sa_5:22.
1Ch_11:16. And a post of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem, which is therefore to be conceived as not far from Adullam and the valley of Rephaim.
1Ch_11:17. Of the well of Bethlehem, at the gate. On the dried-up cistern situated one-quarter hour north-east of Bethlehem, which tradition gives as the well of our passage, see Robinson, ii. 378, and Berth.
1Ch_11:18. And the three brake through the camp of the Philistines, namely, not through the main camp, but that of the post before Bethlehem.—But poured it out to the Lord, made a libation to God by pouring it on the ground; comp. 1Sa_7:6.
1Ch_11:19. My God forbid it me. The same construction as in 1Sa_24:7; 1Sa_26:11, 1Ki_21:3, etc.—Shall I drink the blood of these men at the risk of their lives, literally, “in their souls;” comp. Gen_4:4; Lev_3:17; Lev_7:26; Lev_17:10 ff; Lev_19:26 ff., especially 1Ch_17:14. “As blood and soul are here made equal, the blood as the seat and bearer of the soul, the soul as moving in the blood, so David, according to our report of his words, makes the water which those heroes had brought at the price (or risk) of their souls equal to their souls, and the drinking of the water brought by them equal to the drinking of their souls, and the souls equal to the blood, in order to express his abhorrence of such drinking. So that we may express the meaning thus: Should I drink in the water the souls, that is, the blood, of. these men; for they have fetched the water at the price of their souls?” (Keil). Moreover, בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָם appears to be put down twice only by an oversight; in the parallel 2Sa_23:17 it stands only once, which is perhaps the original form of the text. That David pours the water out instead of drinking has its ground in this, that it was become blood in his eyes; for blood, if it cannot be put on the altar, must be “poured on the earth as water,” Deu_7:16 (Berth.). With the Levitical prohibition of the use of blood, the saying of David has evidently nothing to do.
5. Abshai and Benaiah: 1Ch_11:20-25 (comp. 2Sa_23:18-23).—And Abshai, Joab’s brother, he was chief of the three. Abshai or Abishai (2 Samuel), one of the three sons of Zeruiah (1Ch_2:16), is here designated as chief, and in the following verse as captain, of the three, while it is said of him: “but he attained not to the three.” This enigmatical saying has been explained in various ways: 1. So that two groups or classes of three are distinguished: those mentioned 1Ch_11:15-19, whose head or ruler Abshai may have been, and the three heroes, Jashobam, etc., mentioned before in 1Ch_11:11-14, to whom he was not so related (so in particular the ancients, and Starke). 2. So that it is sought to unite both, the being chief of the three and standing after them (in bravery), as possibly co-existent, though the same three, Jashobam, Eleazar, and Shammah, are still referred to; that is, Abshai has taken, along with Joab the field-marshal, the first place among David’s captains ; is therefore, as having a higher command, the chief and leader of the three heroes, while they excel him in personal bravery and famous deeds (Keil). 3. So that הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה in 1Ch_11:20-21 is taken in two different senses, in that of the number three (so 1Ch_11:21), and in this of the abstract substantive, “body of thirty, Sheloshah-company” (so the three first times),—a sense that necessarily results from the comparison of 1Ch_11:21 with 1Ch_11:25, and of 2Sa_23:19 with 2Sa_23:23 (Berth.). We shall have the choice between these three modes, unless we prefer the three first times (1Ch_11:20 and 1Ch_11:21 a) to read the pl. הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁים, for הַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה as Wellhausen (supported by the numerous cases in which these like numbers are exchanged; see pp. 20, 81, 214 ff. of his work) declares to be necessary in the parallel 2 Samuel 23—And he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain; comp. on 1Ch_11:11.
1Ch_11:21. Above the three he was honoured among the two. These enigmatical words in the present form can neither be explained, with the Vulg.: “Of the three of the second class” (inter tres secundos), nor, with the Sept.: “Of the three, above the two was he honoured” (κ̓πὸ τῶν τριῶν ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο ἔνδοξος). If the בִּשְׁנַיִם is to be retained as genuine, it must be taken, with Ewald (Lehrb. § 269, b) and Keil, in the sense of “twofold, doubly,” and so rendered: “above the three doubly honoured, he became their chief” (Keil). Or we may read, with Berth., הֲכִי, for בִּשְׁנַיִם according to 2Sa_23:19 (comp. 2Sa_9:1; Gen_27:36; Gen_29:15), and render: “Among the Sheloshah-company certainly he was honoured, and became their captain.”
1Ch_11:22 ff. Benaiah’s Heroic Deeds (comp. 1Ch_18:17, 1Ch_27:6).—Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of Ishhail. So, if we retain בֶּן before אִישׁ־חַיִל. There is much, however, for its erasure (Berth., Wellh., Kamph.), in which case the sense comes out: “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of great deeds.” For the home of this Benaiah, Kabzeel in the south of Judah, comp. Jos_15:21; Neh_11:25.—He smote two (sons) of Ariel of Moab, the king of Moab, who bore the epithet אֲרִיאֵל, “lion of God,” as a title of honour. Before אריאל is to be inserted, with the Sept., בְּנֵי ; comp. Then, and Wellh., 2Sa_23:20.—And he went down and smote a lion. This feat of Benaiah, which happened on a snowy day, and therefore in winter, may have been performed during the great war of David with the Moabites, 2Sa_8:2.
1Ch_11:23. And he smote the Egyptian, a man of stature, or probably, according to the Sept., “a man of repute.” The following particulars of the successful combat of Benaiah with the giant nearly coincide with those of the conflict of David with Goliath, though the differences are not to be overlooked (there a Philistine, here an Egyptian; there a stature of six cubits and a span, here of five cubits; there the weapons are a staff and a sling, here only a staff ; there the slaying of the fallen with his own sword, here with his own spear). if, with the Sept., in 2Sa_23:21 be substituted for the weaver’s beam a “bridge-beam” (ξύλον διαβάθρας), as an object of comparison to show the thickness of the spear, the difference of the two narratives would be still greater. But even without this, the similar feats are only so related as Shamgar’s heroic deed to that of Samson (comp. Jdg_3:31 with 1Ch_15:15), or as Jashobam’s valiant deed (with the right reading 800 in 1Ch_11:11) to that of Abshai.
1Ch_11:24-25. For “among the three heroes” and “above the thirty” Berth, would in both cases read “among the Sheloshah-company;” comp. on 1Ch_11:20.—And David set him over his guard, literally, “over his obedience,” that is (abstr. pro concr.), over his obedient, his trusty men; comp., besides 2Sa_23:23, also 1Sa_22:14; Isa_9:14. According to Bertheau’s not improbable conjecture, by this guard of David is meant the corps of the Cerethi and Pelethi (see 2Sa_8:18), from which, however, a second troop of guards, that of the 600 Gibborim (or Gittites, 2Sa_15:18), 2Sa_16:6; 2Sa_20:7, etc., were no doubt different. Commander of the former was Benaiah, according to our passage and 2Sa_8:18 ; over the 600 Gibborim, on the other hand, may have been placed the often named thirty, so that one of the thirty was leader to every twenty of the 600. This assumption of a difference of the Cerethi and Pelethi from the Gibborim is not certain; for as Benaiah, 2Sa_8:18, appears as commander of the Cerethi and Pelethi, he is also, 1Ki_1:10, connected with the Gibborim (Benaiah and the heroes).
6. The Forty-eight Warriors: and first the thirty-two enumerated in 2 Samuel 23.: 1Ch_11:26-41 a. On the sixteen added by the Chronist, 1Ch_11:41 b–47, see No. 7.—And the heroes of war were, or more precisely: “And heroes of war were;” for the phrase וְגִבּוֹרֵי הַֽחֲיָלִים without the article is a general superscription. The article before חֲיָלִים constitutes no real difference from גִּבּוֹרֵי חֲיָלִים7:5, 7, 11, 40, or from גּ׳ חַיִל,1Ch_11:2; 1Ch_11:9, etc. [?] Here, as there, are meant: “heroes in action, valiant heroes,” not “leaders of the divisions,” as Berth, (appealing to 2Ki_15:20, 1Ch_12:8, etc.) thinks.—Asahel the brother of Joab. For him, comp. 1Ch_2:16; for his murder by Abner, 2Sa_2:19 ff. The parallel text 2Sa_23:24 adds to his name בַּשְּׁלשִׁים, “among the thirty.”—Elhanan the son of Dodo, different from Elhanan son of Jair, 1Ch_20:5.
1Ch_11:27 Shammoth the Harorite. In 2 Samuel 23. this hero is called “Shammah the Harodite,” but in 1Ch_27:8, “Shamhuth the Izrahite.” In the gentilic. החרורי there appears at all events to be an error, which is to be corrected by הַֽחֲרֹדִי of Samuel; for in Jdg_7:1 a Jewish place חֲרֹד is expressly mentioned. After the name of this Harodite Shammoth must have fallen out that of a second Harodite Elika (אֱלִיקָא), as 2Sa_23:25 shows.—Helez the Pelonite. So 1Ch_27:10, whereas in 2Sa_23:26 this Helez is originally designated as a Paltite (of Beth-pelet, בֵּית פֶּלֶט, Jos_15:27, Neh_11:26),
1Ch_11:28. Ira and Abiezer; comp. 1Ch_27:9; 1Ch_27:12.
1Ch_11:29. Sibbechai the Hushathite. By the name סִבְּכַי the suspicious מְבֻנַּי of 2 Samuel must be corrected. Inversely, Ilai (עִילַי) must be amended after the צַלְמוֹן of Samuel.
1Ch_11:31. Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin. For the situation of this Gibeah of Benjamin (near Ramah), comp. the expositor on Jos_18:28 and on Jdg_14:19 ff.; for that of the following Pirathon (that occurs also, Jdg_12:13-15, as the home of Abdon), Zeitschr. der Deutschen morgenl. Gesellsch. 1849, p. 55, and particularly Sandreczky in Ausland, 1872, No. 5, p. 97 ff.
1Ch_11:32. Hurai (so read also 2 Samuel for חִדַּי) of Nahale-gaash. This place, occurring only here (and 2Sa_23:30), properly, “valleys of Gaash,” is at all events to be sought near Mount Gaash in the Ephraimite range, not far from which was Joshua’s grave; comp. Jos_24:30; Jdg_2:9.—Abiel the Arbathite, of Beth-haarabah, Jos_15:6; Jos_15:61; Jos_18:18; Jos_18:23. The name אֲבִיאֵל is in 2 Samuel אֲבִי־עַלְבּוֹן, which form Berth. takes without ground to be original, while Wellh. rejects both forms, and makes the original to be אֲבִי־בַעַל.
1Ch_11:33. Azmaveth the Baharumite, that is, he of Bahurim (read הַבַּחֻרִימִי); comp. 2Sa_16:5; 2Sa_19:17.—The following gentilic. הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִי is to be referred to שַׁעַלְבִּים, Jdg_1:35, 1Ki_4:9 (or שַׁעַלַבִּין, Jos_19:42), and so to be written הַשַּׁעַלְבִּינִי.
1Ch_11:34. The sons of Hashem the Gizonite. בְּנֵי before הָשֵׁם appears to owe its origin to a repetition of the last three consonants of the foregoing gentilic. השעלבני; and thus originally there was only Hashem the Gizonite, after which 2 Samuel is to be amended: likewise in the following word the corrupt reading there is to be altered into our “Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite;” comp. Wellh. p. 216.
1Ch_11:35. Eliphal the son of Ur. 2Sa_23:34 : “Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai.” The original was perhaps (comp. Then, and Berth, on the passage): “Eliphelet the son of Ur.”
1Ch_11:36. Hepher the Mecherathite; perhaps the Maachathite (2 Samuel); as also “Ahijah the Pelonite” (comp. 1Ch_11:27) must perhaps be changed, as in 2 Samuel, into “Eliam, son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.”
1Ch_11:37. Naarai the son of Ezbai. For נערי 2 Samuel has פּערי for הָאֲרָבִי ,בֶּן־אֶזְבָּי, which is perhaps to be preferred on account of אֲרָב, Jos_15:52.
1Ch_11:38. Joel the brother of Nathan. If Nathan the prophet were meant, the אחי, “brother,” by the side of the usual בֶּן־, would lose its strangeness. But in 2Sa_23:36 we find a Nathan of Zobah. Hence אחי is perhaps to be changed into בן; and יִגְאַל might possibly be more original than our יוֹאֵל.—Mibhar the son of Hagri. for these words 2Sa_23:36 has “Bani the Gadite.” מִבְחָר may have there fallen out; but it may also have been corrupted from מִצֹּבָה. In הגדי (if this, and not הגרי, is to be read) may possibly lie the name of the prophet Gad (Wellh.), so that here two relatives of prophets, a brother (son ?) of Nathan and a son of Gad, may be named together.
1Ch_11:40. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite. The family of the Ithrites was enumerated, 1Ch_2:53, among those of Kiriath-jearim.
1Ch_11:41. Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, 2Sa_11:3 ff. Here follows in 2Sa_23:39 the closing subscription: “thirty and seven in all,” as, according to the correct text, actually thirty-seven heroes are there enumerated, namely, twenty-nine others besides the eight mightiest heroes named in 1Ch_11:8-23 (Jashobam, Eleazar, Shammah, etc.). These twenty-nine should in the view of the author of the books of Samuel represent those thirty warriors (named in 1Ch_11:25); whence he breaks off his enumeration after Uriah (or perhaps after Gareb, as Wellh. seeks to render probable), although most probably the same list, containing forty-eight names in all, lay before him, which our author has continued from this verse to the end. Moreover, for the criticism of both lists running parallel as far as our verse, the facts brought out by Wellh. (p. 215 f.) are to be considered:—1. “That the heroes are placed in pairs, and often every two from the same city (two Bethlehemites, 1Ch_11:26, two Netophathites, 1Ch_11:30, two Ithrites, 1Ch_11:40); 2. That the adjective of descent is always added, but not regularly the father’s name, to the name of the hero; 3. That thorough corrections are only possible, if we have first collected the whole material of the proper names in the O. T. along with the variants in the Sept., and then elaborated them.” The last rule applies also to the criticism of the following names preserved by the Chronist alone, which in this arrangement have no parallel.
7. The last Sixteen of the Forty-eight Warriors, whom the Chronist alone enumerates: 1Ch_11:41 b–47.
1Ch_11:42. Adina ... a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, or besides him. So, according to the Masoretic reading, ועליו; but Berth, prefers that of the Syriac version (see Crit. Note), and so gets the sense: “leader of the Reubenites over thirty,” that is, commander of the thirty captains or heroes of the Reubenites, to which may be compared the thirty leaders of the Benjamites, 1Ch_22:4.
1Ch_11:44. Uzziah the Ashterathite, from Ashteroth (Karnaim) or Beth-Eshterah, a city of East Manasseh, 1Ch_6:56. Whether the “Aroerite” points to Aroer in the tribe of Reuben (Jos_13:16), or in that of Gad (1Ch_11:25), is doubtful.
1Ch_11:46. Eliel the Mahavim. We should probably read “the Mahanaimite ” (Jos_13:26); comp. Crit. Note.
1Ch_11:47. Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel of Hammezobaiah. The unmeaning הַמְּצֹבָיָה, that by its form cannot be a gentilic., is either to be changed by omitting the article and the penult consonant into מִצֹּבָה, “from Zobah” (comp. 2Sa_23:36) (so Bertheau), or to be regarded as corrupted from a longer name, such as מִגְדָּל צִבְעוּיָא (a place, according to Rabbinic tradition, not far from Hebron), not, however, as a contraction or abbreviation of this name, as Reland (Pal. p. 899). Moreover, the Rabbinic Migdol Zebuiah could scarcely be contemplated, because almost all the sixteen names of our section, from 1Ch_11:41 b on, belong to heroes from the east of Jordan. The Syrian Zobah would suit better in this connection.
Footnotes:
[1]For the Keri הַשָּׁלִישִׁים, the Kethib הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁים is to be retained; comp. 1Ch_11:15; 1Ch_11:25; 1Ch_12:4; 1Ch_12:18; 1Ch_27:6.
[2]For בֶּן־דּוֹדוֹ the Sept. seems to have read בֶּן־דּוֹדַי; comp. 1Ch_27:4.
[3]For the not unimportant gap here, see Exeg. Expl.
[4]For וְלֹא is to be read וְלוֹ, one of the fifteen cases in which this form occurs in the Masoretic text, as Exo_21:10, Isa_63:9. etc.
[5]For מִדָּה must apparently be read, with the Sept. (ἄνδρα ὅρατον), מַרְאֶה.
[6]Instead of הַֽהֲרוֹרִי read, 2Sa_23:25, הַֽחֲרֹדִי, and as there, supply אֱלִיקָא הַֽחֲדֹדִי. For the further conjectural corruption of the text till 1Ch_11:41, comp. Exeg. Expl.
[7]The Sept. and Vulg. appear to have read ועליו השׁלשׁים, like the Masoretic text, but Syr. עַל השׁלשׁים; for it renders thus: “and even he (Adina) was a prince over thirty heroes.”
[8]For הַמֲּֽחֲוִים the Sept. gives ὁ Μαωί, the Vulg. Mahumites. The corruption of the name, under which, perhaps, הַמַּֽחֲנַיְמִי is concealed. seems indubitable.
[9] הַמְּצֹבָיָּה is at all events corrupt. Sept. ὁ Μεσωβία, Vulg. de Masobia; comp. Exeg. Expl.
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures (Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical), ed. John Peter Lange, English translation edited by Philip Schaff (1864–1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30, 39, 41 HE WINS THE CASTLE OF ZION FROM THE JEBUSITES…
HE WINS THE CASTLE OF ZION FROM THE JEBUSITES BY JOAB'S VALOR. (Ch1 11:4-9)
David and all Israel went to . . . Jebus--(See on Sa2 5:6).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47 Ch. 1Ch_11:1-3 (= 2Sa_5:1-3). David made King over all…
Ch. 1Ch_11:1-3 (= 2Sa_5:1-3). David made King over all Israel
1. Then] Render, And. Chron. has nothing here corresponding to 2 Samuel 1-4, chapters which cover a period of seven years (2Sa_5:5). David’s earlier coronation by the men of Judah (2Sa_2:4), the reign of Ish-bosheth over Northern and Eastern Israel (ib. 2Sa_2:8 ff.), and the “long war” (ib. 2Sa_3:1) with the house of Saul are omitted. Some reference to the civil war however occurs in 1Ch_12:23; 1Ch_12:29.
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we are thy bone and thy flesh] The phrase is not to be taken strictly as implying kinship, for only the tribe of Judah could say “The king is near of kin to us” (2Sa_19:42). The other tribes mean that they will obey David as though he were their own kin.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv1–47 (1–9) Parallel to 2Sa_5:1-10.
(1–9) Parallel to 2Sa_5:1-10.
(1) Then all Israel gathered themselves.—Literally, and. “Then” is too definite a mark of time. The chronicler passes over the subsequent history of the house of Saul, and its decline under the feeble Ishbosheth, who reigned at Mahanaim as a puppet-king in the hands of Abner his powerful kinsman and general (2 Samuel 2-4).
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All Israel.—This proves that the allusion is not to David’s election by Judah (2Sa_2:4).
Hebron, the burial-place of the patriarchs, was the capital of Judah, the tribe of David.
Thy bone and thy flesh.—A proverb first of physical, then of moral unity (Gen_2:23; Jdg_9:2). It was not as if David were some valiant foreigner, like certain of his own heroes. Moreover, the affection and sympathy of the tribes were with him, whose life of struggle and success had marked him out as their divinely chosen leader.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47 Ver. 1. Upon the death of Saul, Abner, for…
Ver. 1. Upon the death of Saul, Abner, for a while espousing the cause of Ishbo-sheth, the only surviving son of Saul, "made him king over" a large proportion of the people, exclusive of Judah. (2Sa_2:8-10) Already David had been anointed at Hebron by "the men of Judah, king over the house of Judah". (2Sa_2:1-4) And David continued "king in Hebron over the house of Judah seven years and six months" (2Sa_2:11 2Sa_5:5; 1Ki_2:11; 1Ch_3:4) Notice the agreement of this date with the account of the six sons born to David in Hebron. (2Sa_3:2-5) The explanation of the chronology for Ishbosheth affecting this period is not easy. It is said that he reigned over Israel "two years". (2Sa_2:10) Where was the difference of five and a half years lost? Our first verse here, with its apparently emphatic then (comp., 2Sa_5:1) would seem to make it very unlikely that it was lost between the death of Ishbosheth and the kingship of David over "all the tribes of Israel" together with Judah. On the other hand, the interval in question might find its account in the long war (2Sa_3:1, 2Sa_3:6, 2Sa_3:17-21) between the house of Saul and the house of David." There is, however, still possible the supposition that the historian intends to give the intrinsically correct facts of the case, and means that, what with delay before getting the adhesion of the people to Ishbosheth, and what with the early decay of his sovereign power, he could not be said to have reigned more than two years. This verse, then, shows that the history proper of Chronicles purports to begin from the time of David"s rule over the entire and united people, at the exact date of seven and a half years after Saul"s death, while no mention is here made of his intermediate partial rule over Judah, or of Ishbosheth"s temporary rule over Benjamin and Israel. All Israel; i.e. "all the tribes of Israel", (2Sa_5:1) by their representatives, "the elders of Israel" (2Sa_3:17 2Sa_5:3; as well as our ver. 3). The first nine verses of this chapter cover the same ground as the first ten verses of 2Sa 5. Unto Hebron. We learn how David came to be here from 2Sa_2:1. "And it came to pass after this" (i.e. after David"s "lamentation over Saul and Jonathan") "that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron." Hebron was the "earliest seat of civilized life, not of Judah only, but of all Palestine." It and Bethlehem are two of the most special memorials of David. An interesting sketch of the topography and natural features of this place, and a succinct Biblical history of it in Stanley"s "Sinai and Palestine," p. 164 (edit. 1866), from which comes the following quotation: according to the Jewish tradition, was the primeval city of the vine. Its name indicates community or society. It was the ancient city of Ephron the Hittite, in whose gate he and the elders received the offer of Abraham, when as yet no other fixed habitation of man was known in central Palestine. It was the first home of Abraham and the patriarchs; their own permanent resting-place when they were gradually exchanging the pastoral for the agricultural life. In its neighbourhood can be traced, by a continuous tradition, the site of the venerable tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and of the double cavern in which he and his family were deposited and perhaps still remain. It was the city of Arba, the old Canaanite chief, with his three giant sons, under whose walls the trembling spies stole through the land by the adjacent valley of Eshcoh Here Caleb chose his portion when, at the head of his valiant tribe, he drove out the old inhabitants, and called the whole surrounding territory after his own name; and here the tribe of Judah always rallied, when it asserted its independent existence against the rest of the Israelite nation. It needs but few words to give the secret of this early selection, of this long continuance of the metropolitan city of Judah. Every traveller from the desert must have been struck by the sight of that pleasant vale, with its orchards and vineyards and numberless wells, and we must add, in earlier times, the groves of terebinths and oaks which then attracted from far the eye of the wandering tribes. This fertility was in part owing to its elevation into the cooler and the more watered region above the dry and withered valleys of the rest of Judaea and commanding this fertile valley, rose Hebron, on its crested hill." Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. This is a figurative expression, the pedigree and lineage of which it is interesting to note (see 2Sa_19:12; Jud_1:9:2; Gen_29:14 Gen_2:23) The highest service to which it was promoted may be said to be reached, however, in Eph_5:30.
HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON Vers. 1-8.
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Popular and royal wisdom.
All Israel now gave their adhesion to the person and house of David. The kingdom was knit together under one strong, wise leader (ver. 1). In the act by which the national acceptance of David was declared and ratified we have a suggestive instance of
I THE WISDOM OF THE COMMUNITY. All Israel:
1. Made their choice with discernment. The nation did not act precipitately,blindly, with a rash and ruinous impulsiveness. It had good reason for what it did. It elected to elevate David to the supreme post because
(1) he could claim very close relationship: "We are thy bone and thy flesh;" a fact which ensured his deep interest and patriotism;
(2) he had rendered valuable service in past days: "Thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel" (ver. 2);
(3) Divine designation: "The Lord thy God said unto thee," etc. (ver. 2); three excellent reasons for their procedure.
2. Acted afterwards with wise precaution, Instead of trusting absolutely tothe lasting virtue of a good man, they bound him to royal fidelity with a solemn pledge: they met the king in Hebron, and "he made a covenant with them before the Lord" (ver. 3). This was most wise; they did not then know for a certainty what manner of monarch David would prove. It would have been blind and foolish on their part, in the last degree, to have committed themselves absolutely and without any guarantee into the new king"s hands. Here are lessons for all communities (nations, societies, Churches, etc.) for all time.
(1) Think well before taking an important step which involves large issues.
(2) Choose for a leader the man who is likely to cherish a real and living interest in the well-being of the community.
(3) Prefer the man who has given assurance, by past action, of integrity and ability.
(4) Make much of Divine indications.
(5) Have a distinct understanding, carefully and solemnly ratified, before actually entering on the new relationship. Let there be no possible mistake on either side as to what is expected.
II THE WISDOM OF THE KING. David did two wise things on this occasion.
1. He commenced his reign over united Israel by an act of courage andpatriotism (vers. 4, 5).
2. He gave prominence and power to the man who earned them by hismerit (ver. 6). Here are two lessons for leaders of all times.
(1) Strive to start well. To make a favourable commencement of a ministry, or of a government or office of any kind, is not everything; but it is much. It is a great step toward a real success; therefore, in beginning a new work with new workers, put forth the utmost energy and start promisingly.
(2) Show favour to the deserving. Let not kinship, nor friendship, nor the commendations of others, but personal merit shown in the face of duty and difficulty, be the condition of honour. Let the prize be to him who has won it. Partiality will soon destroy confidence and wear away affection. Impartiality will secure respect and love. Then as "David dwelt in the castle," will the wise leader of the community dwell in the stronghold of the esteem and affection of the Church or the community. C.
HOMILIES BY R. GLOVER
Vers. 1-3.
The promise fulfilled.
anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel." David had a great promise given him. It was given him early in his life to inspire the noble purpose, and to make possible the necessary patience. You and I have great promises, given us, not when in sight of the longed-for good, but when it is yet distant and far away. Such promises are our morning stars, as they were David"s. Often, however, to David the fulfilment of its promise seemed an impossibility. Often to us the obstacles to the fulfilment of our promises seem many and insuperable. It is worth while to linger and to observe how calmly and straight God"s providence marched onward to the fulfilment of its promise in his case, and to gather thence some deepening of our confidence that it will march straight on to the complete fulfilment of every word on which he has caused us to hope. I confine myself to this one point, not dwelling on some important points likewise suggested here. Others may mark this to indicate the fact that ultimately the people are the source of all power in the state; or may single out the word "covenant" here, and dwell on the fact that David is the first example in history of a constitutional monarchy. We look above and beyond these things, to a Divine Giver fulfilling a long-despaired-of promise. That the precedent may have all its weight of consolation for the despairing inheritors of God"s promises, let us mark successively
(1) The seeming impossibility of this promise being fulfilled; and
(2) its blessed and complete fulfilment.
I OBSERVE THE SEEMING IMPOSSIBILITY OF DAVID"S PROMISE BEING FULFILLED. NOT many arguments are usually needed to drive us to despair. Many of us when all is brightest cannot believe the good word spoken to us. How much more David might have concluded that the fulfilment of this promise was utterly outside the reach of all possibility! Look at the arguments of despair with which Satan could assail him.
1. There was already a monarch established in his throne. The choice of the whole people. And at the time the promise was made to David everything indicated he was the worthy choice of Israel. He had the hold which popular election, Divine approval, a generous disposition, great
2. physical courage and prowess, great natural kingliness, conspired to give him. Nor had he any lack of heirs. There were three conspicuous sons Jonathan; Abinadab, Melchi-shua, all worthy to succeed him. One of them, by his noble generosity and kindness, which blended with the noblest martial qualities, made him the darling and pride of the nation. There were other sons and grandsons. How was it possible that all these should be superseded and he made king? Especially impossible would this seem when he remembered that:
3. He did not belong to a tribe whose rulership would be acceptable to Israel, and did not even belong to the chief family of that tribe. Ephraim aspired to be the leading tribe of Israel. Her land centrally situate, she had been, from the days of Joseph downward, the leading tribe. They might as their first king accept a man of Benjamin, not caring to press their claims when they were securing one from a tribe always in friendliest alliance with their own, and too small to dream of rivalling them in importance. But would Ephraim ever admit Judah her rival to give Israel a king? And even if they were willing, would the great families of Judah accept that of Jesse as the royal house, when the family of Caleb was still found in Hebron? Yea, if they were willing, would his own family be? There were his brothers, great in warlike force; the eldest sufficiently kingly for Samuel to deem him the chosen of the Lord. There was his uncle Joab, probably no older than himself, and his brothers, all of them capable of ambition. Why should he be the one? Did his pride or legitimate complacency venture to go back to the great day at Ephes-dammim when he slew Goliath? There was Eleazar, who in the same conflict had supported David and won a great renown, and Jashobeam, who "slew three hundred at one time," and half a score of others who had done deeds of romantic fame. So that even before the enmity of Saul broke out there was enough to make David despair of his ever seeing the promise fulfilled. Then next:
1. Saul with all his forces sets himself to destroy David. The insanity that overtook Saul seemed to leave David no hope. The enmity so persistent; the whole soldiery of the kingdom available and employed to seize and destroy him; the land a little land not much larger than Yorkshire; what chance was there of surviving such a pursuit? The only defenders he could find were the rabble of outlawed people or men of broken character and fortunes, who could not lose by any change, but possibly might gain. Should he meet Saul in battle, his name would have a stigma of rebellion fatal to all kingly hopes. Should he avoid a battle, it was hard to see by what other means he could avoid the certain fate which seemed awaiting
2. him. And when year after year this lasted, and David was "hunted like a partridge on the mountains," how inevitably would all hope of the fulfilment of God"s promise fade from his soul I And yet the greatest difficulty of all remains to be noted. At last he cuts the knot of suspense, and, giving up all hope of the crown, he seeks to secure his life, and actually:
3. He enlists in the service of the enemies of Israel. We know not with what reservations he enters the service of Achish, whether he had intended the treason of fighting against Israel, or the treason of siding with Israel against the Philistines after receiving their hospitality and pledging faithfulness to them. Despair was working its usual folly and recklessness; and he had put himself in one of those false positions which are above all things to be avoided. And doing so, he not only abandoned for ever all thought of being king, but seemed to make the throne impossible. But even here God steps in, and, by raising up opposition on the part of the lords of the Philistines, saves him from the shame which would have dishonoured him whether he had fought against Israel or Israel"s enemies. But put all these together: the settledness of the dynasty of Saul; the disadvantages of David"s birth; the persecutions of Saul; his own break-down in faith; and would you in his circumstances have been ever able to hops for the fulfilment of this great promise? Would you not rather have looked back on it as the dream of a friendly nature and as nothing more? Are there more impediments to-day in the way of God"s promise to you being fulfilled than studded the way to the fulfilment of these? Yet observe, spite of all these impossibilities
II THE COMPLETE AND BLESSED FULFILMENT OF ALL GOD"S PROMISES. Consider how many things go to this.
1. There is the opportunity for making himself known to all Israel.
2. Then, by marvellous providential deliverances and by restraints on theheart of Saul, every effort to destroy David is frustrate.
3. Then, God saves him from himself, from the complications of his owndespair, by keeping him entirely out of the war between Saul and the Philistines.
4. Then, Saul and his three sons fall together at Gilboa, and the only son of Saul remaining is one without any of the strength requisite for kingship. The house of Judah accepts him as the ruler fittest to secure them from the Philistines, one whose very name is itself worth an army. And Benjamin, nearest to the Philistines, is glad to do the same. Then, while the conflict with Ishbosheth has the minimum of slaughter that could be found in civil war, it daily made the eminence of David more conspicuous. And so it happens that, without any effort, toil, or solicitude on God"s part, all things are brought round so perfectly that at last all the tribes of Israel come and invite him to be king. And that at the right time, viz. as soon as he was fit for such a post. He reached it and held it forty years in the richest manner; his kingdom reaching dimensions and prosperity hitherto never dreamed of, and being transmitted to a long line of descendants, seventeen generations holding the throne before the Captivity broke the line. And even so, what is impossible with man ever proves to be possible with God. And the promise made to you of pardon of your repented sins, or of grace to conquer indwelling evil, or of answer to your prayer, or of perseverance to the end, or of daily bread, or of help in every time of trouble however impossible its fulfilment may seem, will be perfectly, easily, richly fulfilled by him whose love and power know none of the limits within which we have to work. G.
HOMILIES BY F. WHITFIELD Vers. 1-4.
David"s anointing.
This chapter properly follows the twelfth chapter. The union of heart to make David king is taken up at the commencement of this eleventh chapter. This event happened on the death of Ishbosheth. (see 2Sa_5:1-3) The repeated anointings in the presence of the heads of the kingdom seem to have been necessary to the general acknowledgment of the sovereign by the nation. In David we are to see Christ. In the "oneness of heart" to make him king, (see 1Ch_12:38) we see that love to Christ which constitutes all true subjects of the Saviour. It was simply love to himself which drew all these heroes around David. At his yearning for the water of the well of Bethlehem, it was this love that made them brave all danger, and, at the risk of their lives, "break through the host of the Philistines." In all this we see the personal love of the Lord"s people to their King, Jesus. Love is the mighty bond love to himself, love that will brave all dangers, love that will lay down its life for him the reflection of his own shed abroad in their hearts. And the object of this great gathering was one, even as their hearts were one, viz. to make David king. Thus is it also the one desire of all the followers of Christ that he shall be King. They would cast every crown at his feet and say, "Thou art worthy," and they long for the time when he shall be "King of kings and Lord of lords." But while they were "of one heart" to make David king, he, on his part, made a covenant with them. In this covenant he made himself over to them as their leader and captain, and that they should partake of the reward of his victories and of his glory. All this would be included in that covenant. In this, again, we see Christ, our true David, engaging to his faithful people all covenant blessings. "I will give unto you the sure mercies of David." His own wondrous love has bound them to himself, and that same love ensures to them, in a covenant that nothing can set aside, every spiritual and temporal blessing. "He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. W.
HOMILIES BY R. TUCK
Vers. 1-3.
God"s providences fulfil God"s promises.
The fact is brought prominently before us in these verses that eventually, after long waiting and much trial of faith and patience, the promised throne was secured for David, and that in a most hopeful way, by the good will of the people and the providential removal of all possible rivals. It has been said that "They who wait on providence will never want a providence on which to wait." But we must guard against making providence something operating distinct from God. It is really the living God working in the sphere of material things for the highest good of his people.
I GOD"S PROMISE OF THE THRONE TO DAVID. It had been made long years before, when David was but a youth. (1Sa_16:13) It was made by the significant act of anointment, and by the inward witness of God"s Spirit. But it was not accompanied with any assurance of immediate fulfilment. God"s promises still may serve for years unto the culture of our dependence and trust, until he finds the fitting time for their realization. The Christian man now has the promise of the "inheritance undefiled," but only the promise; yet to him "faith is the substance of things hoped for.
II WHEN THE PROMISE WAS GIVEN THE FULFILMENT SEEMED MOST UNLIKELY. Another king was actually seated on the throne. There were no outward signs of weakness in his rule; no perilous dissatisfactions among the people; and he was a strong, hale man, and likely to live and rule for many years. Moreover, this King Saul had a family, and, in the natural order of things, it would be expected that they should succeed him on the throne. And, as time advanced, Saul"s enmity against David could not fail to create such party feeling as would greatly hinder, if not absolutely prevent, his ever securing the full allegiance of the nation. Taking these things fully into account, any one, looking on from his youth-time to David"s future, would say that it was of all Possible things the most unlikely that he should ever occupy the royal throne. But one has skilfully said that "the unexpected is the thing that happens," and the seemingly impossible often becomes the fact. A man who holds fast God"s promises need never be troubled by disadvantageous appearances. Following the Divine lead, a man"s way unfolds step by step.
III THOUGH HE HELD FAST THE PROMISE, DAVID NEVER FORCED ITS FULFILMENT; herein setting us a most noble and pious example. He never tried to make a national party; he never pressed himself into high court positions; he never resisted the enmity of Saul; when his enemy was actually in his power, and a spear-thrust appeared to be the step on to the throne, he would not take matters into his own hands. (1Sa_26:9-11) And even when Saul was dead, David did not press forward or attempt to seize the full kingdom. It may be urged that this was good policy, but it was really something far deeper it was that true piety, which finds its best expression in waiting on God and waiting for him. A common Christian sin is saying we trust God, yet taking life into our own hands.
IV GOD MAKES HIS PROVIDENCES EVENTUALLY WORK OUT HIS PROMISES. We may conceive of all things and all events as under his control; and the hearts of all men are in his hands. He is the Divine Master of all man"s wilfulnesses. The long ages are his to work in. He can not only use forces, but fit forces together, and compel them to serve his ends. Perhaps the greatest marvel of human life is the way in which things unfold, and seemingly impossible issues are reached. In St. Paul"s thought, "All things work together for good." Full illustration is found in the events which led David to his throne. What, then, becomes the duty of the child of the Divine promises? Simply this let him do the right, so far as he knows it, and in dependence on God"s strength, day by day; and let him rest assured that the faithful Promise-keeper will find the fittings, and lead on to the final issues. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv9, 15, 22, 28 So David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord…
1Ch_11:9
So David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord of hosts was with him
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Davids prosperity
I.
God is the true source of prosperity.
II. God determines the real nature of prosperity.
III. God fixes the exact time of prosperity. (J. Wolfendale.)
Gods favour helpful to prosperity
When I resided in a wooded part of Scotland, I used to notice that the trees nearest the light at the edge of a dense forest had larger branches than those in the interior, and that the same tree would throw out a long branch towards the light and a short one towards the dark recess of the forest. (J. Thain Davidson, D. D.)
Gods blessing is necessary to prosperity
If we turn to Him, and become recipients of His grace, then will our talents and faculties develop, and be used in the right direction.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v1 CRITICAL NOTES.] The writer here passes by the 7½…
CRITICAL NOTES.] The writer here passes by the 7½ years of David’s reign over Judah, at which he had glanced in his introductory section (chap. 1Ch_3:4), and hastens to the glorious period of his inauguration as king over the whole people of Israel. This, as we learn from 2Sa_4:5, was at the death of Ish-bosheth, who succeeded Saul as king over all the tribes, except that of Judah [Speak. Com.].
1Ch_11:1-4.—David made king. Hebron, chap. 1Ch_3:4, an ancient royal and priestly city (Jos_12:10; Jos_21:11); most mountainous, safest part of Judah, and divinely selected (2Sa_2:1). 1Ch_11:3. Covenant, “league” (2Sa_5:3). By Samuel, (cf. 1Ch_11:10). added by writer to mark divine origin of Davidic Monarchy, which he had not previously declared [cf. Speak. Com.]—covenant, a solemn transaction before the Lord, united monarch and people in terms of government and obedience.
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1Ch_11:4-9.—Zion taken from Jebusites. Jebuz (cf. Jos_15:8; Jdg_19:10). 1Ch_11:5 Said abbreviates; full speech 2Sa_5:6. Zion mentioned first in 2Sa_5:7, meaning lofty, bare, rocky top, exposed to sun; Heb. a fortified place. City extended northward and southward; the royal residence and stronghold. 1Ch_11:6. Chief head of government. Captain command of army. Prowess of Joab on this occasion, and the part which he took in building city of David, known only from this passage—repaired breaches made in siege, rebuilt houses, demolished and reconstructed old part of city occupied by Jebus. David built a new town.
1Ch_11:9.—Waxed. Literally, “went on and grew great,” as 2Sa_5:10. Hosts. Sept., the Lord Omnipotent.
1Ch_11:10-47.—David’s mighty men (2Sa_23:8-39). Strengthened, exerted themselves; “assisted with all Israel in making David king”—margin, “held fast with him in affection and obedience. 1Ch_11:11. Number. In Hebrew a plural pronoun (“these”, and a singular noun. Moreover, the number not given; therefore read, “These are the names” [Speak. Com.]. Jash., called son of Zabdiel (ch. 1Ch_27:2); hence grandson or Hachmoni (cf. ch. 1Ch_27:32). Three, 800 in 2Sa_23:8. One or other of these corrupt [Speak. Com.]. Some suppose he attacked 800 and slew 300 of them. 1Ch_11:12. Eleazar and Jashobeam only two here; Shammah third in 2Sa_23:11. 1Ch_11:13. Pas. Place where Goliath slain, between Shoehoh and Azekah (1Sa_17:1). 1Ch_11:14. Parcel. This achievement given in detail (2Sa_23:9-11). Eleazar had given up from fatigue, and then Shammah helped by his prowess to keep the field. These feats performed when David acted as general of Saul against Philistines. 1Ch_11:15-19. Feat of three men of the thirty mentioned in 1Ch_11:26-40. Rock (cf. 2Sa_23:13). 1Ch_11:17. Well (2Sa_23:15-17). This feat performed by a second three, Abishai chief (1Ch_11:20); not the three in 1Ch_11:15-19. 1Ch_11:21. Hon., yet not on a par with first three. 1Ch_11:22. Kab. South of Judah (Jos_15:21; Neh_11:25). Many, three daring deeds given as specimens. Lionlike, two Ariels; literally, lions of God, great lions, or champions in David’s war with Moab (2Sa_8:2). 1Ch_11:23. Stature, i.e., measure, aspect, conspicuous for size. 1Ch_11:24. Three mighties. The second three, of whom Benaiah held second place. 1Ch_11:25. Guard. Ges. gives “David took him into his privy council,” as margin of 2Sa_23:23. He was captain over Kerethi and Pelethi, a body-guard of the king. 1Ch_11:26-47. The 48 men of war. “Valiant men of the armies” (cf. list in 2Sa_23:24-38). Asahel (2Sa_2:18). 1Ch_11:27. Haroite, Harodite, a native of Harod (Jdg_7:1). Heles “the Paltite.” 1Ch_11:28. Tekoite of Tekoa (2Sa_14:2). Antothite, of Anathoth (Jos_21:18). 1Ch_11:29. Sib., Mebunnai in Sam. Ilại, Zalmon. 1Ch_11:30. Mah., chief of detachment of guards (ch. 1Ch_27:13). 1Ch_11:39. Nah., armour-bearer to Joab. 1Ch_11:41-47. These sixteen are a supplement to Samuel. Uriah, well known (2 Samuel 11); the others associated with places unknown, or connected with cities and districts on east of Jordan.
HOMILETICS
THE CHOSEN KING.—1Ch_11:1-4
After the death of Saul, country on east of Jordan, and in short time west also, with exception of province of Judah, over which David ruled in Hebron, was brought, by skilful generalship of Abner, to acknowledge Ishbosheth as king (2Sa_2:8 seq.). Not till Abner and Ishbosheth were dead, and no one left belonging to house of Saul, but lame Meribosheth, who was then only twelve years old, that all the Israelites resolved to make David king. These verses an account of the assembly in which the resolution was carried into effect [Keil].
I. The reasons for the choice of a king. Not a rash, blind, and imprudent choice.
1. Blood relationship. “We are thy bone and thy flesh.” Close and affectionate relationship, which ensured deep interest and patriotism.
2. Military leadership. “Thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in.” Past services of value, who so likely in future to rule? Qualifications for leadership, inborn, called out by circumstances and cultured under a sense of responsibility. Prove men before you choose them for office. “Let these also first be proved.”
3. Divine appointment. “The Lord thy God said.” Samuel the seer, who anointed Saul, nominated his successor. David often designated, now chosen by the nation. Trial and patient waiting now rewarded. Time fulfilled, all things ready, and “they anointed David king over Israel according to the word of the Lord.”
II. The duties of the chosen king. “Thou shalt feed my people Israel, &c.” This first time, the king called pastor. The servant described as the master; the under-shepherd’s duty like that of chief-shepherd.
1. To rule. Not in pride and tyranny, but in love and humility; respecting liberty, property, and human life. “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2Sa_23:3).
2. To feed. The true king a real shepherd to his people, watching over their interests, providing for them and defending them. This picture of a theocratic king invested with moral grandeur; should be copied by every servant of God, high or low in position; but only completely realised in Messiah. “A Governor who shall rule (shepherd) my people Israel” (Mat_2:6).
III. The allegiance given to the chosen king. All Israel were assembled, united and represented by elders. For once vox populi vox Dei. In this ceremony king reminded of solemn responsibility and people of implicit obedience. In form a covenant, mutual agreement on both sides to be true and helpful one to another. Notice—
1. Unity in the covenant. The unity introduced by Samuel, weakened by Saul, restored internally and externally on the theocratic basis. “All Israel” represented in the choice.
2. Loyalty in the covenant. Attachment to the person of the king, adhesion to his cause and determination to obey his word. Service is poor and cold in warmest subject without the glow of loyalty. Our Master deserves and seeks it in every servant. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”
3. Solemnity in the covenant. “Before the Lord,” acting in his sight. People and king jointly render unconditional obedience to the Invisible Ruler. “King David made a league with them before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel” (2Sa_5:3).
THE CAPTURE OF THE STRONGHOLD.—1Ch_11:5-9
David now begins to act, seeks to establish his throne, and subdue his enemies. Zion the centre, chief stronghold, and boast of the Jebusites (2Sa_5:6).
I. The taking of the city. The south and middle of Palestine unsafe, as long as this citadel unconquered. Its siege and capture a daring Acts 1. Taken against great opposition. Its natural position very strong. Built on a precipice, waterfalls and gorges round about. Thought to be impregnable. “David cannot come in hither. “Its defenders very courageous. Quarters very close; a matter of life or death; but except the Lord keep the city, builders and watchmen in vain.
2. Taken by personal valour. Joab scaled the rocks, led the assault, and captured the city. For this act of bravery he was promoted, confirmed in position, and increased in influence.
3. Taken in God’s strength. Valour, numbers, and resources avail not without this. Victory only when God vouchsafes it. “All this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s” (1Sa_17:47).
II. The repairing of the city. “David built round about from the Millo (the mound) and inward” (2Sa_5:9); and “Joab restored (revived) the rest of the city” (cf. Neh. 3:34). Houses restored, fortifications reared, rebuilding regarded as restoration to life. No longer a dry, barren rock, but a place of beauty and strength. “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion.”
III. The royal residence in the city. David took up his abode, “therefore it is called the City of David.” It becomes the seat of government, the centre of festivities, the memorial of its founder’s name. Mount Zion becomes “the city of the great king,” a type of the royal seat and the dominion of Messiah. “I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
DAVID’S PROSPERITY.—1Ch_11:9
The words, then David went, &c., indicate the point of time from which his becoming great first dates; then (from the conquest of Jerusalem) David became continually greater and greater [Keil]. Learn—
I. God is the true source of prosperity. “The Lord of Hosts was with him.” Not fleets and armies, skill of captains and valour of soldiers; but from presence of God. “Ascribe (by word and conduct, give) ye greatness unto our God” (Deu_32:3). “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty.”
II. God determines the real nature of prosperity. Temporal, spiritual, or both. Regal qualities, prudent counsellors, faithful friends, and devoted subjects; crowns, capitals, and thrones; personal influence, religious privileges, gifts of any kind, progress of any degree, bestowed by God.
III. God fixes the exact time of prosperity. From conquest of Zion a turning-point in David’s fortunes. His life a series of successive stages and positions in which one prepared for the other. “Even when Saul was king, David led out and brought in Israel.” After he was anointed, “he waxed greater and greater,” “went on growing and growing.” Our life’s work fashioned by God, not by ourselves, may be long time and go through strange discipline in its attainment; but God appoints means and fixes seasons. “My times are in Thy hands.” Use the means, wait in faith and seek the aid of God for progress and position here and hereafter.
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
1Ch_11:1-2. Then.
1. Great honours often preceded by great trials. Through suffering to glory. II. Great trials often end with unexpected relief; or,
1. Men divinely designated, specially trained for position.
2. When specially trained, God’s providence fulfils God’s word in placing them in position.
3. When so placed by God’s providence, often an epoch in their own, and a blessing in history of others. Feed my people. The shepherd king. Evil rulers termed roaring lions, devouring wolves, &c. (Eze_19:2). Teachers and prophets pastors of people (Eze_34:23), to feed “by procuring for them the wholesome food of the word, by going before them in good example, by driving away the wolf, by tending them, and tendering their good every way” [Trapp].
1Ch_11:3. David king. How he reached the throne.
1. By aspiring to it only because divinely appointed.
2. By deserving it (a) in what he did; (b) in what he refused to do.
3. By waiting for it: (a) continuing patient through a long course of trials; (b) using all lawful means in his power to gain it (e.g., 2Sa_2:5; 2Sa_3:20-36); (c) preparing for it consciously and unconsciously; learning how to rule men, and to overcome difficulties [Lange].
1Ch_11:5. The Castle of Zion. Like the human heart, harder to take and keep for Christ than Khartoum. Pride, selfishness, and envy must be driven out. Like heaven, only gained by violence (Mat_11:12), and under the leadership of the Captain of salvation. David dwelt (1Ch_11:7). A type of Christ, who subdueth all our enemies, and openeth unto us the heavenly Jerusalem [Trapp]. 1Ch_11:8. Joab repaired. Heb. revived vivificavit vel sanavit, as 2Ch_24:13. City of David, as Constantine called Bizantium Constantinople after his own name; making it also the metropolis and seat of the empire [Trapp].
HOMILETICS
FAMOUS EXPLOITS.—1Ch_11:10-47
These are the heads, chiefs of David’s heroes, heroes among heroes, attached to his person, with whom he carried on the Lord’s war, and whose deeds are “works” of “great deliverance.”
I. The two mighties (1Ch_11:10-14). The third, Shammah (2Sa_23:11), not given here.
1. Exploit of Jashobeam (1Ch_11:11). Chief of captains, riders (or knights, Sam.), bodyguard of king. He lifted up, brandished his spear time after time in strength and courage, and slew 300. In Sam. 800 given—attacked 800 and slew 300, or slew 300 at one time and 800 at another.
2. Exploit of Eleazar. A fugitive in the wilderness with David. (a) Stood when others fled in fear and disgrace. (b) Weary, yet would not quit the work; hand cramped round hilt of sword, but held the weapon. Faint, yet pursuing (Jdg_8:4). (c) Advantage followed up, and victory gained. “A great victory that day.” Heb. in theocratic form of deliverance, salvation from God. Aided by Shammah (“they set themselves”) the parcel of ground preserved. (d) Then people returned for spoil and share honour. Many quit the field in danger, and hasten back for gain, willing to share the victory, not the fight. The men of Ephraim (Jdg_8:1).
II. The three captains (1Ch_11:15-19).
1. The chivalrous act they performed evinces enthusiasm and readiness for humblest wish of the king.
(1) A dangerous act. To force passage through garrison of the enemy at risk of life.
(2) A brave act. Fearless of results, glad to defy Philistines, and ambitious to serve their king. Be you ready, like Jesus, to comply with every intimation of God by his word and providence.
(3) An unselfish act. No thought for themselves, all for their sovereign and their fellows.
(4) A loyal act. Indicative of affection and loyalty. No command, no request; perhaps a wish overheard, and they spring into action. Service free and spontaneous, not pressed nor constrained. First; a willing mind, then it is accepted to what we can do.
2. The generous estimation of the act. The water refused, gained at peril of life, and too sacred to gratify a wish foolishly expressed. Poured it out as a libation (Gen_35:14; Exo_30:9; Jdg_6:20). A practical acknowledgment of his error, an expression of sympathy with the bravery and devotion of the men; a check to impulse and rashness in future. The sacrifice to God of what we most desire gives the strength and earnest of future success.
III. The second couple (1Ch_11:20-25).
1. Abishai, “a man of repute,” had a name, and renowned for valour; held high position, chief leader of his company; slew 300; but was excelled in heroic conduct by the three in 1Ch_11:11 to 1Ch_14:2. Benaiah, a valiant man, accustomed to danger, “had done many acts” (great of acts, lit.); commander of bodyguard (marg., privy councillor). (a) Slew three heroes. An Egyptian, terrible in height and appearance, well armed; thus displayed courage (only a staff), dexterity, strength, and skill by snatching the spear out of the giant’s hand and killing him with it (David and Goliath). Slew two lion-like mem, “two sons of Ariel of Moab” [Keil]. Ariel a title of honour given to King of Moab. A feat performed probably in war between David and Moabites (2Sa_8:2). (b) Slew a lion (1Ch_11:22), “probably in a cave in which he took refuge from a snowstorm, and in which a savage lion would have its lair. This far greater achievement than if the monster had been previously snared in a pit.” On a snowy day, when greater courage and hardship would be required. Benaiah’s influence and fidelity known in Solomon’s time (1Ki_1:8; 1Ki_1:10; 1Ki_1:44).
3. Ashael, chief of men historically unknown (2Sa_23:24); captain of 4th division (1Ch_27:7); slain by Abner (2 Samuel 2). After him, names in Samuel are thirty, and one over Uriah the Hittite. Some of the list are Gentiles, who cast their lot with Israel, and reminds of that service in which is neither Greek nor Jew, bond nor free, but all one.
DAVID’S CONDUCT IN REFUSING TO DRINK.—1Ch_11:19
I. An act of great unselfishness. Thought of others, not himself; appreciated the deed of the noble three, and felt that he had no right to claim the blood of others. Men do not exist for us, but we exist for them. Sir P. Sidney took the cup from his thirsty lips to give to the poor.
II. An expression of profound humility. He bowed before the Lord, laid the cup at his feet, through whom it was gained and to whom it belonged. None so fit to rule as those who stoop. “Before honour is humility.”
III. An estimate of the value of human life. Great regard for the worth of men. Soldiers not made for powder and shot. Blood, sacred and inestimable. Human life an opportunity, a power for service, must not be thrown away. Wellington valued the life of his men. “Of every man will I require the life of man.” Life is
“No trifle, however short it seem;
And howsoever shadowy, no dream;
Its value what no thought can ascertain,
Nor all an angel’s eloquence explain” [Cowper].
TRUE HEROISM.—1Ch_11:10-47
I. In its real nature. Not mere physical vigour and exuberant spirit. Not foolhardiness nor reckless waste of strength and life, but self-sacrificing love, which shuns no duty and braves all danger. Often seen in forbearance, in provocation, patience, in trial, tenderness towards others, and self-control in adversity and prosperity. It is the stuff of which martyrs are made, who refuse wealth, honours, and applause for conscience sake. Seen in Eliot—“Lion Eliot, that great Englishman”—who refused the bribes and defied the tyranny of Charles I.; in Savonarola, the Italian monk, “a Reformer before the Reformation”; in Luther, before the Diet at Worms; and in all “brave men of old.”
II. In its hidden source. Love to God, “strengthened themselves with him” (1Ch_11:10). Acquaintance with David, loyalty to him prompted to arms and conflict. Great men attract and excite to enthusiasm. King Arthur had his knights, Cromwell his Ironsides, and David his heroes. Jesus Christ has followers devoted to him, led to victory by him. “Through God we shall do valiantly.”
III. In its noble achievements. Enterprises full of risks; leading a forlorn hope; a successful skirmish; a dashing charge and a splendid capture. In our hearts and lives, in the Christian church and the world, what have we done for God? “Quit yourselves like men.”
“Let us go forth, and resolutely dare
With sweat of brow to toil our little day” [Lord Houghton].
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
1Ch_11:15. Cave of Adullam.
1. A place of exile.
2. A centre of attraction—“a great host, as the host of God,” gathers round David.
3. A picture of Christ’s reign. Rejected, yet gathering those in spiritual debt and distress unto himself. “Every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was bitter of soul, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them.”
1Ch_11:41. Uriah the Hittite (2Sa_2:3). The mention of this name in list suggests
(1) a man of distinguished merit;
(2) an aggravation of David’s guilt towards him. He was a foreigner, a Hittite. But his name and manner of speech indicate that he adopted the Jewish religion.
Happy the people that has heroes who
(1) advance in God’s strength,
(2) courageously stake their life for God’s honour and the people’s welfare, and
(3) are counted worthy by God to work great deliverance for their people.
Hail to the throne that is encompassed by heroes who
(1) find their highest nobility in the real knighthood that roots itself in the true fear of God,
(2) with humble heroism defend altar and throne,
(3) seek their highest honour in being God’s instruments for the aims of his kingdom and for the revelation of his power and righteousness, and
(4) set the whole people an example of self-devoting love and fidelity and of unterrified courage [Lange].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 11
1Ch_11:4-8. During the wars of Nassau a council of officers debated whether to attack a certain town. A Dutch general had so much to say about the formidable guns mounted on the defences of the place that many grew discouraged and advised giving up the dangerous job. “My lords,” said Sir Horace Vere, a stout English baron, “if you fear the mouth of a cannon you must never come into the field.” Without the Christian’s courage it is useless to enter the Christian’s fight.
1Ch_11:11. Lifted up. “Courage mounteth with occasion” [Shakespeare].
‘Do not for one repulse forego the purpose
That you resolve to effect.”
1Ch_11:18. Brake through the host.
“He holds no parley with unmanly fears;
Where duty bids, he confidently steers;
Faces a thousand dangers at her call,
And, trusting in his God, surmounts them all” [Cowper].
1Ch_11:19. God forbid. That which especially distinguishes a high order of man from a low order of man—that which constitutes human goodness, human nobleness—is surely not the degree of enlightenment with which men pursue their own advantage; but it is self-forgetfulness, it is self-sacrifice, it is the disregard of personal pleasure and personal indulgence, personal advantages remote or present [Froude].
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Sermon Bible 1900 · Public Domain On v1 1Ch 11:22
1Ch 11:22
I. Notice, first, that Benaiah did a great deed: he "slew a lion." Our David has some Benaiahs still in His camp who slay lions. (1) A man who boldly meets a besetting sin—he is a Benaiah. (2) Another Benaiah is the man who boldly overcomes a natural infirmity. (3) A third is found in the man who combats with and overcomes some special temptation. (4) He who achieves work for God, and work under difficult circumstances, is a Benaiah.
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II. Observe that he slew the lion in a pit. That is a noble deed done in a very difficult place. Very often Benaiahs in the Lord’s army have to meet their lion in a pit, where apparently everything is on the enemy’s side. Work for God may be difficult in itself, but ten times more difficult because of its position.
III. And, lastly, done with very difficult surroundings—in a pit on a snowy day. There are some sins hard to combat when grace is filling the heart, and when spiritual life is at its best. But to meet the besetting sin on a snowy day, when unbelief is freezing you! to go and work for Christ and dare something difficult when your own love seems half frozen up! But even if your heart be cold and you feel numbed and powerless to do anything, yet, like Benaiah, go and venture it, though it be on a snowy day.
A. G. Brown, Penny Pulpit, No. 1068.
References: 1Ch 12:16-18.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxx., No. 1770. 1Ch 12:32.—J. Baldwin Brown, Old Testament Outlines, p. 85; D. Burns, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxvii., p. 68. 1Ch 12:33.—S. Cox, An Expositor’s Notebook, p. 103.
The Sermon Bible, ed. William Robertson Nicoll (1888–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 David's Coronation at Hebron and his Capture of Zion
David's Coronation at Hebron and his Capture of Zion
The writer, though mentioning David's crowning at Hebron, omits all description of his 7 years' reign there, and in this chapter unites with some variations and additions two sections of 2 S, viz. 2Sa_5:1-10 and 2Sa_23:8-39.
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6. So Joab, etc.] This is an addition to the account in 2Sa_5:8.
10. Strengthened themselves] better, 'exerted themselves.'
11. The chief of the captains] another reading is 'chief of the thirty': cp. 1Ch_11:15. Three hundred] 2Sa_23:8 has 'eight hundred,' which is preferable as representing Jashobeam's prowess as greater than Abishai's: 2Sa_23:20.
12. The three mighties] The third, not here mentioned, was Shammah (2Sa_23:11), to whom 2Sa_23:13 (last-half) and 14 refer (where 'they,' 'themselves,' 'them' should be 'he,' 'himself,' 'him').
18. The host of the Philistines] i.e. the outpost at Bethlehem (1Ch_11:16), not the camp in the valley of Rephaim, which was N. of Bethlehem.
20. Chief of the three] It is difficult to make out the relations between this three, the 'three' of 1Ch_11:12, and the 'thirty' of 1Ch_11:15 and 1Ch_11:25 and there is probably some corruption.
25. Honourable among] RV 'more honourable than.'
47. Mesobaite] This should perhaps be corrected into from Zobah.' It is noteworthy that this list of David's 'valiant men' contains several non-Israelites: 1Ch_11:39, 1Ch_11:41, 1Ch_11:46.
J. R. Dummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible (Macmillan, 1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v5 castle of Zion
castle of Zion
Heb. castle.
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(1) Zion, the ancient Jebusite stronghold, is the southwest eminence in Jerusalem, called in Scripture the city of David, and associated with the Davidic royalty both historically and prophetically 1Ch 11:7; Psa 2:6; Isa 2:3. The word is often used of the whole city of Jerusalem considered as the city of God Psa 48:2; Psa 48:3 especially in passages referring to the future kingdom-age; Isa 1:27; Isa 2:3; Isa 4:1-6; Joe 3:16; Zec 1:16; Zec 1:17; Zec 8:3-8; Rom 11:26. In Heb 12:22 the word is used symbolically of heaven.
(2) In Deu 4:48 the name is given to a projection or peak of Mount Hermon.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 1. David at Hebron
III. THE CROWNING OF DAVID AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS KINGDOM
1. David at Hebron
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CHAPTER 11
1. David crowned king (1Ch 11:1-3)
2. Jerusalem becomes David’s capital (1Ch 11:4-9)
3. The record of David’s mighty men (1Ch 11:10-47)
From the second book of Samuel we learned that the crowning of David in Hebron occurred after the death of Ishbosheth (2 Sam. 5). The previous reign of David for seven and a half years and his failures are here omitted. We shall find that Chronicles does not record all the failures and sins of David and Solomon. The blessing and the grace of God toward the house of David are made prominent throughout. Acknowledged by all Israel as belonging to them, a great leader, Jehovah’s choice to feed His people Israel and to be their prince, all the elders came to Hebron before the Lord and anointed David king.
The conquest of Jerusalem (Jebus) followed. It was still in the hands of the Jebusites, but David took the stronghold of Zion. Joab distinguished himself and became chief. This is unmentioned in 2 Sam. 5. He built the city from Millo. Millo means “filling up” so that it may have been a big embankment which connected the city of David with the Temple mount. See 1Ki 9:15 and 2Ch 32:5.
The record of David’s mighty men are mentioned here in the beginning of his reign. In Second Samuel we read of them at the end (2Sa 23:8-39), preceding Solomon’s reign. When the true King begins His reign, typified by both David and Solomon, those who were loyal to the Lord and faithful to Him will be remembered. The first name mentioned is Jashobeam, a Hachmonite. In Samuel his name is given as Josheb-basshebeth, the Tachmonite. They were probably alternative names for the same person. Jashobeam means “the people shall return” and his other name in Samuel means “one who sits in a seat.” Hachmonite means translated “the wise.” According to Samuel he slew 800 and here in Chronicles he slew 300 at one time. Probably these are both correct; he slew 800 at one occasion and 300 at another. The second name is Eleazar (help of God) the son of Dodo (his beloved). His deed is more fully given in 2Sa 23:9. Shammah, the third one of the three mighties is omitted here (2Sa 23:11).
Bethlehem shows the deepest devotion to David from the three who broke through the line in response to David’s wish. It was not a command but only a desire expressed, yet they were ready to give their lives, for they were ambitious to please David. May we think here of Him who is greater than David. He, who sat on Sychar’s well said to the woman “give me to drink.” He longs for the refreshment from His own and we must be ambitious to please Him. It means to break through the hostile ranks of our enemies, as the three men did.
Abishai (father of gift) the younger brother of Joab and nephew of David slew 300 men. Benaiah’s deeds include the slaying of an Egyptian giant almost eight feet tall. In the list of the mighty men Uriah, the Hittite (verse 41) is included. He was a brave and devoted warrior which makes David’s deed so much more abhorrent (2 Sam. 11).
Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible (1913–1922) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv1, 10 David King of all Israel
David King of all Israel
v. 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, representatives of the northern and eastern tribes, as well as of Judah, where he had already reigned over seven years, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh, relatives by reason of a common ancestry.
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v. 2. And moreover, in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; for David, before Saul sought his life, had been one of the chief officers of his army; and the Lord, thy God, said unto thee, namely, by Samuel, the prophet, a fact which had become generally known, 1Sa 16:1-3; 2Sa 3:9-18, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, said of the fostering care which a king should show his people, and thou shalt be ruler over My people Israel.
v. 3. Therefore came all the elders of Israel, the representatives of the estates of the kingdom, to the king to Hebron, 2Sa 5:1-3; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, the entire nation thus acknowledging him as sovereign, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel, 1Sa 16:1 to 1Sa 12:13.
v. 4. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, that being the original name of the town, as the author thought it necessary to mention at this late date; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land; for this heathen nation had maintained its ancient location even after the conquest of the land by Joshua.
v. 5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, in an overconfident boast, Thou shalt not come hither; for even at that time the fortifications of their city were practically impregnable. Nevertheless, David took the castle of Zion, the strongest part of the city’s defenses, which is the City of David, the part afterward occupied by the royal residence.
v. 6. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. This is only a part of David’s speech, the complete promise being given 2Sa 5:8. So Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went first up and was chief, he became general of David’s army.
v. 7. And David dwelt in the castle, in the fortress of the city; therefore they called it the City of David.
v. 8. And he built the city round about, this upper section of Jerusalem, even from Millo, the fortress on the northwest corner of Zion, round about, returning to this corner after making the circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city, the lower city, which had naturally suffered during the siege of the city.
v. 9. So David waxed greater and greater, he increased in power continually; for the Lord of hosts, in whom alone he placed his trust, was with him. The same thought is uttered by St. Paul, when he says: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. "
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 45 all Israel came to David
all Israel came to David
This is a generalization that means people from every tribe in Israel came to David, but not every individual. AT: "people from throughout Israel came to David" or "people from every tribe in Israel came to David" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)
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we are your flesh and bone
This idiom means that they are relatives. AT: "we are your relatives" or "we have the same ancestors as you" (See: Idiom)
In the recent past
This is historical information. Saul had been their king before David. (See: Background Information)
You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become a ruler over my people Israel
These two clauses mean basically the same thing and emphasize that Yahweh had chosen David to be king. (See: Parallelism)
You will shepherd my people Israel
Here ruling over the people is spoken of as shepherding them. AT: "'You will care for my people Israel" or "You will lead my people Israel" (See: Metaphor)
They anointed David king over Israel
To "anoint" is a symbolic act to show that they recognized that God had chosen David as king. (See: Symbolic Action)
the word of Yahweh that had been declared by Samuel
This can be stated in active form. AT: "the word of Yahweh that Samuel had declared" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
Israel
David
Hebron
flesh
Saul (OT)
king
Yahweh
God
shepherd
people of God
rule
elder
covenant
anoint
true
word of God
Samuel
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 4, 10, 41 11:1-3 David first became king of Judah at Hebron…
11:1-3 David first became king of Judah at Hebron and ruled there 7½ years (3:4; 2 Sam 5:5). The Chronicler omits the account of that period (see 2 Sam 2–4) and focuses on David’s reign over the entire nation for 33½ years, beginning with his covenant . . . with all the elders of Israel at Hebron (see 2 Sam 5:1-5).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.