CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>2 Samuel 23 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/2_samuel/23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/2_samuel/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../2_samuel/">2 Samuel</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/22.htm" title="2 Samuel 22">◄</a> 2 Samuel 23 <a href="../2_samuel/24.htm" title="2 Samuel 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"><span class= "bld">XXIII.</span><p>This chapter consists of two entirely distinct parts. The first seven verses are “the last words of David,” his last formal and inspired utterance; the rest of the chapter (<a href="/context/2_samuel/23-8.htm" title="These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.">2Samuel 23:8-39</a>) is an enumeration of the heroes of his life and reign. This prophecy has not been incorporated into the Book of Psalms, because it is not a hymn for public worship, although an unquestionable utterance of David, and laying especial claim to Divine inspiration.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm">2 Samuel 23:1</a></div><div class="verse">Now these <i>be</i> the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man <i>who was</i> raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,</div>(1) <span class= "bld">The son of Jesse said.</span>—The description of the human author of the following prophecy is strikingly analogous to that of Balaam in <a href="/context/numbers/24-3.htm" title="And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:">Numbers 24:3-4</a>; <a href="/context/numbers/24-15.htm" title="And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:">Numbers 24:15-16</a>. The word “said,” used twice, is a peculiar form (used between two hundred and three hundred times) of direct Divine utterances, and applied to human sayings only here, in the places referred to in Numbers, and in <a href="/proverbs/30-1.htm" title="The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,">Proverbs 30:1</a>, in all which special claim is made to inspiration.<p><span class= "bld">The sweet psalmist of Israel.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">He that is pleasant in Israel’s psalms, i.e., </span>by the composition and arrangement of Israel’s liturgical songs he was entitled to be called “pleasant.” David, with life now closing, fitly sends down this prophetic song to posterity with such description of its human writer as should secure to it authority.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-2.htm">2 Samuel 23:2</a></div><div class="verse">The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word <i>was</i> in my tongue.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">The Spirit of the Lord spake by me.</span>—In accordance with <a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm" title="Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,">2Samuel 23:1</a>, there is here, and also in the next clause, most explicit assertion that this was spoken under the prompting and guidance of the Divine Spirit.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-3.htm">2 Samuel 23:3</a></div><div class="verse">The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men <i>must be</i> just, ruling in the fear of God.</div>(3) <span class= "bld">The Rock of Israel.</span>—Comp. <a href="/2_samuel/22-3.htm" title="The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.">2Samuel 22:3</a>. A frequent Scriptural comparison, appropriate here, to show the perfect reliability of what God declares.<p><span class= "bld">He that ruleth.</span>—The English gives the true sense, but the original is exceedingly elliptical, both here and in the following verse. The fundamental point of all just government has never been more perfectly set forth:—that it must be “in the fear of God.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-4.htm">2 Samuel 23:4</a></div><div class="verse">And <i>he shall be</i> as the light of the morning, <i>when</i> the sun riseth, <i>even</i> a morning without clouds; <i>as</i> the tender grass <i>springing</i> out of the earth by clear shining after rain.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">A morning without clouds.</span>—This description of the blessings of the ideally perfect government is closely connected with the Divine promise made through Nathan (2 Samuel 7). David recognises that the ruler of God’s people must be just, and here, as in Psalms 72, the highest blessings are depicted as flowing from such a government. David knew far too much of the evil of his own heart and of the troubles in his household to suppose that his ideal could be perfectly realised in any other of his descendants than in Him who should “crush the serpent’s head “and win the victory over the powers of evil. The sense of the verse will be made clearer by the following translation: “And as the light of the morning when the sun ariseth, a morning without clouds; <span class= "ital">as </span>by means of sunlight and by means of rain the tender grass <span class= "ital">grows </span>from the earth:—is not my house so with God?”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-5.htm">2 Samuel 23:5</a></div><div class="verse">Although my house <i>be</i> not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all <i>things</i>, and sure: for <i>this is</i> all my salvation, and all <i>my</i> desire, although he make <i>it</i> not to grow.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">Although my house.</span>—This verse is extremely difficult, and admits of two interpretations. That given in the English is found in the LXX., the Vulg., and the Syriac, and if adopted will mean that David recognises how far he and his house have failed to realise the ideal description set forth; yet since God’s promise is sure, this must be realised in his posterity. Most modern commentators, however, prefer to take the clauses interrogatively: “Is not my house thus with God? for He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all, and sure. For all my salvation and all my desire, shall He not cause it to spring forth?” The Hebrew admits either rendering, but that of the ancient versions gives a higher idea of David’s spiritual discernment.<p><span class= "bld">Ordered in all.</span>—As a carefully drawn legal document, providing for all contingencies and leaving no room for misconstruction.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-6.htm">2 Samuel 23:6</a></div><div class="verse">But <i>the sons</i> of Belial <i>shall be</i> all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:</div>(6) <span class= "bld">The sons of Belial.</span>—According to the Masoretic punctuation, <span class= "ital">Belial </span>is not here in the common form, but in the stronger abstract form<span class= "ital">=worthlessness. </span>The coming in of Divine righteousness leads not only to the assimilation of that which is holy, but also to the rejection of that which is evil, by a law as necessary and immutable as that of action and reaction in the material world. The figures used are to show that, although the wicked injure whatever touches them, means will yet be found by which they may safely be put out of the way.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-7.htm">2 Samuel 23:7</a></div><div class="verse">But the man <i>that</i> shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the <i>same</i> place.</div>(7) <span class= "bld">Fenced with iron.</span>—The thorns are to be handled with an iron hook on the end of a spear staff. The phrase, “in the same place,” is used only here, and its meaning is quite uncertain. The Vulg. translates, <span class= "ital">to nothing, </span>meaning to utter destruction; the LXX. substitutes the word <span class= "ital">shame. </span>The English rendering is as well sustained as any.<p>The Chaldee Targum upon these verses is very interesting, as giving the ancient Jewish interpretation of the prophecy. It is a much enlarged paraphrase, but gives a Messianic application to the whole. The following is a close translation of <a href="/context/2_samuel/23-1.htm" title="Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,">2Samuel 23:1-3</a> : “(1) These are the words of the prophecy of David, which he prophesied concerning the end of the age, concerning the days of consolation which are to come. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was exalted to the kingdom said, the anointed by the word of the God of Jacob, and appointed that he might preside over the sweetness of the praises of Israel. (2) David said, In the spirit of prophecy of the Lord I speak these things, and the words of His holiness do I order in my mouth. (3) David said, The God of Israel spake concerning me, the Strong One of Israel who ruleth over the sons of men, the true Judge, said that He would appoint for me a king; He is the Messiah, who shall arise and rule in the fear of the Lord.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-8.htm">2 Samuel 23:8</a></div><div class="verse">These <i>be</i> the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same <i>was</i> Adino the Eznite: <i>he lift up his spear</i> against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">These be the names.</span>—Here, in the summary at the close of David’s reign, is very naturally given a list of his chief heroes. A duplicate of this list, with several variations, and with sixteen more names, is given in <a href="/context/1_chronicles/11-10.htm" title="These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.">1Chronicles 11:10-47</a>, which is useful in correcting such clerical errors as have arisen in both. The list in Chronicles is given in connection with David’s becoming king over all Israel; but in both cases the list is not to be understood as belonging precisely to any definite time, but rather as a catalogue of the chief heroes who distinguished themselves at any time in the life of David.<p><span class= "bld">The Tachmonite that sat in the seat.</span>—The text of this verse has undergone several alterations, which may be corrected by the parallel passage in Chronicles. This clause should read, “Jashobeam the Hachmonite,” as in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-11.htm" title="And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.">1Chronicles 11:11</a>. Jashobeam came to David at Ziklag (<a href="/1_chronicles/12-1.htm" title="Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.">1Chronicles 12:1</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/12-6.htm" title="Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,">1Chronicles 12:6</a>), and afterwards became the general of the first division of the army (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-2.htm" title="Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:2</a>), being immediately followed by Dodo. One of the same family was tutor to David’s sons (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-32.htm" title="Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:">1Chronicles 27:32</a>).<p><span class= "bld">The captains.</span>—The word for <span class= "ital">captain </span>and the word for <span class= "ital">three </span>are much alike, and the text here and in Chronicles perpetually fluctuates between the two. Probably the sense here is that Jashobeam was the chief of the three who stood highest in rank among the heroes.<p>No mention is made in either list of Joab, because, as commander-in-chief, he stood in a rank by himself.<p><span class= "bld">The same was Adino the Eznite.</span>—It is difficult to attach any meaning to these words in their connection, and they are generally considered as a corruption of the words in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-11.htm" title="And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.">1Chronicles 11:11</a>, “he lifted up his spear,” which are required and are inserted here in the English. For “eight hundred” Chronicles has “three hundred,” as in <a href="/2_samuel/23-18.htm" title="And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.">2Samuel 23:18</a>. Variations in numbers are exceedingly common, but the probability is in favour of the correctness of the text here. This large number was slain by Jashobeam and the men under his command in one combat.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-9.htm">2 Samuel 23:9</a></div><div class="verse">And after him <i>was</i> Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, <i>one</i> of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines <i>that</i> were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:</div>(9) <span class= "bld">Dodo the Ahohite.</span>—So in the Hebrew margin here, and so also in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-12.htm" title="And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.">1Chronicles 11:12</a>; the text here has Dodai, as in <a href="/1_chronicles/27-4.htm" title="And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:4</a>, where he is mentioned as the general for the second month. The name is the same under slightly differing forms. “Ahohite” is a patronymic derived from Ahoah, son of Bela, Benjamin’s son (<a href="/1_chronicles/8-4.htm" title="And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,">1Chronicles 8:4</a>).<p><span class= "bld">When they defied . . . there gathered.</span>—The words “there gathered” require the mention of some place, and the construction of the word for “defied” is unusual. The parallel passage in Chronicles reads, “He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines,” &c. The difference between the two readings is not great in the original, and the latter is better. Pas-dammim is the Ephes-dammim of <a href="/1_samuel/17-1.htm" title="Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.">1Samuel 17:1</a>, where Goliath defied the armies of Israel, and was slain by David.<p><span class= "bld">Were gone away</span>—Rather, were <span class= "ital">gathered </span>to battle. So it is translated in the LXX., Vulg., and Syriac, and so the Hebrew requires. The error is a curious one, and seems to have arisen in this way: In <a href="/1_chronicles/11-13.htm" title="He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.">1Chronicles 11:13</a> the mention of the battle in which Shammah was engaged (<a href="/2_samuel/23-11.htm" title="And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines.">2Samuel 23:11</a>) is altogether omitted, and the expression “the people fled from before the Philistines” therefore becomes connected with this battle. Josephus follows that text, and our translators were probably misled by him. Several lines have dropped out from the text in Chronicles.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-10.htm">2 Samuel 23:10</a></div><div class="verse">He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">Clave unto the sword.</span>—Instances are rare, but well authenticated, of a sort of cramp following excessive exertion, so that the hand could only be released from the sword by external appliances.<p><span class= "bld">Returned after him.</span>—Does not imply that they had at any time deserted him, but only that they turned wherever he went to gather the spoil of the men he slew.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-11.htm">2 Samuel 23:11</a></div><div class="verse">And after him <i>was</i> Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">Into a troop.</span>—Josephus, using different vowels, read “to Lehi,” the scene of Samson’s exploit (<a href="/judges/15-9.htm" title="Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.">Judges 15:9</a>; <a href="/judges/15-19.htm" title="But God split an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water out of there; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: why he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.">Judges 15:19</a>); but as the same word recurs in <a href="/2_samuel/23-13.htm" title="And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.">2Samuel 23:13</a>, clearly in the sense of “troop,” the English reading should be retained.<p><span class= "bld">Lentiles.</span>—Chronicles has “barley.” The two words might easily be confounded in the Hebrew, and it is quite immaterial which is correct; the point is that the Philistines had made a foray to gather the ripe crops, the Israelites were terrified and fled, while Shammah, by his courage and valour, turned the tide of battle, and won a great victory.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-13.htm">2 Samuel 23:13</a></div><div class="verse">And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">Three of the thirty.</span>—For “three” the Hebrew text reads “thirty” by a manifest error, which is corrected in the margin. These are not the same three (since there is no definite article) with those just mentioned, but were another three more eminent than the rest of the thirty, two of them being, no doubt, Abishai and Benaiah (<a href="/2_samuel/23-18.htm" title="And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.">2Samuel 23:18</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-23.htm" title="He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.">2Samuel 23:23</a>). “The thirty” seems to have been a common name for this band of heroes (comp. <a href="/context/2_samuel/23-23.htm" title="He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.">2Samuel 23:23-24</a>, &c), who were perhaps originally exactly thirty, but whose number varied from time to time, being here given (<a href="/2_samuel/23-39.htm" title="Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.">2Samuel 23:39</a>) as thirty-seven.<p><span class= "bld">In the harvest time.</span>—“The preposition does not mean <span class= "ital">in, </span>and the reading in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-15.htm" title="Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.">1Chronicles 11:15</a> ‘to the rock’ is perhaps the true one” (<span class= "ital">Kirkpatrick</span>)<span class= "ital">. </span>On “the valley of Rephaim,” see Note on <a href="/2_samuel/5-18.htm" title="The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.">2Samuel 5:18</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-15.htm">2 Samuel 23:15</a></div><div class="verse">And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which <i>is</i> by the gate!</div>(15) <span class= "bld">The well of Bethlehem.</span>—There are now no wells of living water at Bethlehem itself, the town being supplied by an aqueduct. Robinson could find none in the neighbourhood, and was assured that none existed (<span class= "ital">Bib. R. </span>ii. 157-163); but Ritter (<span class= "ital">Geog. of Pal. </span>iii. 340) says that a little north of the town “is” David’s well, “with its deep shaft and its clear cool water.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-16.htm">2 Samuel 23:16</a></div><div class="verse">And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that <i>was</i> by the gate, and took <i>it</i>, and brought <i>it</i> to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">Poured it out unto the Lord.</span>—The brave act of the three heroes shows strikingly the personal power of David over his followers and the enthusiasm with which he inspired them. Yet, on the other hand, David would not suffer his own longing to be gratified by the hazard of men’s lives. Taking the water, therefore, he “poured it out unto the Lord.” The word is the technical term for the sacrificial libation, and David assimilated his act to a sacrifice by a solemn consecration of this dangerously won water to the Lord.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-17.htm">2 Samuel 23:17</a></div><div class="verse">And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: <i>is not this</i> the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.</div>(17) <span class= "bld">Is not this the blood . . .?</span>—The Hebrew here is simply an interrogative exclamation, “the blood of the men?” but in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-19.htm" title="And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.">1Chronicles 11:19</a> the text reads, “Shall I drink the blood of these men?” &c., and so the LXX. and Vulg. translate here. To David the water gained only at the risk of life, “seemed the very blood in which the life resides” (<a href="/context/leviticus/17-10.htm" title="And whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eats any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.">Leviticus 17:10-11</a>).<p><span class= "bld">These three.</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">the three.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-18.htm">2 Samuel 23:18</a></div><div class="verse">And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, <i>and</i> slew <i>them</i>, and had the name among three.</div>(18) <span class= "bld">Among three.</span>—The Hebrew margin has “the three,” and so also the text in the following clause. “The three” are the triad of heroes just mentioned, of whom Abishai was first, Benaiah second, with an unnamed third. A somewhat similar feat of daring is told of Abishai in <a href="/context/1_samuel/26-6.htm" title="Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with you.">1Samuel 26:6-12</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-20.htm">2 Samuel 23:20</a></div><div class="verse">And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:</div>(20) <span class= "bld">Benaiah.</span>—He was the general of the third division of the army (<a href="/context/1_chronicles/27-5.htm" title="The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:5-6</a>). This probably included the Cherethites and Pelethites, since he was also their commander (<a href="/2_samuel/8-18.htm" title="And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.">2Samuel 8:18</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/20-23.htm" title="Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:">2Samuel 20:23</a>). In consequence of his faithfulness to Solomon in the rebellion of Adonijah, he was finally made commander-in-chief (<a href="/1_kings/1-8.htm" title="But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.">1Kings 1:8</a>; <a href="/1_kings/1-26.htm" title="But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, has he not called.">1Kings 1:26</a>; <a href="/1_kings/1-32.htm" title="And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.">1Kings 1:32</a>; <a href="/1_kings/2-25.htm" title="And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him that he died.">1Kings 2:25</a>; <a href="/context/1_kings/2-29.htm" title="And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.">1Kings 2:29-35</a>; <a href="/1_kings/4-4.htm" title="And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:">1Kings 4:4</a>). His father Jehoiada is called “a chief priest “in <a href="/1_chronicles/27-5.htm" title="The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:5</a>, and in <a href="/1_chronicles/12-27.htm" title="And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;">1Chronicles 12:27</a> mention is made of a “Jehoiada the leader of the Aaronites,” who came to David at Hebron, and who may have been the same person.<p><span class= "bld">Kabzeel.</span>—A town on the extreme south of Judah, on the border of Edom (<a href="/joshua/15-21.htm" title="And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,">Joshua 15:21</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Lion-like men.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">lion of God, </span>an expression used among Arabs and Persians of great warriors.<p><span class= "bld">Slew a lion.</span>—Comp. <a href="/context/1_samuel/17-34.htm" title="And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:">1Samuel 17:34-37</a>. It is not said with what weapons he slew him, but the act was evidently a great feat of valour.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-21.htm">2 Samuel 23:21</a></div><div class="verse">And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.</div>(21) <span class= "bld">A goodly man.</span>—The meaning is explained in the parallel place in Chronicles, where he is called “a man of stature,” and it is added “five cubits high.” Benaiah’s exploit, therefore, consisted in coming, armed only with a staff, to this giant Egyptian, wresting his spear from him, and then slaying him with it.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-23.htm">2 Samuel 23:23</a></div><div class="verse">He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the <i>first</i> three. And David set him over his guard.</div>(23) <span class= "bld">Set him over his guard.</span>—The word translated <span class= "ital">guard </span>means rather <span class= "ital">private audience. </span>David either made him a member of, or set him over his council. If in <a href="/1_chronicles/27-34.htm" title="And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.">1Chronicles 27:34</a> “Jehoiada son of Benaiah” is an error for “Benaiah son of Jehoiada,” his holding of this office is also mentioned there.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-24.htm">2 Samuel 23:24</a></div><div class="verse">Asahel the brother of Joab <i>was</i> one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,</div>(24) <span class= "bld">Asahel.</span>—As he was killed by Abner while David reigned over Judah only, it is plain that this list is not restricted to any one definite time in David’s reign. Leaving out Asahel, however, the names that follow are exactly “thirty.” Of but few of them is anything further known.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-25.htm">2 Samuel 23:25</a></div><div class="verse">Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,</div>(25) <span class= "bld">Shammah the Harodite.</span>—In <a href="/1_chronicles/11-27.htm" title="Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,">1Chronicles 11:27</a> <span class= "ital">Shammoth the Harorite. </span>He may be the same with “Shamhuth the Izrahite,” captain of the fifth division of the army (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-8.htm" title="The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:8</a>). The next name is omitted in Chronicles.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-26.htm">2 Samuel 23:26</a></div><div class="verse">Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,</div>(26) <span class= "bld">Helez.</span>—He was general of the seventh army division (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-10.htm" title="The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:10</a>). There, and also in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-27.htm" title="Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,">1Chronicles 11:27</a>, he is called a <span class= "ital">Pelonite.</span><p><span class= "bld">Ira</span> was general for the sixth month (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-9.htm" title="The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:9</a>). His home, Tekoah, was about six miles south of Bethlehem.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-27.htm">2 Samuel 23:27</a></div><div class="verse">Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,</div>(27) <span class= "bld">Abiezer.</span>—He was general for the ninth month (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-12.htm" title="The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:12</a>). He was of Anathoth, a priestly city of Benjamin, the home of Jeremiah.<p><span class= "bld">Mebunnai.</span>—According to <a href="/2_samuel/21-18.htm" title="And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.">2Samuel 21:18</a> <span class= "ital">Sibbechai, </span>and to <a href="/1_chronicles/11-29.htm" title="Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,">1Chronicles 11:29</a> <span class= "ital">Sibbecai, </span>these being the same in the Hebrew. The two names are much alike in the original and might be easily confused. He slew the giant Saph (<a href="/2_samuel/21-18.htm" title="And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.">2Samuel 21:18</a>), and was the general for the eighth month (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-11.htm" title="The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:11</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-28.htm">2 Samuel 23:28</a></div><div class="verse">Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,</div>(28) <span class= "bld">Zalmon.</span>—In Chronicles <span class= "ital">Ilai.</span><p><span class= "bld">Maharai.</span>—He commanded the tenth division of the army (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-13.htm" title="The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:13</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-29.htm">2 Samuel 23:29</a></div><div class="verse">Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,</div>(29) <span class= "bld">Heleb.</span>—The name is variously written <span class= "ital">Heled </span>(<a href="/1_chronicles/11-30.htm" title="Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,">1Chronicles 11:30</a>) and Heldai (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-15.htm" title="The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:15</a>). He was the general for the twelfth month.<p><span class= "bld">Ittai,</span> or <span class= "ital">Ithai </span>(<a href="/1_chronicles/11-31.htm" title="Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,">1Chronicles 11:31</a>), is to be distinguished from Ittai the Gittite, since this man was from Gibeah of Benjamin.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-30.htm">2 Samuel 23:30</a></div><div class="verse">Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,</div>(30) <span class= "bld">Benaiah the Pirathonite.</span>—He was general for the eleventh month (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-14.htm" title="The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.">1Chronicles 27:14</a>). He is of course to be distinguished from Benaiah of <a href="/2_samuel/23-20.htm" title="And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow:">2Samuel 23:20</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Hiddai.</span>—In <a href="/1_chronicles/11-32.htm" title="Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,">1Chronicles 11:32</a>, <span class= "ital">Hurai, </span>owing to the frequent confusion of <span class= "ital">d </span>and <span class= "ital">r.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-31.htm">2 Samuel 23:31</a></div><div class="verse">Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,</div>(31) <span class= "bld">Abi-albon.</span>—In <a href="/1_chronicles/11-32.htm" title="Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,">1Chronicles 11:32</a> written <span class= "ital">Abiel, </span>probably correctly, the <span class= "ital">albon </span>having come in from <span class= "ital">Sha-albon-ite </span>in the line below.<p><span class= "bld">The Barhumite.</span>—More correctly, <span class= "ital">the Baharumite, i.e., </span>of the Bahurim mentioned in <a href="/2_samuel/3-16.htm" title="And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.">2Samuel 3:16</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/19-16.htm" title="And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.">2Samuel 19:16</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-32.htm">2 Samuel 23:32</a></div><div class="verse">Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,</div>(32) <span class= "bld">Of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan.</span>—The preposition <span class= "ital">of </span>is not in the Hebrew, and should be omitted. For the rest <a href="/1_chronicles/11-34.htm" title="The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,">1Chronicles 11:34</a> reads “the sons of Hashem the Gizonite. In both the words <span class= "ital">the sons of </span>may be an accidental repetition of the last three letters of the preceding word; if not, they should be read as part of the proper name, <span class= "ital">Jashen </span>(Chronicles <span class= "ital">Hashem</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>or <span class= "ital">Bnejashen </span>(Chronicles <span class= "ital">Bnehashem</span>)<span class= "ital"> the Gizonite. </span>Jonathan is then a separate name.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-33.htm">2 Samuel 23:33</a></div><div class="verse">Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,</div>(33) <span class= "bld">Shammah the Hararite.</span>—“Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite” has already been mentioned in <a href="/2_samuel/23-11.htm" title="And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines.">2Samuel 23:11</a>, and here Chronicles reads “Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite.” As <span class= "ital">Shage </span>is identical with <span class= "ital">Agee </span>with a letter prefixed, we should probably read “Jonathan the son of Shammah the Hararite.” Jonathan, one of “the thirty,” was thus the son of one of “the first three.”<p><span class= "bld">Sharar</span> is in Chronicles <span class= "ital">Sacar, </span>and <span class= "ital">Hararite </span>is spelt in the Hebrew here differently from the previous clause and from Chronicles.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm">2 Samuel 23:34</a></div><div class="verse">Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,</div>(34) <span class= "bld">Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai.</span>—The reading in Chronicles is quite different: “Eliphal the son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite,” thus making two heroes instead of the one given here. So, also, instead of “Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,” Chronicles has <span class= "ital">Ahijah the Pelonite. </span>In the latter case it seems likely that different persons are intended, one being mentioned in one list and the other in the other. It is interesting to know that a son of David’s astute but treacherous counsellor was among his thirty heroes.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-35.htm">2 Samuel 23:35</a></div><div class="verse">Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,</div>(35) <span class= "bld">Hezrai.</span>—So the Hebrew margin; but the text has <span class= "ital">Hezro, </span>as in Chronicles. He was of Carmel, seven miles S.S.E. of Hebron, famous in David’s early history.<p><span class= "bld">Paarai the Arbite.</span>—In Chronicles “Naarai the son of Ezbai.” It is impossible to decide whether <span class= "ital">Paarai </span>or <span class= "ital">Naarai </span>is the correct form, but <span class= "ital">the son of Ezbai </span>is evidently a scribe’s error for <span class= "ital">the Arbite, </span>which it must resemble in the original.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-36.htm">2 Samuel 23:36</a></div><div class="verse">Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,</div>(36) <span class= "bld">Igal.</span>—Chronicles has <span class= "ital">Joel. </span>The two names differ in Hebrew only in one letter, and that a very similar one; but he is described here as <span class= "ital">the son of Nathan of Zobah, </span>in Chronicles as <span class= "ital">the brother of Nathan. Brother </span>is in Hebrew <span class= "ital">ahi, </span>and some MSS. in Chronicles read <span class= "ital">the son of Ahinathan. </span>If this be accepted, the only difference would be in the form of a name, <span class= "ital">Nathan </span>or <span class= "ital">Ahinathan.</span><p><span class= "bld">Bani the Gadite.</span>—In Chronicles <span class= "ital">Mibhar the son of Haggeri. </span>Entirely unlike as these readings appear, they are not so very different in the original. <span class= "ital">Mibhar </span>is for Zobah of the previous clause, a word at present missing in Chronicles; <span class= "ital">the son of </span>(<span class= "ital">Ben</span>) is for Bani; and <span class= "ital">the Gadite </span>(with the article) differs from <span class= "ital">Haggeri </span>only by the change of the often confused letters <span class= "ital">d </span>and r. The text here is the true one.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-37.htm">2 Samuel 23:37</a></div><div class="verse">Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,</div>(37) <span class= "bld">The Ammonite.</span>—A foreigner, like “Igal of Zobah” (a Syrian), and “Ittai the Gittite,” and “Uriah the Hittite,” who rose to distinction in David’s service, and all of whom were probably proselytes.<p><span class= "bld">Armourbearer.</span>—It appears from <a href="/2_samuel/18-15.htm" title="And ten young men that bore Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.">2Samuel 18:15</a> that Joab had ten armourbearers. This one was probably their chief.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/2_samuel/23-39.htm">2 Samuel 23:39</a></div><div class="verse">Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.</div>(39) <span class= "bld">Thirty and seven in all.</span>—Only thirty-six names have been given, but either the third unnamed person in the second triad of heroes is counted, or else in <a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm" title="Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,">2Samuel 23:34</a> the names of the two given in Chronicles should be substituted for the one in the text here.<p>In <a href="/context/1_chronicles/11-41.htm" title="Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,">1Chronicles 11:41-47</a> sixteen more names are given, either of men who took the place of these heroes as they died, or simply of other heroes thought worthy of record, though hardly reckoned with this especial body.<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. Used by Permission. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="/commentaries/ellicott/sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><br /><br /><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></body></html>