1 Chronicles 11

All the Israelites assembled at Hebron, v.1. &c. and anoint David King over them, 3. Therefore they repair to Jerusalem,4. David subdueth the city 5. By means of Joab,6. David goeth to dwell in the fort at Jerusalem, 7. That city is repaired, 8. David waxeth daily greater and greater, 9. Furthermore mention is made of the Champions, and chiefest Commanders and Officers of David, and if their valiant acts, 10. As of Jasobam, 11. Eleazar, 12. Davids longing to drink water out of the well under the gate of Bethlehem, 17. Which those three Champions fetch him, but he would not brink it, 18. Abisai is the third among these champions, 20. Benaja smitteth two Lions, 22. And a great Egyptian man, 23. The Champions in the army, 26.

1. Then all Israel gathered themselves unto David at Hebron, [Not that all and every individual person of all Israel was gathered together, but besides a great multitude of the commonalty, there were especially gathered together the eldest of the people and the heads of the tribes v.3. See below chap.12.23. So that this was as it were an assembly or convention of States or Parliament after Osboseths death] saying; Behold, we are thy bone, and thy flesh. [that is, thy kindred, and thy kinsmen. See the annotate. On Gen.29.14.]

2. Even also in time past, when Saul was yet king, [Hebr. also yesterday, also ere yesterday, also when Saul was the King] thou Leddest forth, and broughtest in Israel: Also the LORD thy God said unto thee, thou shalt feed people Israel, [to wit, as a sherperd feedeth his sheep. See Psal.78 71. Kings are often called shepheards of the people] and thou shalt be leader of my people Israel.

3. Also all the Eldest in Israel came unto the King to Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron, before the face of the LORD: And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by the ministery [Heb. hand] of Samuel.

4. And David, and all Israel, [That is, certain of the host out of all the tribes of Israel. See below chap.12.13.] went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus: For there the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land.

5. And the inhabitants of Jebus said unto David, thou shalt not come in hither: Never the less David took the fort of Zion, [To wit, the Fort that lay on mount Zion] which is the city of David.

6. For David said, who so ever smiteth the Jebusites first, shall be an head, [An head in this place signifieth a General over the host, or men of war] and a commander: then Joab the son of Zeruja went up first to them, therefore he beadme on head.

7. Now David dwelt in the Fort, therefore it was called the city of David.

8. And he built the city round about, from Millo, and round about: And Joab repaired the rest of the city. [Hebr. he made alive, etc. that is, he renewed, or he healed, repaired, or mended that which was fallen to decay. Oth. Let live, etc.]

9. And David went on still, and waxed great, [Hebr. went going, waxed great] for the LORD of host was with him.

10. Now these were the heads of the Champions which David had, who behaved themselves valiantly in his Kingdom with all Israel, [i.e. in the transaction concerning the kingdom. Therein did those men acquit themselves with all the Israelites very valiantly and courageously, especially kin the taking of Jebus] to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. [i.e. that he that in time past was anointed king by Samuel, might after Sauls death be settled and confirmed in the kingdom. For which end these champions assisted him against his enemies.]

11. Now these are of the number of the champions which David had: [Out of these did David chuse commanders, that were commonly with him in the camp] Jasobam the son of Hachmoni was the head of the thirty, who lifting up his spear against three hundred, smote them at once. [compare this with 2 Sam.23.8.]

12. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite: He was among those three champions. [Understand Jasobam, who was the first, Eleazar the second, and Samma the third, who is here passed by, but expressed 2 Sam.23.11. These three are those that fetch the water for David from the well at Bethlehem.]

13. He was with David at Has-Damuim, [Otherwise called Dammin, 1 Sam.17.1.] when the Philistines were gathered there together to battle, and the parcel of ground was full of barley, and the people fled before the face of the Philistines.

14. And they [To wit, the forementioned champions. See 2 Sam.23.11.] set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and defended it, and they smote the Philistines: And the LORD delivered then by a great deliverance.

15. And three of the thirty heads went down to the rock unto David in the cave of Adullam: And the host of the Philistines had camped themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

16. And David was then in the hold; And the garrison of Philistines was then at Bethlehem.

17. And David longed, and said, who will give me to drink (of) the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is under the gate? [That is, I wish there were some body that would give me to drink of that well, &c.]

18. Then those three brake thorough the camp of the Philistines, and drew [Oth. Filled] water out of the well of Bethlehem, which is under the gate, and they carried it, and they brought it unto David: But David would not drink it, but he poured it out before the LORD. [i.e. to the honor of God.]

19. And he said, my God cause that to be far from me, [Heb. be that far to me of, or, from my God] from doing it: should I drink the blood of these men? With Jeopardy of their lives, yea with jeopardy of their lives [Heb. with, or, upon their souls: That is, with peril of their lives. David repeateth or iterateth his former words, through great admiration. See the like phrase Gen.49.4.] have they brought it: And he would not drink it. This the three champions did.

20. Now Abisai the brother of Joab, he was the head of three, [to wit, of whom straightway mentioned will be made, of Abisai in this 20. Verse, of Benaja, vers.22. and of Asahel, v.26. according to the opinion of some] and he lifting up his spear against three hundred, smote them. So he had a name among those three. [oth. But he had not a name among those three. The diversity of exposition ariseth out of the diversity of writing and reading the Hebrew text.]

21. Of those three he was honored above the two, therefore he became chief: But he came not (up) to those (first) three. [The meaning is, that for strength and valiant acts he was not to be compared with the former other three, of whom is spoken v.15.]

22. Benaja the son of Jojada, a valiant mans son of Kabzeel, [This was a city lying in the tribe of Juda, Jos.15.21.] was great in acts: He smote two strong lions of Moab: [see 2 Sam.23.20. Some understand here by Lions, strong men like lions] he also went down and smote a lion in the midst of the den [i.e. in a pit, or ditch] in snow-time. [Heb. in the day of snow, or, in a snowy-day.]

23. He smote also an Egyptian, a man of great stature [Heb. a man of mature. That is, that is man of great measure and tallness. See 2 Sam.23.21.] of five ells, [Goliath was six ells and span long, 1 Sam.17.4.] and that Egyptian had a spear kin (his) hand like a weavers beam; [i.e. as thick as a weavers beam. Goliaths spear was as thick] but he went down to him with a staff, [a staff and sling were also Davids weapons, when he went to fight with Goliath] and he pluck the spear out of the Egyptians hand, and he slew him with his (own) spear. [David had likewise done this, 1 Sam.17.51.]

24. These things did Benaja the son of Jehojada: therefore he had a name [That is, he was famous, to wit, by reason of his strength and power] among those three Worthies. [these three champions were in the second rank, and were these, ABisai, Benaja, and Asahel.]

25. Behold, he was the most honorable of those thirty [See 2 Sam.23.24. where these thirty, and other besides are named] yet he came not (up) to the three: [to wit, of whom is spoken, ver.18.] and David set him over his guard. [Heb. over his obedience; that is, over his obedient (servants), understanding by them his Lifeguard, which were always with and about the King, to obey and execute his commands.]

26. Now the chamions of the hosts were Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem. [Otherwise, Elehanan his Uncles son of Bethlehem.]

27. Sammoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite.

28. Ira the son of Ikkes the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anthothite.

29. Sibbechai the Husathite, Ilai the Ahohite.

30. Mecharai the Netophathite, Holed the son of Baama the Netophathite.

31. Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibea of the children of Benjanim: Benaja the Pirhathonite.

32. Harai of the brooks of Gaas, [Oth. Of one of the valleys, or, low grounds: that is, of one of them] Abiel the Arhathite.

33. Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eljaha the Saalbonite.

34. (Of) the children of Harem the Gizonite was Jonathan the son of Sage the Hararite.

35. Ahiam the son of Zachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur.

36. Hepher the Mecheratite, Ahija the Pelonite.

37. Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai.

38. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Geri.

39. Zelek the Ammonites, Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab the son Zeruja.

40. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite.

41. Urija the Hethite, Zabad the son of Ablai.

42. Adina the son of Siza the Rubenite was the head of the Rubenites, yet there were thirty above him. [That is, the thirty Champions, of whom mention was made before, excelled Hadina, and those that are named here after, in strength and achievements.]

43. Hanan the son of Maacha, and Josaphat the Mithnite.

44. Ussija the Afteratite: Sania and Jeiel the son of Hotham, the Areorite.

45. Jediael the son of Simri, and Joha his brother the Tizite.

46. Eliel Hammahavim, and Jeribai, and Josavia the sons of Elnaam: and Ithma the Moabite.

47. Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel of Mezobaja.