2 Samuel 23

2 Samuel 23:1

jyi OW these are the last words of David. He spake other words recorded in tbe next chapter, and in thenext book, before he died: but these were the last words that he spake by the Holy Ghost, as Abarbinel expounds, them. Who observes, that after he had composed. the* book of Psalms, and added the hymn mentioned in the, foregoing chapter unto it, then he spake these words; after which the influence of the Holy Spirit resided on hinv no more. The Chaldee paraphrase (which was always highly esteemed by the Jews) takes these words, as if they were a prophecy of the Messiah: for so it expounds them; Tliese are the words of the prophecy of David, which x he prophesied of the consummation of all things, in the ddy> of consolation, which is to come. David the son of Jesse said.] He remembers his low condition, when God was pleased to make choice of him to be a king.. The man who was raised up on high.] From feeding his father’s sheep, to rule the people of Israel. » Tlie anointed of the God of Jacob.] The Chaldee hath it, Anointed by the Word of the God of Jacob. The sweet Psalmist of Israel, said.] Who was inspired to compose many delightful hyinns in the praises of God,

2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of God spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. He would not have those hymns, nor what he spake now, looked upon as human compositions: but? as proceeding from a Divine influence, conferred upon him by the Holy Ghost….;

2 Samuel 23:3

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel fpake to me. By Nathan or by Samuel. * He-thai ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.] Or, as we render it in the margin, Be thouruler over, &c. which the Chaldee expounds of the Messiah in this* manner, The faithful God spake (so he interprets the word Rock), I will constitute to me a king, he is the Messiah, who. shall arise, and reign in the fear of the Ijord. But this relates first to David, the type of Christ; who was taught to rule justly, and in the fear of God: that is, in.the.exact observance of all the Divine laws. Or, as Abarbinel in-, terprets it, When he that rides men is just, then the fear of the Lord will rtde and have dominion in the earth: for all the people are apt to tread in the steps of their king: so that when he that rules is just, it is as if he did not rule* but the fear of the Lord ruled in the earth, - * i..’; x "

2 Samuel 23:4

And he shall be. as the light of the.morning when the sun ariseth. The dominion of the just (as the. same* Abarbinel interprets it) shall’be. as the morning light, when the sun ariseth, and the light continually increases. v «■ V Microsoft ® 3G A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. xxm. Even a morning without clouds.’] Which hinder the rays of the sun from piercing through unto the earth. As* the tender* grass springing out of tlte earth by clear shining a/terrain.] We have in this translation quite transposed the Hebrew words, where they run thus, From splendour and from rain, grass oat of the earth. The sense of which Abarbincl thinks is this, It shall be such a morning, in which there is sometimes sunshine, and sometimes showers of rain, to make grass spring out of the earth.

2 Samuel 23:5

Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. Which ho thus interprets; Although the kingdom of a just man, by little and little, grows and increases; and sometimes is clouded, and sometimes the light shines upon it: the kingdom of David shall not be so, but God hath made a perpetual covenant, &c.. For this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he makes it not to grow*] Or, as he interprets it, This is all lily salvation, and my desire, that he would not make it grow or shoot up (for that supposes it to be buried), but that, as was said before, it may always remain in an equal manner ordered and conserved.. It must be. acknowledged, that there are no words so bbscure in this book as these two verses. The sense of which Ludovicus de Dieu seems to me to have most clearly opened: — The stability and perpetuity of his kingdom, saith he, David amplifies by a comparison from three natural things, which are very grateful to men, but not constant and stable; in a settled order and sure. For the sun arises, but.goes down again; and the morning may be clear, but clouds afterward arise; and the tender grass springs up, but witheris away. Not so;- saith he, is my kingdom before God. It is flourishing, like all these, but perpetual: for he hath made an everlasting covenant with me; though some afflictions havo befallen me; and he hath not made 411 my salvation and desire to grow. So he makes the first caph of similitude to-stand for three; and to be repeated thrice in this manner: — “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake concerning me; The just man ruleth among men: he ruleth in the fear of God. And as the sun ariseth, with a shining light; as the morning is without clouds, by reason of its splendour;*as from rain the tender grass springs out of the earth: yet (or truly) so is not my house with God. Because he hath made an everlasting covenant with me; disposed in all things, and well kept and preserved in that orders Although he doth not make all ray salvation and desire to grow (that is, though some adversities happen to mc and my family), yet that always Temains, which, in the Govenant of God made with me, is in all things orderly, disposed, and preserved.” i Ver. C. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as tliorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands.] The kingdom of impious men shall not be like the kingdom of the house of David: being so far from being like. to grass, which is useful, that they are rather like tliorns: which are. rejected as hurtful and pernicious. That is, such wicked men aro not fit for human society. r

2 Samuel 23:7

But the man that shall touch themmust be fenced withiron, and with the staff of a spear. If any body will incddlQ with them, it must be at his peril. For so the word jimmale (which wc translate /e/*c€<2) signifies sliall be fdled, with the iron and the staff of a spear. Spears are never used to out down thorns; but iron gives one a sore wound, like that which a man receives from a spear, when it runs into his body, iron and wood withal. So the same Dc Dieu very judiciously. Arid they shall be utterly burnt with fire in the same place.] Therefore men burn them with fire, in the samo place 1 where they grow’: and so wicked men are destroyed, where they think themselves most secure. Which the Targum applies to the judgment of the great day, saying, Their punishment is in the hand of man; but they shall be burnt up utterly, when the house of the great judgment appears: that they may sit on the throne of judgment, to judge the world.

2 Samuel 23:8

TJtese be the names of the mighty men whom David had. Now follows a catalogue of those valiant men who helped to raise David to his dignity, and preserve him in it: being continually with him in all his wars^ There is a list of them in 1 Chron. xi. very different from this in several things. But Abarbincl thinks that it creates no difficulty, if we do but observe, that there he distinguishes them into three classes: those that had always been with him; and they that came to him to Ziklag, a little before he was made king of Judah; and they that came to him to Hebron, afterhe was made king of all IsracL All whose memories were fit “to be preserved: but here, in this book, the Divine w T riter intended only to mention the most excellent heroes, who were always with him in his wars: and for whose sake” he composed the precedent song of praises to God. The Tachmonite that sat in the seat.] Or, as it is translated in the margin, Josheb-boshebat the Tachmonite: for so he is called in 1 Chron. xi. 11. Ishobeam; which may well be thought the same name abbreviated. He sat mtheseat (as we translate it here) in the council of war; next to Joab: being, it is thought, his lieutenant-general. For that he was one of the Sanhedrin, who sat in the seat of judgment, as some would have it, is not probable: though it is likely these w r ere men of greatwisdom as well as valour: and this man being called a Chachmonite, Abarbincl thinks it was because he was a man of learning, being given to study as >vell as fighting; for in Hebrew the word chacham signifies a wise man; as this was no question in military affairs/ if not in affairs of state, and other sorts of wisdom. Chief among the captains.] The principal commander, as Isaid, under Joab. Who is not here mentioned, though he was a great man, inferior to none of -these: but had stained himself by the base murder of two great persons, Abncr and Amasa. Which some take to be the reason why he had not the honour to be put into the number of those worthies who served David. •(The t same was Adino the; Ezrite).] It is thought he had two names, arid was q( the family of the Ezrites: though Abarbinel will have his name to have beenAdinohaezri. * lie lift up his spear.] These w r ords are supplied out of* 1 Chron. xi. 11. Against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.] In that place of the* Chronicles it is said he killed three-hundred: that is, after the slaughter he made in one battle of eight hundred; but killed in another (as Kimchi understands it) three hundred. ■’ Ver. D* And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo th& CHAP. XXIII.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.‘Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David.] He was a Benjamite, for Ahoahwas one of his sons, (1 Chron. viii.4,) When flicy defied the Philistines^ As Goliath had done Ihe Israelites, (1 Sam. xvii. 1.)* TJiat toere there gathered together to battle.) In Pasdammim, as we read 1 Chron. xi. 17. which is the same with Ephes-dammim, 1 Sam. xvii. 1. And the men of Israel were gone away.’] Fled from before the Philistines as it is explained 1 Chron. xi. 13.

2 Samuel 23:10

He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was iveary. With the slaughter that he made. And his hand clave unto his sword.] Being all besmeared with blood; which drying by the heat of it, made the sword cleave to his hand. And the Lord wrought a great victory that day.] Like that of Shamgar,’ Judg. iii. xdt. and of Samson, xv. 13. where I have shewn these are not incredible stories; God inspiring men with wonderful courage, and striking a terror into their enemies. Thdre were men in ancient times of prodigious strength, mentioned by Pliny, lib. vii. Nat. Histor. cap. 20.’ And the people returned after him only to spoil.] They that fled rallied again, when they’ saw the wonders he did: and followed after him, not to fight, but only to partake of the spoils •

2 Samuel 23:11

And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Ilararite. Who is not expressly mentioned in the book of the Chronicles; but plainly implied to be engaged in this great action. For it is said, 1 Chron. xi. 14* that they Set themselves, &c. that is,- Shammah and Eleazar, who joined in this enterprise. But this place in Samuel teaches us, that Shammah, the son of Agee, had the chief hand in it: and therefore it is ascribed to him..".*;; And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop.] Or, as we translate it in the margin, for forage. For so Ralbag interprets the Hebrew word chajja (which Kimchi takes to be a city), that they came to get some sustenance out of the field; Where teas a piece of ground full of lentiles.] In the Chronicles it is, full of barley. In which there is no difficulty, one part of the field being 1 sown with lentiles; and the other part with barley. \ And the people fled from the Philistines.] Fearing to defend the place.

2 Samuel 23:12

But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and, slew the Philistines. So that they could neither burn the corn, nor carry it away, nor tread it down. And the Lord wrought a great victory.] By hishand: who was one of the three most mighty men, though not particularly named in the book of the Chronicles. It being the manner of the Scripture, as the Jews observe, to propound that briefly in one place, which hath been at large explained in another: as this action of Shammah is here in this book.

2 Samuel 23:13

And three of the thirty chiefs. Or, as it is in the margin, three captains over the thirty. Not the three beforementioned, but the three that follow: who were -not so great as the first three; but yet greater than any of the thirty whom they commanded. Went down, and came to David in the harvest-time.] Or rather, as the Hebrew words are, at harvest. That is, saith Abarbincl, the Philistines came to destroy the fruits of -the earth, that they might famish the Israelites: whereupon David raised’ an army to protect and defend them in reaping of their harvest when they went about it. • Unto the cave of Adullam.] A place where. he had hid himself under the persecution of Saul, (1 Sam. xxii. 1.) and where he now fortified himself against the Philistines: who in the beginning of his reign came with great forces against him. For it is plain from 1 Chron. xi. 15. that there wasa rock or strong hold there. And the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.’] See 2 Sam. v. 17, 18.

2 Samuel 23:14

And David was then in • the hold. As in the place abovementioned; near Adullam, (1 Sam. xxii. 4;) And the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.^ They had possessed themselves of this “place, and put a garrison into it. • -

2 Samuel 23:15

And David longed, and said, Oh that one wotdd give me drink of the waters of Beth-lehem, which are by’the gatef. The weather being very hot (as it used to be in harvest-time), David was very thirsty, and said to some about him, how glad he should be of a draught of the waters of Beth-lehem: where he was born, and had lived a long time; and therefore had been accustomed to them> and knew how very pleasant and refreshing they were. But he did not speak this, as Abarbinel observes, to the end that any men should venture their lives, to fetch him some -of this water. \ ■ •’-■

2 Samuel 23:16

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, anddrew water out of the well of Beth lehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David.* This they did without David’s knowledge; and the forenamed author observes three wonderful things in this action. First, that three men could break through the whole host of the Philistines: and when they had so done, durst stay to draw water out of the well: and then carry it away with a high hand, through the same host, and hring it to David. To which he might have’ added a fourth thing, that tKey attempted this at the very gate of- Beth-lehem’: where, no doubt, the garrison of the Philistines kept the strongest guard. –.’■ Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but pouted it out unto the Lord.] Not in that place, where it was brought to him: but kept it (as Abarbinel thinks) till ho had opportunity to go to the altar, and there poured it out unto God; Some fancy that now* was -the feast of tabernacles] when: they used to draw water, and pour it out: and David made use of this for that purpose. (See 1 Sam. vii: 6.) There are mystical senses which the Jews please themselveswithal about this water, with which I shall not trouble the’ reader.

2 Samuel 23:17

And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he woidd not drink it.* He looked upon it no longer as water, but as theblood of those men who fetched it with the peril of their lives: and the blood of every thing belonged to the Lord; and was proper to be offered unto him. Some carry thisso far to another sense, that they imagine David hereby shewe&it Was not material water he longed for; but the Messiah, who had tho water of life. Who he knew should beborn at Beth-lehem: which the Philistines therefore should not/ be able to destroy. • • *\ 3C2 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XXIII. Tliese things did these three mighty men.’] They all joined in this hazardous exploit: but now follows what they did singly.

2 Samuel 23:18

And Abishai the brother o/Joab, the son ofZeruiah, was chief among three. The chief of those three mighty men beforenientioned. (See 1 Chron. xi. 20.) - And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew ihem, and had the name among three.] That is, was most eminent and famous of those three.:.,.;j. ■• V<*r. 19. Was he not most honourable of them?.therefore he was their captain.] That is, no doubt, he was worthy to be’thti leader of them. [. /

2 Samuel 23:20

And Benaiah the son ofJehoiada, the son of a valiant man ofKabzeel. He was descended from valiant ancestors: whom he far excelled. Kabzccl was in the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 21.) Who had done many acts.] As Abishai also had done (for he. succoured David when a giant had like to have killed him), but their greatest acts only arc here mentioned. He slew tivo lion-like men ofMoab.] The Hebrew word ariel signifies a lion of God, that is, a great lion. And it was the name among the Moabites for a very valiant man; who at this day, among the Arabians, is called Assedollabi, a lion of.God, as Bochartus hath observed out of a great many authors in his Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. iii. cap. 1. He went down also and slew a lion in tlie midst of a pit in time of snoiv.] This action was the greater, because in the time “of snow lions are fiercer for want of prey, and are then also fullest of heat and vigour. But it is not likely that Benaiah went to encounter this lion merely to shew his bravery; but, as some think, this was a lion that had (lone much mischief to the country; which moved him to expose himself to this combat with it. But Bochartus doth not think this likely; for he needed not have hazarded his life, but have called others unto his assistance, to destroy this ravenous beast. He thinks, therefore, that in a deep Snow; the lion took shelter in a cave (for so the wprd we translate pit sometimes signifies), and that Benaiah being. abroad in that snowy season, came into the same place to defend himself from the severity of the weather; where’ he was necessitated to enter into a combat with the lion; whom he found there, and came with open mouth to devour him. He compares him to Alexander the Great, upon whom a lion of great bigness running, he gave him such a wound as killed him. So did Lysimachus with another. (See Hieroz.par. i.lib. iii. cap. 5.) Abarbincl observes three great things in this action. First, that he slew a lion, which is the fiercest of all wild beasts: secondly, he slew him in a pit, where he could not turn himself as he pleased: and, thirdly, in a time of.snow, when his hands and feet were cold and* numb; which hindered their vital operations.

2 Samuel 23:21

And he slew art Egyptian, a goodly man. A person of great stature. (See 1 Chron. xi. 23.) i, And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand.] See there. And hexvent down with a staff.] Such as men used to walk with. And plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and stew him with his own spear.] This shews him to have been both a fearless person, and of great skill and dexterity, in managing a combat either with man or beast.

2 Samuel 23:22

TJiese things did Benaiah the son ofJehoiada, and had the name among the three mighty men. AVho the third was is not said plainly, either here or in the book of the Chronicles. Abarbincl thinks he might possibly join with the other two, but did no mighty matter by himself; and so is not mentioned. But perhaps. Adina, the son of Shiza, might be the third; because it is said, 1 Chron. xi. 42. that he was " a captain of the Heubenites, and thirty with him.” Which seems to signify that he was above the thirty, as Abishai and Benaiah were.

2 Samuel 23:23

He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. Was not comparable to Adino, and Eleazar, and Shammah, w T ho were like lions; as these were like lions’ whelps, as Strigelius glosses. And David set hint over his guard.] See chap. viii. 18. Yer. 24. And Asahel, the brother ofJoab, was one of the thirty.] Now follow the names of thirty valiant men, but not equal to the worthies beforenamed. Asahel seems to have been the chief of the thirty; and;so some translate the words, he was above the thirty: and so might be the last of the three of the second order of worthies. Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem.] Concerning whom we find nothing recorded but this: That he was born and bred (it is likely) in the same place with David.

2 Samuel 23:25

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite. The first of these is called Shammoth in 1 Chron. xi. 27. and he is said to be an Haroritc. Which is a very’ small variation, resch being put in the place of daleth, as is very common in Scripture, according to the various pronunciation of words in divers parts of the country. There is a greater difference in the name that follows, and in many others; it being common, as Abarbincl observes, for men to have two names. But it is plain the same persons arc here mentioned that are in the book of Chronicles; though there (as he notes) are more added. For the author of that book reckons up all the chief commanders in the army; so that, though they were not heroical persons in themselves, yet, being great commanders over others, Ezra thought fit to mention them. But here, in the book of Samuel, the prophet only numbers those that w r ere of themselves great heroes, not minding the chief commanders in the army wlm were not so. Ver. 2G. Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikketh the Tekoite.] None of the memorable acts of these, or of the following worthies, are recorded; therefore all that I can say of them is this: That when God intended to raise a king to a great height, as he did David, he raised up the spirits of several great men to assist him. Thus he did with Alexander the Great, who had Clitus, Parmenio,, Antigonus, Ptolemaius, Seleucus, Cratcrus, and other brave men to accompany him in all his enterprises; but David (it may be truly observed), in a less kingdom, had far more.,

2 Samuel 23:27

Abiezer the Anetholhite, Mebunnai the Husha* thite.

2 Samuel 23:28

Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite.

2 Samuel 23:29

Heleb the son of Baanah a Netophathite, It Ltd the son ofRibai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin.

2 Samuel 23:30

Benaiah the Pirathonite, Iliddai of the brooks of Gaash.

2 Samuel 23:31

Abi: albon the Arbathite, Azmaveih the Barhu mite ^rosoft ® •’ • • - CHAP. XXIV.* THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.

2 Samuel 23:32

Eliahba the Shaalbonite; of the sons ofJashen, Jonathan. \ »•;•.

2 Samuel 23:33

Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite.

2 Samuel 23:34

EUphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.

2 Samuel 23:35

Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite. Ver.. 36. Jgal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite.

2 Samuel 23:37

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son ofZeruiah:

2 Samuel 23:38

Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

2 Samuel 23:39

Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. Here are only thirty and six named; therefore Joab is supposed, by Abarbinel, to be the other; who was the head of them all,