1.
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,
Chapter 23 follows 24, but is placed here (by the Figure of speech Hysterologia) so as to include David's "last words "with his "song" under his "worship", and make the correspondence shown in the Structure. See p. 414.
last words . Hence their importance.
words = discourse, message, oracle, revelation. Hebrew. dabar. App-73 .
said. Hebrew. na'am = to speak with assurance and authority.
man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .
God. Hebrew. 'Elohim. App-4 .
God of Jacob : i.e. the God Who met Jacob when he had nothing and deserved nothing (but wrath), and promised him all = therefore "the God of all grace". Compare Psalms 146:5 and 1 Peter 5:10 , referring to the grace which had called David.
2.
The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
Spirit = ruach . App-9 .
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
spake : referring to the substance of the Divine revelation. Hebrew. dabar = to utter. See App-73 .
word . Hebrew. millah. Used of a royal or divine decree (Psalms 19:14 .Daniel 3:22 , Daniel 3:28 , &c.)
3.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Israel . The higher title (not Jacob), because human instrumentality not in question here.
said . Here Hebrew. 'amar, referring to the matter of the Divine revelation. See App-73 .
spake . See note on "spike", 2 Samuel 23:2 .
men . Hebrew. 'adam, App-14 .
4.
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
And he shall be . Translate in present tense, describing such an ideal rule.
sun , Compare Psalms 72:6 , Psalms 72:7 , Psalms 72:16 , Jeremiah 23:5 , Jeremiah 23:6 . Malachi 4:2 .
5.
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
Although = For (Hebrew. ki)
GOD . Hebrew. 'El. App-4 .
Yet = for (Hebrew. ki)
For = (Hebrew. ki) . Punctuate and translate.
it = i.e. my house
6.
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
thrust away = put to flight, chased away.
taken = handled.
7.
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 . = furnished.
in the same place = on the spot.
8.
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.
the mighty men . Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 . This rehearsal comes at the end of David's reign, immediately before the setting up of the kingdom under
Solomon . Even so will it be, at the time of the end, with the true David.
The Tachmonite that sat in the seat . Authorized Version margin and Revised Version text = "Josheb-bassebet the Tachmonite". Really = Ish-bosheth, put for Ish-baal = " man of Baal, son of a Hachmonite "(compare 1 Chronicles 11:11 ), altered later to Adino. Compare St. Peter's exploit (Acts 2 ), and Stephen's (2 Samuel 6:7 ).
9.
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
the men of Israel were gone away . This is the time for true courage to be manifested. Compare 2 Samuel 23:11 ; 2Ti 1:15 ; 2 Timothy 4:16 , 2 Timothy 4:17 .
10.
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.
the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah , App-4 .) wrought. Compare 2 Samuel 23:12 , and see Acts 14:27 ; Acts 15:4 , Acts 15:12 ; Acts 21:19 .
11.
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 lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
Shammah . Like Acts 14:3 .
into a troop. Probably = the place, Lehi.
lentiles . See note on 1 Chronicles 11:13 .
fled . See note on 2 Samuel 23:9 , "gone away".
12.
But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
13.
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.
three . . . thirty. See note on 1 Chronicles 27:1 .
Rephaim = Rapha. A noted descendant of the Nephilim. See App-23 and App-25 .
14.
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
an hold = a fort, or garrison.
15.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16.
And the three mighty men brake through the host 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
the three . The three referred to in 2 Samuel 23:13 .
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 would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
is not this. ? Supply instead "shall I drink? "men. Hebrew. 'nosh. App-14 .
in jeopardy of their lives = with their lives [in their hands].
lives = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . "Soul "put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for "blood", which is another name for it. Compare Genesis 9:4 .Leviticus 17:11 .Deuteronomy 12:23 . App-13 .
18.
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.
Abishai. Mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:10 , 2 Samuel 10:14 ; 2Sa 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 18:2 ; 2 Samuel 19:21 , 1 Samuel 26:6-9 .
was the [was].
among = of.
19.
Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
Was he not. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
of three = of [the second] three. See the Structure above, and note on 2 Samuel 23:13 .
20.
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:
lionlike men . Men of Ariel. Ariel, proper name, occurs only here and twice in Isaiah 29:1 , Isaiah 29:2 .
a . . . a . . . snow. All these have the Article, as being a well-known exploit.
21.
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.
goodly of appearance . Hebrew = a sight to see. 1 Chronicles 11:23 stature.
with his own spear . Often done now spiritually by the servants of the true David.
22.
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23.
He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
24.
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Asahel . The third of the second three.
brother of Joab , but not Joab. His name here but not himself, because when the time of the end comes. with its "last words", loyalty will be the one test. Joab remained true in Absalom's rebellion, but fell away in Adonijah's. Hence in 1 Corinthians 16:22 "love" is the test, in the light of "Maranatha", not the "strifes" of 1 Corinthians 3 , or the wrong judgments of 1 Corinthians 4 , or the uncleanness of 1 Corinthians 5 , or going to law of 1 Corinthians 6 ; not the fornication of 1 Corinthians 7 , not a wrong conscience of 1Co 9 and 1 Corinthians 10 , not ecclesiastical disorders of 1 Corinthians 11 , not the misuse of special gifts (1 Corinthians 12 , 1 Corinthians 13 , 1 Corinthians 14 ), not orthodoxy (1 Corinthians 15 ), but "love" and loyalty to the Person of Christ, the true David, David's son and David's Lord.
25.
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26.
Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27.
Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28.
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29.
Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30.
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31.
Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32.
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33.
Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34.
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
the . Probably "Hanan", the son, &c. (1 Chronicles 11:43 ), making three named in this verse.
son of Ahithophel. But not Ahithophel himself, on account of his disloyalty. See note on 2 Samuel 23:24 , above.
35.
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36.
Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37.
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
armourbearer. Joab's armourbearer named, but not Joab himself. See note on 2 Samuel 23:24 , above.
38.
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Uriah. Is doubly honoured, being named with his son; but Joab or Ahithophel are not named. Read. Ter. 2Sa 9:23 , 2Sa 9:24 .
thirty and seven in all : i.e. first three + second three + thirty-one of verses: 2 Samuel 23:24-39 .