1.
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2.
And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3.
Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
4.
And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
5.
And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
6.
And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
7.
And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8.
And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9.
So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
10.
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.
11.
And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, and Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12.
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13.
He was with David at Pas-dammim, 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.
1 Chronicles 11:13. He was with David at Pas-dammim— See 2Sa 23:9; 2 Samuel 23:39. In general, the seeming differences which are found in this book, and that of Samuel, may be reconciled from the latter.
14.
And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
15.
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.
1 Chronicles 11:15. Now three of the thirty captains— In 2 Samuel 23:13 three of the thirty chief. There were thirty-seven heads or chiefs, if we reckon all; and but seven if we reckon only those who were most honourable, and to whom also the name ראשׁ rash, head, or chief, is peculiarly attributed. The Hebrew words in Samuel rendered in the time of harvest, never have that signification throughout the Bible: the verse there should be translated, three captains went down who were over the thirty, and came to the rock to David, into the cave Adullam, &c. Kennicott.
16.
And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
17.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
18.
And the three 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: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
19.
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.
20.
And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21.
Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
1 Chronicles 11:21. Of the three he was more honourable, &c.— He was after those three, in the second place of honour, although he commanded them; nor did he attain to their glory. Houbigant.
22.
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: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23.
And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and 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.
24.
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25.
Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
26.
Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27.
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28.
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite,
29.
Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30.
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31.
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32.
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33.
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34.
The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
35.
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36.
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37.
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38.
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
39.
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40.
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41.
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42.
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
1 Chronicles 11:42. And thirty with him— Though the author of the book of Samuel concludes with Uriah, the last of the thirty-seven, yet the author of this book adds fifteen warriors more. These fifteen are, undoubtedly, recorded because they were brave men; and we may fairly presume that they were recorded after the thirty-seven, because their bravery was not equally eminent and serviceable. As the thirty were inferior to the seven, to the captain-general, and to the three generals of the two ternaries, so were these fifteen inferior to the thirty; and, indeed, this is expressly observed of Adina, and very properly observed of him as being the first of the following number; for in this verse we read, Adina, a captain of the Reubenites, שׁלשׁים ועליו vealaiv sheloshim, which is just the reverse of what is said of Benaiah, chap. 1 Chronicles 27:6. השׁלשׁים על al hasheloshim. He was superior to the thirty, as he certainly was by being the second general of the second series. Junius and Tremellius have rendered the words vealaiv sheloshim, as the nature of the history, and their remarkable situation in the chapter, required they should be rendered, but the thirty were superior to him. To the authority of Junius and Tremellius may be added that of Arias Montanus, and the greater authority of the LXX, both in the Alexandrian and Vatican editions.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, David, on Saul's death, was soon received in Judah, and reigned in Hebron, though he was not, till seven years afterwards, acknowledged as king by the other tribes. But God's counsel must stand: the time came, when Israel bowed before him, swore allegiance, and received the reciprocal assurance of an equitable and righteous government. The obligation between prince and people is mutual; the one is as much bound to rule with justice, as the other to obey with cheerfulness. When they were gathered together on this solemn occasion, David led them against the fortress of Jebus, where he intended to fix his royal residence; and though strong by art and nature, yet, animated by the prospect of preferment, Joab entered the place. Shall the prospect of a post of honour thus engage the soldier to hazard his life; and shall we hesitate at any difficulties in our spiritual warfare, where we are assured of success, and are animated by promises of eternal glory?
2nd, The catalogue of worthies we have had before, 2 Samuel 23. Others are here added to them. By their assistance the kingdom was confirmed to David, and by supporting him they strengthened and advanced themselves. They who have been our helpers in any way, have a right to our grateful returns. The exploits performed by these were great and astonishing; but every believer listed under the banner of Jesus is strengthened for mightier conflicts, and enabled for more glorious atchievements; for we wrestle not with flesh and blood only, but with angels, principalities, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world. It was not, however, till after enduring many dangers with their king, that they came to reign with him. Through much tribulation, and suffering hardship, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, can we only hope to sit down with him in his kingdom.
43.
Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44.
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
45.
Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46.
Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47.
Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.