1David by general consent is made king over Israel at Hebron. 4He winneth the castle of Zion from the Jebusites: Joab for his valour is made chief: David's prosperity through God's blessing. 10A catalogue of David's mighty men, with their principal achievements.
1THEN 1all Israel gathereda themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, 2we are thy bone and thy flesh.
1 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, verse 3. See 1 Chron. 12:23. So that this was, as it were, an assembly or convention of states, after Ishbosheth’s death.
a 2 Sam. 5:1.
2 That is, thy kindred, and thy kinsmen. See the annotation on Gen. 29:14.
2And moreover in time 3past, even when Saul was king, thoubwast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt 4feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3 Hebr. also yesterday, also ere yesterday, also when Saul was the king, etc.
b 1 Sam. 19:8.
4 Namely, as a shepherd feeds his sheep. See Psalm 78:71. Kings are often called shepherds of the people.
3Therefore 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, accordingc to the word of the LORD 5by Samuel.
c 1 Samuel 16.
5 Hebr. by the hand of Samuel.
4¶And David and 6all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; whered the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
6 That is, certain of the host out of all the tribes of Israel. See 1 Chron. 12:23.
d 2 Sam. 5:6.
5And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took 7the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
7 Namely, the fort which was situated on mount Zion.
6And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be 8chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
8Chief in this place signifies: a general over the men of war.
7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab 9repaired the rest of the city.
9 Hebr. he made alive, that is, he renewed, or he healed, repaired, or mended that which was fallen in decay. Other, let live.
9So David 10waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
10 Hebr. went going, becoming great.
10¶These alsoeare the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him 11in his kingdom, and with all Israel, 12to make him king, accordingf to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
e 2 Sam. 23:8.
11 That is, in the transaction concerning the kingdom. Therein did those men acquit themselves with all the Israelites very valiantly and courageously, especially in the capture of Jebus.
12 That is, that he, who in time past was anointed king by Samuel, might after Saul’s death be settled and confirmed in the kingdom. For which end these mighty men assisted him against his enemies.
f 1 Sam. 16:1, 12.
11And 13this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; 14Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
13 From these did David choose commanders who were commonly with him in the camp.
14 Compare this with 2 Sam. 23:8.
12And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one 15of the three mighties.
15 Understand Jashobeam, who was the first, Eleazar the second and Shammah the third, who are here passed by, but expressed in 2 Sam. 23:11. These three are those who fetched water for David from the well at Bethlehem.
13He was with David at 16Pas-dammim, andg 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.
16 Other, Ephes-dammin, 1 Sam. 17:1.
g 2 Sam. 5:17; 23:11.
14And 17they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
17 Namely, the aforementioned mighty men. See 2 Sam. 23:11.
15¶Now threeh 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.
h 2 Sam. 23:13.
16And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Beth-lehem.
17And David longed, and said, 18Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, that is at the gate!
18 That is, I wish there was somebody who would give me to drink of that well, etc.
18And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and 19drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out 20to the LORD,
19 Other, scooped.
20 That is, to the honor of God.
19And said, 21My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: 22shall I drink the blood of these men that have put 23their lives in jeopardy? for 24with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
21 Hebr. be that far to me from my God.
22 See 2 Sam. 23:17.
23 Hebr. with or upon their souls; that is, with peril of their life.
24 David repeats his previous words, through great admiration. See the like phrase Gen. 49:4.
20¶And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the 25three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and 26had a name among the three.
25 Namely, of whom mention will be made later, of Abishai in this 20th verse, of Benaiah verse 22, and of Asahel verse 26, according to the opinion of some.
26 Other, but he had not a name among those three. The diversity of exposition arises out of the diversity of writing and reading of the Hebrew text.
21Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: 27howbeit he attained not to the first three.
27 The meaning is, that for strength and valiant acts he was not to be compared with the other three, of whom is spoken verse 15.
22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of 28Kabzeel, who had done many acts; 29he slew two 30lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion 31in a pit 32in a snowy day.
28 This was a city situated in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:21.
29 See 2 Sam. 23:30.
30 Some understand that it is, strong men, or, lions.
31 That is, in a den, or ditch.
32 Hebr. in the day of snow or on a snowy day.
23And he slew an Egyptian, 33a man of great stature, 34five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear 35like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with 36a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and 37slew him with his own spear.
33 Hebr. a man of measure; that is, a man of great measure and tallness. See 2 Sam. 23:21.
34 Goliath’s height was six cubits and a span, 1 Sam. 17:4.
35 That is, as thick as a weaver’s beam. Goliath’s spear was as thick.
36 A staff and a sling were also David’s weapons when he went to fight with Goliath.
37 David had likewise done this, 1 Sam. 17:51.
24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and 38had the name among 39the three mighties.
38 That is, he was famous, namely, by reason of his strength and power.
39 These three mighty men were in the second rank, and were these, Abishai, Benaiah and Asahel.
25Behold, he was honourable among 40the thirty, but attained not to 41the first three: and David set him over 42his guard.
40 See 2 Sam. 23:24; where these thirty and other besides are named.
41 Namely, of whom is spoken in verse 18.
42 Hebr. 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¶Also thei valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, 43Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
i 2 Sam. 23:24.
43 Other, Elhanan, the son of his uncle, of Bethlehem.
27Shammoth the Harorite, He-lez the Pelonite,
28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite,
29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32Hurai 44of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
44 Other, of one of valleys or low grounds; that is, of one of them.
33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, 45and thirty with him,
45 That is, the thirty mighty men, of whom mention was made before, excelled Adina and those who are named hereafter in strength and achievements.
43Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.