1 Chronicles · Chapter 11

Verse 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David] See 2 Samuel 5:1-10, for the history contained in the first nine verses of this chapter, and the notes there.

Verses 1, 2. All Israel gathered themselves to David — That is, all the tribes of Israel, as it is expressed 2 Samuel 5:1, by their elders (verse 3) and officers, and a great multitude of their soldiers and people. The Lord said unto thee — Or, concerning thee: for it is apparent that they knew it was God’s will David should be king, and therefore many of them had opposed David hitherto against their own consciences.

Verses 1, 2. All Israel gathered themselves to David — That is, all the tribes of Israel, as it is expressed 2 Samuel 5:1, by their elders (verse 3) and officers, and a great multitude of their soldiers and people. The Lord said unto thee — Or, concerning thee: for it is apparent that they knew it was God’s will David should be king, and therefore many of them had opposed David hitherto against their own consciences.

Verse 4. David and all Israel went to Jerusalem — Of this and the following verses, to verse 9, see notes on 2 Samuel 5:6, &c.

V. 6. Chief-Before this he was one of David’s chief captains: but now he is made captain-general of all the forces of Israel and Judah.

Verse 6. And was chief — Before this he was one of David’s chief captains; but now he is made captain-general of all the forces of Israel and Judah.

V. 10. Mighty men-Yet David ascribed his success, not to the hosts he had, but to the Lord of hosts: not to the mighty men that were with him, but to the mighty God, whole presence with us is all in all.

Verse 10. The chief of the mighty men — Who helped with all their might to settle him in his kingdom. With all Israel — In conjunction with all those loyal Israelites who joined with David. Yet David ascribed his success, not to the hosts he had, but to the Lord of hosts: not to the mighty men that were with him, but to the mighty God, whose presence with us is all in all.

V. 11. Slain-By his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory, both which sums make up the eight hundred, numbered 2 Samuel 23:8. The slaughter of all is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour.

Verse 11. The number of the mighty men] See 2 Samuel 23:8, &c., and the notes there. The Targum has a remarkable addition here. “These are the numbers of the strong men who were with David; he was the potent chief of the army; he sat upon the throne of judgment, anointed with the holy oil, all the prophets and wise men standing about him. When he went to battle, he was assisted from on high; and when he sat down to teach the law, the true meaning arose up in his mind. He was elect and pleasant, of a beautiful mien and lovely countenance, exercised in wisdom, prudent in counsel, and strong in virtue; the prince of the assembly, of a melodious voice, master in hymns, and chief among the mighty. He was instructed in the use of martial weapons; he carried a spear, to which was appended the ensign of the host of Judah; he went forth according to the voice of the Holy Spirit, was victorious in battle, and overthrew with his spear three hundred men at one time.”-T. On this and some of the following verses there is a judicious note of Dr. Kennicott, which I shall take the liberty to introduce, referring to his first Dissertation on the Hebrew text for farther illustration and proof, p. 128-144.

“Among the parallel places, a comparison of which may be of very considerable service, scarce any passages will appear more effectually to correct each other than the catalogue of David’s mighty men of valour, as it now stands in 2 Samuel 23:8-39, and in this chapter. About thirty-four Hebrew words have been lost out of this part of the passage in Chronicles, which are happily preserved in Samuel.

“The chief point of proof is this, that the catalogue divides these thirty-seven warriors into the captain-general, a first three, a second three, and the remaining thirty; and yet that the third captain of the first ternary is now here omitted. The following juxtaposition will show the whole deficiency, and properly supply it. But let it be observed that Jashobeam, the first captain of the first ternary, had been already mentioned, and that the history is here speaking of the second captain, namely, Eleazar. 2 Samuel 23:9: And after him was Eleazar the son 1 Chronicles 11:12: And after him was Eleazar the son S. of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty

C. of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. S. men with David when they defied

C. 13. He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there S. the Philistines that were there gathered together to C. the Philistines were gathered together to

S. battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.

C. battle, * * * * * *

S. 10. He arose and smote the Philistines until his C. * * * * * * * *

S. hand was weary and his hand clave unto the

C. * * * * * * * *

S. sword; and the Lord wrought a great victory

C. * * * * * * *

S. that day: and the people returned after him only C. * * * * * * * *

S. to spoil. 11. And after him was SHAMMAH. the

C. * * * * * * * *

S. son of Agee, the Hararite: and the Philistines C. * * * * * * * *

S. were gathered together into a troop, where was C. * * * * * * * * * where was

S. a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people C. a parcel of ground full of barley, and the people S. fled from the Philistines. 12. But he

C. fled from before the Philistines. 14. And they set S. stood in the midst of the ground and defended

C. themselves, in the midst of that parcel, and delivered S. it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord

C. it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord

S. wrought a great victory.

C. saved than by a great deliverance.

Verse 11. Jashobeam a Hachmonite — Called the Tachmonite, and Adino the Eznite, 2 Samuel 23:8. He lifted up his spear against three hundred slain, &c. — By his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory, both which sums make up the eight hundred, numbered 2 Samuel 23:8. The slaughter of all is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour.

Verse 11. Jashobeam, called Tachmoni, 2 Samuel 23:8, a wise man and valiant. He had earned the laurel to sit as the chairman of David’s generals. Three hundred men he killed, and five hundred more in the pursuit, which makes up the eight hundred mentioned in the above passage.

Verse 17. David longed] See the notes on 2 Samuel 23:15-17.

V. 18. Would not drink of it-That water which he thought too precious for his own drinking, he poured out to the Lord for a drink-offering. If we have any thing better than other, let God be honoured with it, who is the best and should have the best.

Verses 18, 19. David would not drink of it — That water which he thought too precious for his own drinking, he poured out to the Lord — For a drink-offering. If we have any thing better than other, let God be honoured with it, who is the best, and should have the best. Shall I drink the blood, &c. — It put him into the utmost confusion, to think three brave men should hazard their lives to fetch water for him. In his account it turns the water into blood. It is to the honour of great men, not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ.

V. 19. Shall I drink the blood, &c.-It put him into the utmost confusion, to think three brave men should hazard their lives, to fetch water for him. In his account, it turns the water into blood. It is to the honour of great men, not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ.

Verses 18, 19. David would not drink of it — That water which he thought too precious for his own drinking, he poured out to the Lord — For a drink-offering. If we have any thing better than other, let God be honoured with it, who is the best, and should have the best. Shall I drink the blood, &c. — It put him into the utmost confusion, to think three brave men should hazard their lives to fetch water for him. In his account it turns the water into blood. It is to the honour of great men, not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ.

Verses 20, 21. Lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them — He vanquished them all, and slew a great number of them: it is, however, not said that he slew them all at one time, as it is said of Jashobeam, verse

11. He attained not unto the first three — He did not equal them in valiant exploits.

V. 21. Attained not-He did not equal them.

Verses 20, 21. Lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them — He vanquished them all, and slew a great number of them: it is, however, not said that he slew them all at one time, as it is said of Jashobeam, verse

11. He attained not unto the first three — He did not equal them in valiant exploits.

Verse 22. Benaiah-slew two lion-like men of Moab] The Targum says, “Benaiah was a valiant man, fearing sin, and of a righteous conduct in Kabzeel; he slew two of the nobles of Moab, who were like two strong lions. He was a great and righteous man as any in the second sanctuary. On a certain day, having struck his foot against a dead tortoise, he went down to Shiloh, and having broken pieces of ice, he washed himself with them, and afterward went up, and read the book of the law of the priests, in which much is contained, in a short winter’s day, viz., the tenth of the month Tebeth.”

Ver. 22. Two lion-like men. The Vulgate reads as the Hebrew, two lions of Moab. Slaying the Egyptian giant, more than nine feet high, and the lion at the cave, or rather at the cistern, are also narrated. No doubt, he slew two gigantic men of Moab.

Verse 23. Plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.] See Clarke’s note on “2 Samuel 23:21”.

Verse 25. David set him over his guard] “Made him chief ruler over his disciples.”-T.

FOR other particulars, see the notes on the parallel places, where the subject is farther considered.

I CHRONICLES

V. 41. Uriah-The last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown amongst David’s commanders.

Verses 41, 42. Uriah the Hittite — The last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown among David’s commanders. Thirty with him — Thirty captains, who were under him as their colonel.

V. 42. Thirty-Thirty captains who were under him as their colonel.

Verses 41, 42. Uriah the Hittite — The last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown among David’s commanders. Thirty with him — Thirty captains, who were under him as their colonel.

Verse 44. The Aroerite — So called possibly because his station and quarters were upon the river Aroer, beyond Jordan, being placed there for the defence of those parts.

Verse 46. Ithmah the Moabite — So called, either because he was by birth a Moabite, though now proselyted to the true religion; or from some eminent service done by him among the Moabites. Thus, among the Romans, Publius Scipio was surnamed Africanus, for his great achievements in Africa; and Lucius Scipio, his brother, Asiaticus, for his victory over Antiochus at Magnesia in Asia.