CHAPTER XXIII _The last words of David_, 1-7. _The names and exploits of has thirty-seven worthies_, 8-39. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII Verse 2 Samuel 23:1. _THESE_ BE _THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID._] I suppose the _last_ _poetical composition_ is here intended. He might have spoken many words after these in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:2. _THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPAKE BY ME_] Hence the matter of his writing came by direct and immediate inspiration. _HIS WORD_ WAS _IN MY TONGUE._] Hence the _words_ of this writing were as directly inspired as the _matter_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:3. _THE ROCK OF ISRAEL_] The _Fountain_ whence Israel was derived. _HE THAT RULETH OVER MEN_ MUST BE _JUST_] More literally, מושל באדם צדיק _moshel baadam tsaddik, He that ruleth in man is the just one_; or, _The just one is the ruler among men_. _RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD._] It... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:4. HE SHALL BE _AS THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING_] This verse is very obscure, for it does not appear from it _who_ the person is of whom the prophet speaks. As the Messiah seems to be the whole subject of these last words of David, he is probably the person intended. One of Dr. _Kennic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:5. _ALTHOUGH MY HOUSE_ BE _NOT SO WITH GOD_] Instead of כן _ken_, so, read כן _kun, established_; and let the whole verse be considered as an _interrogation_, including a positive _assertion_; and the sense will be at once clear and consistent: "for is not my house (family) _establ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:6. _BUT_ THE SONS _OF BELIAL_ SHALL BE _ALL OF THEM AS THORNS_] There is no word in the text for _sons_; it is simply _Belial_, the _good-for-nothing man_, and may here refer - first to Saul, and secondly to the enemies of our Lord. _AS THORNS THRUST AWAY_] A metaphor taken from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:8. _THESE BE THE NAMES OF THE MIGHTY MEN_] This chapter should be collated with the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 11:11; and see _Kennicott's_ First Dissertation on the printed Hebrew text, pages 64-471. _THE TACHMONITE THAT SAT IN THE SEAT_] Literally and properly, _Jashobeam the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:9. _WHEN THEY DEFIED THE PHILISTINES_ THAT _WERE THERE_ _GATHERED_] This is supposed to refer to the war in which David slew Goliath.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:11. _A PIECE OF GROUND FULL OF LENTILES_] In 1 Chronicles 11:13 it is _a parcel of ground full of barley_. There is probably a mistake of עדשים _adashim, lentiles_, for שעורים _seorim, barley_, or _vice versa_. Some think there were both _lentiles_ and _barley_ in the field, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:13. _AND THREE OF THE THIRTY_] The word שלשים _shalishim_, which we translate _thirty_, probably signifies an _office_ or _particular description_ of men. Of these _shalishim_ we have here _thirty-seven_, and it can scarcely be said with propriety that we have _thirty-seven_ out of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:15. _THE WATER OF THE WELL OF BETHLEHEM_] This was David's city, and he knew the excellence of the water which was there; and being near the place, and parched with thirst, it was natural for him to wish for a draught of water out of that well. These three heroes having heard it, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:16. _POURED IT OUT UNTO THE LORD._] To make _libations_, both of _water_ and _wine_, was a frequent custom among the heathens. We have an almost similar account in _Arrian's_ Life of Alexander: "When his army was greatly oppressed with heat and thirst, a soldier brought him a cup o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:20. _TWO LION-LIKE MEN OF MOAB_] Some think that two _real_ _lions_ are meant; some that they were two savage _gigantic_ men; others, that two _fortresses_ are meant. The words שני אראל מואב _sheney ariel Moab_ may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, ית תרין רברבי מואב _yath te... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:21. _HE SLEW AN EGYPTIAN_] This man in 1 Chronicles 11:23 is stated to have been _five cubits high_, about _seven feet six inches_. _HE WENT DOWN TO HIM WITH A STAFF_] I have known men who, with a _staff_ only for their defence, could render the sword of the best practised soldier... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:23. _DAVID SET HIM OVER HIS GUARD._] The _Vulgate_ renders this, _Fecitque eun sibi David auricularium a secreto_, "David made him his privy counsellor;" or, according to the Hebrew, _He put him_ _to his ears_, i.e., confided his secrets to him. Some think he made him a _spy_ over... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:24. _ASAHEL _- WAS _ONE OF THE THIRTY_] Asahel was one of those officers, or troops, called the _shalishim_. This Asahel, brother of Joab, was the same that was killed by Abner, 2 Samuel 2:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:25. _SHAMMAH THE HARODITE_] There are several varieties in the names of the following _shalishim_; which may be seen by comparing these verses with 1 Chronicles 11:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 23:39. _URIAH THE HITTITE: THIRTY AND SEVEN IN ALL._] To these the author of 1 Chronicles 11:41 adds _Zabad_ son of _Ahlai_. 1 Chronicles 11:42 - _Adina_ the son of _Shiza_ the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him. 1 Chronicles 11:43 - _Hanan_ the son of _Maac... [ Continue Reading ]