Chapter 23

1 David, in his last words, professeth his faith in God’s promises to be beyond sense or experience. 6 The different state of the wicked. 8 A catalogue of David’s mighty men.

1. The last words of David. This chapter consists of two distinct parts. Verses 1–7 are a psalm that constitutes the last formal utterance of David, and vs. 8–39 are a list of his heroes. The song is not found in the book of Psalms.

Said. Heb.neХum, a divine utterance either directly by God or through His prophets. The word is not used to designate ordinary human speech. It occurs most frequently in the phrase “saith the Lord.” False prophets used the word in order to make it appear that they were giving divine messages (Jer. 23:31).

Raised up on high. David was a man of humble beginnings whom the Lord chose and raised to his lofty position as prophet and king (see 2 Sam. 7:8, 9; Ps. 78:70; 89:27).

Sweet psalmist of Israel. These words are a fitting description of the man who wrote not only this song but also many psalms that have proved an inspiration to men of all ages.

2. Spirit of the Lord. The message was not David’s own personal utterance. The fact that the Holy Spirit spoke justifies the use of the word neХum (see on v. 1).

In my tongue. See Jer. 1:9; cf. 2 Peter 1:21.

3. The Rock of Israel spake. This phrase, parallel to the one preceding, marks the poetic style of this song. Compare also the parallel phrases in v. 2.

Must be just. The “must be” has been supplied. The sense of the Hebrew is, “he that ruleth righteously.” The blessedness of a righteous ruler is extolled rather than a ruler being admonished to rule righteously.

In the fear of God. “The powers that be are ordained of God,” and he that holds office is a “minister of God” (Rom. 13:1, 4). Every man who rules should, therefore, do so in the constant fear of God, always conscious that he rules by divine appointment and that Heaven holds him responsible for his every decision.

4. As the light. See Ps. 89:36. The man who rules for God will be as the sun, bringing to the earth light, warmth, and blessing.

The tender grass. The verdure of earth comes as a result of the ministry of sunshine and showers. So the man who rules is able to bring a train of blessings if he carries out his responsibilities justly and in the fear of God.

5. Be not so. Some commentators express this clause in the form of a question: “And it is not a fact that my house stands thus with God?” Because David endeavored to rule justly and wisely, in the constant fear of God, the Lord promised to establish his house forever. The promise was conditional, and the conditions were not met by his literal posterity. Hence only through Christ as the seed of David will these promises now meet fulfillment.

Make it not to grow. Some suggest that this clause, in harmony with the first, should likewise be in the interrogative: “For will he not cause all my desire to prosper?” The affirmative from lacks meaning. A suggested paraphrase in harmony with this alteration is: “And is it not a fact that my house stands thus with God? For to this end He has made with me an everlasting covenant, that it may set in order all things, making them secure. And will He not thus bring my salvation to pass and cause all my desire to prosper?”

6. As thorns. In contrast to the establishment of David’s throne would be the sad fate of the men of Belial. Godless men would not enjoy the fruits of salvation, but they would be “as thorns thrust away,” cast aside as something utterly worthless, to be consumed and become as a thing of nought.

With hands. The wicked are like thorns that pierce the hands of those who endeavor to touch them. Thus ordinary means do not suffice to put them out of the way.

8. Of the mighty men. This verse introduces the second section of the chapter (vs. 8–39), which contains a list of the heroes of David. The same list, with some variations, appears in 1 Chron. 11:11–47. In Chronicles the list appears in the beginning of the account of David’s reign; here it comes at the close of that account. But it evidently dates from early in David’s reign (see on v. 24).

That sat in the seat. Some transliterate the Hebrew of these words, making them the proper name of the warrior, “Joshebbasshebeth” (see RSV). The name appears as “Jashobeam, an Hachmonite” in 1 Chron. 11:11. He had been with David at Ziklag (1 Chron. 12:1, 6).

Chief among the captains. See 1 Chron. 27:2, according to which he was captain of the first division of David’s army, which served during the first month of the year. See on 2 Kings 7:2 for a discussion of the word here translated “captains.”

Adino the Eznite. Instead of this phrase, Chronicles reads, “he lifted up his spear” (1 Chron. 11:11).

Eight hundred. 1 Chron. 11:11 has “three hundred.” It is impossible to tell which number is correct. One of the manuscripts of the Syriac reads “eight hundred” in Chronicles as well.

9. Dodo. Probably the same as Dodai, the commander of the second division of the army, which served during the second month (1 Chron. 27:4).

Defied the Philistines. Eleazar “was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together” (1 Chron. 11:13). Pas-dammim is also given as “Ephes-dammim” (1 Sam. 17:1). It was the place where the Philistines encamped when Goliath defied the armies of Israel and was slain by David.

10. Clave unto the sword. He had gripped his sword so hard and for so long that it was difficult to release it afterward.

11. Lentiles. 1 Chron. 11:13, 14 says “barley.” Perhaps both crops were represented. The encounter in question appears to have resulted from a raid made by Shammah on a parcel of ground from which the Philistines were probably foraging.

13. Three of the thirty. There were probably several groups of threes among the 30 heroes of David. Originally he seems to have had a group of exactly 30 heroes, but this number later increased as is seen by the 37 listed here (v. 39). The three here referred to were probably not the three previously mentioned, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah (vs. 8–11).

The valley of Rephaim. A valley southwest of Jerusalem (see on ch. 5:18).

17. The blood. The water secured at the risk of the life of these men was to David as the blood in which their life resided (see Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10, 11).

18. Chief among three. This is the reading of the margin of the Hebrew Bible. The word for “three” in the text is either misspelled in the presently available manuscripts or incomplete. Several Hebrew manuscripts and the Syriac read “thirty.” According to the translation of the KJV, Abishai was the first in the second triad (v. 19) and Benaiah (vs. 20, 22) was the second, with the third member not named. If Abishai was chief of the “thirty,” then Benaiah was besides the three, but he and Abishai were not equal to them.

20. Benaiah. The commander of David’s bodyguard (the Cherethites and Pelethites) all through David’s reign (ch. 8:18; 20:23) and the commander of David’s third division (1 Chron. 27:5, 6). He took a prominent part in the support of Solomon when Adonijah endeavored to take the throne and was given the post of commander in chief of Solomon’s army in place of Joab (1 Kings 1:8, 26, 32–39; 2:25–35; 4:4). His father, Jehoiada, is called a “chief priest” in 1 Chron. 27:5.

Kabzeel. A city on the extreme south of Judah, near the Edomite border (Joshua 15:21).

Lionlike men. Heb. ХariХel. Literally, “lion of God.” Two manuscripts of the LXX have “sons of Ariel.” Some think that Benaiah slew two sons of a Moabite king who was named Ariel.

Slew a lion. The slaying of a lion was regarded as a feat of great valor (see 1 Sam. 17:34–36).

21. A goodly man. “A man of great stature, five cubits high” (1 Chron. 11:23).

23. Over his guard. David’s bodyguard (see on v. 20).

24. Asahel. Since Asahel was slain by Abner while David reigned at Hebron (ch. 2:23), it is evident that this list comes from an early period in David’s reign. Asahel commanded David’s fourth division (1 Chron. 27:7).

25. Shammah the Harodite. Or, “Shammoth the Harorite” (1 Chron. 11:27), or, “Shamhuth the Izrahite” (1 Chron. 27:8), the commander of David’s fifth division.

26. Helez the Paltite. Or “Helez the Pelonite” (1 Chron. 11:27), the commander of the seventh division (1 Chron. 27:10).

Ira. Commander of the sixth division (1 Chron. 27:9). His home was at Tekoa, afterward the home of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1), 5 mi. (8 km.) south of Bethlehem. Tekoa is now called TequЖФ.

27. Abiezer. A native of Anathoth, afterward the home of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1), and commander of the ninth division (1 Chron. 27:12).

Mebunnai. Or “Sibbecai” (1 Chron. 11:29 and 27:11), commander of the eighth division. He was the slayer of the Philistine giant Saph (2 Sam. 21:18).

28. Zalmon. Or “Ilai” (1 Chron. 11:29).

Maharai. The commander of the tenth division (1 Chron. 27:13). Netophah was one of a cluster of villages near Bethlehem (1 Chron. 2:54; 9:16; Neh. 7:26; 12:28).

29. Heleb. Or “Heled” (1 Chron. 11:30) or “Heldai” (1 Chron. 27:15), commander of the 12th division.

30. Benaiah. An Ephraimite commander of the 11th division (1 Chron. 27:14).

Hiddai. Or “Hurai” (1 Chron. 11:32). In Hebrew d and r are so similar that the one letter can easily be mistaken for the other (see on 2 Sam. 8:12).

31. Abi-albon. Or, “Abiel” (1 Chron. 11:32).

32. The sons of Jashen. Or, “The sons of Hashem the Gizonite” (1 Chron. 11:34).

Jonathan. In 1 Chron. 11:34 this name appears with the following verse: “Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite.” One LXX manuscript of Samuel reads, “Jonathan the son of Shammah the Hararite.”

33. Sharar. Or, “Sacar” (1 Chron. 11:35).

34. Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai. For this phrase Chronicles reads, “Eliphal the son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite” (1 Chron. 11:35, 36), thus listing two heroes instead of one.

Eliam. 1 Chron. 11:36 omits Eliam, but adds the name of another individual, “Ahijah the Pelonite.” It is of interest to know that among David’s heroes was the son of his famous counselor, Ahithophel (see 2 Sam. 15:31; 16:23).

35. Hezrai. Or “Hezro” (1 Chron. 11:37). Most of David’s heroes were from his home districts. Carmel, the modern Kermel, was a town 7 1/4 mi. (11.6 km.) south by east from Hebron.

Paarai the Arbite. Probably the same as “Naarai the son of Ezbai” (1 Chron. 11:37).

36. Igal the son of Nathan. Probably the same as “Joel the brother of Nathan” (1 Chron. 11:38).

Bani the Gadite. Probably the same as “Mibhar the son of Haggeri” (1 Chron. 11:38).

37. Zelek the Ammonite. David had a number of foreigners of distinction in his service, among them “Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah,” a Syrian (v. 36; cf. ch. 8:3, 5, 12); “Ittai the Gittite” (ch. 15:18, 19) from the Philistine city of Gath; and “Uriah the Hittite” (v. 39). Possibly all of them accepted the Hebrew religion.

Nahari. Or “Naharai” (1 Chron. 11:39). He was probably the chief of Joab’s ten armor-bearers (2 Sam. 18:15), or perhaps Joab’s sole armor-bearer earlier.

38. Ira an Ithrite. Apparently the same as the Ira who was one of the chief rulers of David (ch. 20:26).

Gareb an Ithrite. The Ithrites were families from the neighborhood of Kirjath-jearim (1 Chron. 2:53), a village about 8 mi. (13 km.) west by north from Jerusalem, where the ark was placed after being sent back to Beth-shemesh by the Philistines who had captured it (1 Sam. 7:1, 2).

39. Uriah the Hittite. See ch. 11. After the name of Uriah, 16 heroes are listed in 1 Chron. 11:41–47 whose names are not found elsewhere in the Bible.

Ellen G. White comments

1–5PP 754

3, 4 PK 26

4     DA 103; PK 688

13–17PP 736

15–175T 43