Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 23

Verse 1

Chapter 23 follows 24, but is placed here (by the Figure of speech Hysterologia) so as to include David's "last words "with his "song" under his "worship", and make the correspondence shown in the Structure. See p. 414.

last words . Hence their importance.

words = discourse, message, oracle, revelation. Hebrew. dabar. App-73 .

said. Hebrew. na'am = to speak with assurance and authority.

man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

God. Hebrew. 'Elohim. App-4 .

God of Jacob : i.e. the God Who met Jacob when he had nothing and deserved nothing (but wrath), and promised him all = therefore "the God of all grace". Compare Psalms 146:5 and 1 Peter 5:10 , referring to the grace which had called David.

Verse 2

Spirit = ruach . App-9 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

spake : referring to the substance of the Divine revelation. Hebrew. dabar = to utter. See App-73 .

word . Hebrew. millah. Used of a royal or divine decree (Psalms 19:14 .Daniel 3:22 , Daniel 3:28 , &c.)

Verse 3

Israel . The higher title (not Jacob), because human instrumentality not in question here.

said . Here Hebrew. 'amar, referring to the matter of the Divine revelation. See App-73 .

spake . See note on "spike", 2 Samuel 23:2 .

men . Hebrew. 'adam, App-14 .

Verse 4

And he shall be . Translate in present tense, describing such an ideal rule.

sun , Compare Psalms 72:6 , Psalms 72:7 , Psalms 72:16 , Jeremiah 23:5 , Jeremiah 23:6 . Malachi 4:2 .

Verse 5

Although = For (Hebrew. ki)

GOD . Hebrew. 'El. App-4 .

Yet = for (Hebrew. ki)

For = (Hebrew. ki) . Punctuate and translate.

it = i.e. my house

Verse 6

thrust away = put to flight, chased away.

taken = handled.

Verse 7

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 . = furnished.

in the same place = on the spot.

Verse 8

the mighty men . Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 . This rehearsal comes at the end of David's reign, immediately before the setting up of the kingdom under

Solomon . Even so will it be, at the time of the end, with the true David.

The Tachmonite that sat in the seat . Authorized Version margin and Revised Version text = "Josheb-bassebet the Tachmonite". Really = Ish-bosheth, put for Ish-baal = " man of Baal, son of a Hachmonite "(compare 1 Chronicles 11:11 ), altered later to Adino. Compare St. Peter's exploit (Acts 2:0 ), and Stephen's (2 Samuel 6:7 ).

Verse 9

the men of Israel were gone away . This is the time for true courage to be manifested. Compare 2 Samuel 23:11 ; 2Ti 1:15 ; 2 Timothy 4:16 , 2 Timothy 4:17 .

Verse 10

the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah , App-4 .) wrought. Compare 2 Samuel 23:12 , and see Acts 14:27 ; Acts 15:4 , Acts 15:12 ; Acts 21:19 .

Verse 11

Shammah . Like Acts 14:3 .

into a troop. Probably = the place, Lehi.

lentiles . See note on 1 Chronicles 11:13 .

fled . See note on 2 Samuel 23:9 , "gone away".

Verse 13

three . . . thirty. See note on 1 Chronicles 27:1 .

Rephaim = Rapha. A noted descendant of the Nephilim. See App-23 and App-25 .

Verse 14

an hold = a fort, or garrison.

Verse 16

the three . The three referred to in 2 Samuel 23:13 .

Verse 17

is not this. ? Supply instead "shall I drink? "men. Hebrew. 'nosh. App-14 .

in jeopardy of their lives = with their lives [in their hands].

lives = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . "Soul "put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for "blood", which is another name for it. Compare Genesis 9:4 .Leviticus 17:11 .Deuteronomy 12:23 . App-13 .

Verse 18

Abishai. Mentioned in 2 Samuel 10:10 , 2 Samuel 10:14 ; 2Sa 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 18:2 ; 2 Samuel 19:21 , 1 Samuel 26:6-9 .

was the [was].

among = of.

Verse 19

Was he not. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

of three = of [the second] three. See the Structure above, and note on 2 Samuel 23:13 .

Verse 20

lionlike men . Men of Ariel. Ariel, proper name, occurs only here and twice in Isaiah 29:1 , Isaiah 29:2 .

a . . . a . . . snow. All these have the Article, as being a well-known exploit.

Verse 21

goodly of appearance . Hebrew = a sight to see. 1 Chronicles 11:23 stature.

with his own spear . Often done now spiritually by the servants of the true David.

Verse 24

Asahel . The third of the second three.

brother of Joab , but not Joab. His name here but not himself, because when the time of the end comes. with its "last words", loyalty will be the one test. Joab remained true in Absalom's rebellion, but fell away in Adonijah's. Hence in 1 Corinthians 16:22 "love" is the test, in the light of "Maranatha", not the "strifes" of 1 Corinthians 3:0 , or the wrong judgments of 1 Corinthians 4:0 , or the uncleanness of 1 Corinthians 5:0 , or going to law of 1 Corinthians 6:0 ; not the fornication of 1 Corinthians 7:0 , not a wrong conscience of 1Co 9 and 1 Corinthians 10:0 , not ecclesiastical disorders of 1 Corinthians 11:0 , not the misuse of special gifts (1 Corinthians 12:0 , 1 Corinthians 13:0 , 1 Corinthians 14:0 ), not orthodoxy (1 Corinthians 15:0 ), but "love" and loyalty to the Person of Christ, the true David, David's son and David's Lord.

Verse 34

the . Probably "Hanan", the son, &c. (1 Chronicles 11:43 ), making three named in this verse.

son of Ahithophel. But not Ahithophel himself, on account of his disloyalty. See note on 2 Samuel 23:24 , above.

Verse 37

armourbearer. Joab's armourbearer named, but not Joab himself. See note on 2 Samuel 23:24 , above.

Verse 39

Uriah. Is doubly honoured, being named with his son; but Joab or Ahithophel are not named. Read. Ter. 2Sa 9:23 , 2Sa 9:24 .

thirty and seven in all : i.e. first three + second three + thirty-one of verses: 2 Samuel 23:24-39 .