1Ch 11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
1 Chronicles 11:1-9 is parallel to 2 Sam 5.
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David - This event happened on the death of Ishbosheth. David was brought to possess the throne of Israel after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only.
The anointing of David to be king over the whole of Israel in Hebron - Ishbosheth was murdered in his own house by two of the leaders of his army. There now remained of Saul's family only Jonathan's son Mephibosheth (2Sa_4:1-12), then not more than twelve years old, and lame in both his feet, and all the tribes of Israel determined to anoint David to be their king. The carrying out of this resolution is narrated in 1Ch_11:1-3, in complete agreement as to the facts with 2Sa_5:1-3.
1Ch 11:2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
1Ch 11:3 Therefore 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, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
1Ch 11:4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
Went to Jerusalem - The capture of the citadel of Zion, and Jerusalem chosen to be the royal residence under the name of the city of David.
1Ch 11:5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
1Ch 11:6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
The narrative here given fills out a gap in 2Sa_5:8.
The prowess of Joab on this occasion, and the part which he took in the building of the city of David 1Ch_11:8, are known to us only from this passage of Chronicles.
Chief and captain - 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.
1Ch 11:7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
1Ch 11:8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
Joab repaired the rest of the city - David built a new town to the north of the old one on Mount Zion; but Joab was charged with a commission to restore the part that had been occupied by the ancient Jebusites, to repair the breaches made during the siege, to rebuild that which had been demolished or burned in the sacking of the town. This work of reconstruction is not noticed elsewhere.
Joab repaired – the Hebrew word translated as repaired is Strong’s H2421, to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively to revive: - keep alive, give life, live, nourish up, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, save, be whole. The same word is used in Neh 4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? translated as “revive” referring to the rebuilding of ruins. Joab was restoring the city.
1Ch 11:9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
1Ch 11:10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
1 Chronicles 11:10-40 is parallel to 2 Sam 23:8-39
Strengthened themselves - Or “exerted themselves” - “strenuously assisted with all Israel in making David king.” This list of David’s principal heroes belongs, therefore, to his reign at Hebron. In Samuel the list is not given until nearly the end of David’s reign 2 Sam. 23:8-39.
Strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom - In these words the sacred historian assigns a reason for introducing the list of their names, immediately after his account of the election of David as king, and the conquest of Jerusalem; namely, that they assisted in making David king.
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.
A register of the heroes - The greater part of this register is found in 2 Sam 23:8-39 also, though there are many divergences in the names, which for the most part have found their way into one or other of the texts by errors of transcription. The conclusion (1Ch_11:41-47 of the Chronicle) is not found in 2 Sam 23, either because the author of the Chronicle followed another and older register than that used by the author of the book of Samuel, or because the latter has not communicated all the names contained in his authority.
The heroes enumerated are divided into three classes. The first class consists of three, viz., Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah, of whom certain brave deeds are related, by which they reached the first rank among David's heroes (1Ch_11:11-14 and 2Sa_23:8-12). The name of the third hero, Shammah, has been dropped, so that the heroic deed done by him, 1Ch_11:13, 1Ch_11:14, appears, according to our present text, to have been performed by Eleazar.
They were followed by Abishai and Benaiah, who were in the second class, and who had also distinguished themselves above the rest by their brave deeds, though they did not come up to the first three (1Ch_11:15-25 and 2Sa_23:18-23). The others all belonged to the third class, of whom no particular heroic deeds are mentioned (1Ch_11:26-47 and 2Sa_23:24-39). Those men listed in 1Ch_11:41-47 are not seen in 2 Samuel 23. Twelve of these, the five belonging to the first two classes and seven of the third, were appointed by David commanders of the twelve detachments into which he divided the army, each detachment to serve for one month in the year (1 Chron 27).
1Ch 11:11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
Chief of the captains - Or, “of the thirty,” according to another and better reading (1Ch_11:15, 1Ch_11:25). Jashobeam was the commander of the first monthly course of soldiers 1Ch_27:2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And in his division were twenty-four thousand. He is probably the warrior of the name who joined David at Ziklag 1Ch_12:6.
Jashobeam, an Hachmonite - or, “son of Hachmoni.” He is called also son of Zabdiel 1Ch_27:2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And in his division were twenty-four thousand. so that, strictly speaking, he was the descendent of Hachmoni.
lifted up his spear against three hundred - The feat is said (2Sa_23:8) to have been a slaughter of eight hundred in one day. Some endeavor to reconcile the statements in that passage and in this by supposing that he slew eight hundred on one occasion and three hundred on another; while others conjecture that he attacked a body of eight hundred, and, having slain three hundred of them, the rest fled or were slain by others.
1Ch 11:12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
1Ch 11:13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and 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.
Compare this passage with 2Sa_23:9-11 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle; and the men of Israel had gone up; he arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and until his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD worked a great victory that day. And the people returned after him only to spoil. And next was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. And the people fled from the Philistines.
Field of barley - In 2Sa_23:11, “lentils.” Some think there were both lentils and barley in the field. The words for barley and lentils are similar in the Hebrew that it may be an accidental corruption.
1Ch 11:14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
1Ch 11:15 Now three 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.
Valley of the Rephaim - the giants.
1Ch 11:16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
1Ch 11:17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
Oh that one would give me - This chivalrous act evinces the enthusiastic devotion of David’s men, that they were ready to gratify his smallest wish at the risk of their lives. It would seem that three different heroes than the ones mentioned above are referred to, for Abishai (1Ch_11:20) was one of them. The camp of the Philistines was in the valley of Rephaim (1Ch_11:15), which lay on the west of Jerusalem, but an outpost was stationed at Bethlehem (1Ch_11:16), and through this garrison they had to force a passage.
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, though they received no command from David, broke through a company of the Philistines, and brought away some of the water. When brought to David he refused to drink it: for as the men got it at the hazard of their lives, he considered it as their blood, and gave thereby a noble instance of self-denial. There is no evidence that David had requested them to bring it; they had gone for it of their own accord, and without the knowledge of David.
The water of the well of Bethlehem - Bethlehem signifies the "house of bread," and the place was likewise noted for excellent water. There Christ was born, who is the "bread of life," and who also gives us the "water of life." "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Joh_4:14
David longed - It being harvest time, the summer season, and hot weather, and he thirsty:
David longed - some Christian writers are of opinion, that not literal but spiritual water was desired by him, and that he thirsted after the coming of the Messiah, to be born at Bethlehem, and the living water which he only can give, Joh_4:10.
1Ch 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
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.
Poured it out unto the Lord - as a libation to him, it being rather blood than water, being fetched at the hazard of men's lives, and therefore more fit to be offered as a sacrifice to God than to be drank by him. It was too costly for his own use, none but the Lord was worthy of it. As a kind of drink offering, it was acknowledgment of God's goodness in preserving the lives of his captains in so dangerous an enterprise; and to show, that he esteemed it as a sacred thing, which it was not fit for him to drink.
1Ch 11:19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
1Ch 11:20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
Abishai the brother of Joab - In 1Ch_11:20-25 the second class of heroes, to which Abishai and Benaiah belonged, is spoken of. They were not equal to the preceding three in heroic deeds, but yet stood higher than the list of heroes which follows in 1Ch_11:26 and onwards. Abishai, who had already distinguished himself by his audacious courage in David's struggle with Saul (1Sa_26:6.), conducted together with Joab the war against Abner (2 Sam 2:24-3:30). Afterwards, in David's war with the Ammonites, he was under Joab in command of the second half of the host (2Sa_10:10.); in the war against Absalom he commanded a third part of the host (1Ch_18:2.); and in the struggle with the rebel Sheba he commanded the vanguard of the royal troops sent against the rebel (1Ch_20:6.); and in general held, along with Joab the commander-in-chief, the first place among David's captains. In this position he was chief of the three heroes before mentioned, and their leader, and among them had made himself a name.
1Ch 11:21 Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
Attained not to the first three - He did not equal them.
1Ch 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada - He commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites all through David’s reign 2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_20:23, and took a prominent part in supporting Solomon against Adonijah when David was dying, and was rewarded by being made captain of the host in the room of Joab 1Ki_1:8, 1Ki_1:26, 1Ki_1:32-40; 1Ki_2:25-35; 1Ki_4:4. It is possible that Jehoiada his father is the same as Jehoiada 1Ch_12:27, leader of the Aaronites, since “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada” is called a “chief priest” 1Ch_27:5.
Two lion-like men - The Hebrew word means literally “lion of God,” and is interpreted to mean “an eminent hero.” Instances occur among people of that region of the surname “lion of God” being given to great warriors. Hence, it is supposed that the same custom prevailed among the Moabites.
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 Moab may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, “The two princes of Moab.”
slew two lionlike men of Moab - literally, “lions of God,” that is, great lions or champions. This gallant feat was probably achieved in David’s hostile invasion of Moab (2Sa_8:2).
Slew a lion - Apparently in a severe winter a lion had come up from its usual haunts to some village in search of food, and taken possession of the tank or cistern to the terror of the inhabitants, and Benaiah attacked it boldly and killed it. Winter is when lions are most fierce, both from the sharpness of their appetite in cold seasons, and from want of provisions.
the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel - A city in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:21; one scholar says Benaiah was David's brother's son, and a grandson of Jesse:
1Ch 11:23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
Five cubits high - This man in is stated to have been five cubits high, about seven feet six inches. The height is not so great as that recorded of other giants.
In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam - as large as Goliath's; it is said to be like a weaver's beam, as Goliath's was; 1Sa_17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam. And his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And the shield bearer went in front of him.
plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand - and therefore must be a man very nimble and dexterous, as well as bold and courageous:
he went down - the ordinary phrase for expressing an engagement in battle. The encounter of Benaiah with this gigantic Egyptian reminds us, in some respects, of David’s combat with Goliath. At least, the height of this giant, which was about eight feet, and his armor, resembled that of Goliath.
with a staff - that is, having no other weapon in his hand than his walking stick.
1Ch 11:24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
1Ch 11:25 Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
David set him over his guard - the Cherethites and Pelethites that composed the small bodyguard in immediate attendance on the king.
1Ch 11:26 Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
No special deeds of the heroes enumerated in vv. 26-47 are related, so that we may regard them as a third class, who are not equal to the first triad, and to the second pair, Abishai and Benaiah, and consequently occupied a subordinate place in the collective body of the royal body-guards. In 2 Sam 23 thirty-two names are mentioned, which, with the above-mentioned three and two of the first and second classes, amount in all to thirty-seven men, as is expressly remarked in 2Sa_23:39 at the conclusion. In the text of the 1 Chronicles 11 no number is mentioned, and the register is increased by sixteen names (1Ch_11:41-47), which have been added in the course of time to the earlier number.
It is quite possible that the two lists varied to some extent originally. The writer of Chronicles distinctly states that he gives the list as it stood at the time of David’s becoming king over all Israel 1Ch_11:10. The writer of Samuel does not assign his list to any definite period of David’s reign. It is quite possible therefore that the names which occur only in Chronicles are those of persons who had died or quitted the army before the other list was made out, and that the new names in Samuel are the names of those who had taken their places
Also the valiant men of the armies - This was the third degree of military rank, and Asahel was their chief; the names of few of those mentioned are historically known.
1Ch 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
Shammah the Harorite - Called Shammah the Harodite in 2Sa 23:25.
Helez the Pelonite - in 2Sa 23:26, he is called the Paltite:
1Ch 11:28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite - who was of the city of Tekoah, the native place of Amos the prophet, famous for oil, about twelve miles from Jerusalem.
Abiezer the Antothite - He was of Anathoth, in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos_21:18, the birthplace of Jeremiah the prophet, Jer_1:1. In 2Sa 23:27, he is called Abiezer the Anethothite.
1Ch 11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Sibbecai the Hushathite - the same with Mebunnai, 2Sa 23:27; this man had two names, and was a descendant of Hushah, who came of Judah, 1Ch_4:4.
Ilai the Ahohite - The same with Zalmon, 2Sa 23:28; a descendant of Ahoah, a grandson of Benjamin, 1Ch_8:4.
1Ch 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Maharai the Netophathite - who was of Netophah, a city of the tribe of Judah, mentioned along with Bethlehem, Neh_7:26. He was chief of the detachment of the guards who attended on the king in the tenth month, January 1Ch_27:13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai of Netopha, of the Zerahites. And in his division were twenty-four thousand.
Heled the son of Baanah, a Netophathite - Called Heleb, 2Sa 23:29.
1Ch 11:31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah that pertained to the children of Benjamin - sometimes called Gibeah of Benjamin, Jdg_20:10, and Gibeah of Saul, 1Sa_11:4, being a city in the tribe of Benjamin, and the birth place of Saul king of Israel; and this man is distinguished hereby from Ittai the Gittite, 2Sa_15:19.
Benaiah the Pirathonite - Who was of Pirathon, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, Jdg_12:15.
1Ch 11:32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash - which perhaps ran by the hill Gaash, and was also in the tribe of Ephraim, Jos_24:30. This man is called Hiddai, 2Sa 23:30.
Abiel the Arbathite - A native of Betharabah, either in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:6, or in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos_18:18; he is called Abialbon in 2Sa 23:31.
1Ch 11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
Azmaveth the Baharumite - or Bachurimite, an inhabitant of Bachurim or Bahurim, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, 2Sa_16:5.
Eliahba the Shaalbonite - Of Shaalboa or Shaaiabin, a city in the tribe of Dan, Jos_19:42.
1Ch 11:34 The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite – in 2Sa 23:32 of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
The sons of Hashem - It is unlikely that this can be the true reading, since an individual warrior is spoken of in the list of names.
1Ch 11:35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite - from the high mountain; in 2Sa 23:33 Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite.
Eliphal the son of Ur – In 2Sa 23:34, he is called Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite
1Ch 11:36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
1Ch 11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
Hezro the Carmelite - of Carmel in the mountains of Judah (1Sa_25:2), in 2Sa 23:35, he is called Hezrai.
1Ch 11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
1Ch 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Zelek the Ammonite - Who was so either by birth, and became a proselyte; he was of the children of Ammon; or is so called, because he had sojourned some time in their land, or had done some exploits against them; unless he was of Chepharhaammonai, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, Jos_18:24.
Naharai the Beerothite - native of Beeroth, a city in the same tribe, Jos_18:25.
armorbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah - Joab had ten of them, this perhaps was the chief of them, 2Sa_18:15; who was advanced to be a captain, and therefore has a name and place among the thirty, very likely for some military, exploits performed by him; he is in the list of David's worthies, Uriah the Hittite, after mentioned, was an armorbearer to Joab.
1Ch 11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite - both of them Jithrites, i.e., sprung from a family in Kirjath-jearim (1Ch_2:53). These were of Jether, descendant of Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, 1Ch_2:50 1Ch_4:15.
1Ch 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
1 Chronicles 11:41b-47 has no parallel in 2 Sam.
Uriah the Hittite - The husband of Bathsheba; 2Sa_11:3. The enrolment of this name in such a list, attesting, as it does, his distinguished merits as a brave and devoted officer, aggravates the criminality of David’s outrage on his life and honor.
1Ch 11:42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Thirty with him - Thirty captains who were under him as their leader.
1Ch 11:43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
1Ch 11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
Uzzia the Ashterathite - he of the city Ashtaroth (1Ch_6:56), in the trans-Jordanic domain of Manasseh.
Hothan the Aroerite - He of Aroer, or Reuben or Gad (Jos_13:16, Jos_13:25).
1Ch 11:45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
1Ch 11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
1Ch 11:47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
