Chapter 23:
| Darby
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| Matthew Henry
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
2 Samuel 23
The last words of David, ver. 1-7. An account of his mighty
men, the first three, ver. 8-12. Two of the next three, ver. 13-23.
And the thirty, ver. 24-39.
Verse 1. Last words - Not simply the last that he spoke, but the last
which he spake by the spirit of God, assisting and directing him in
an extraordinary manner. When we find death approaching, we
should endeavour both to honour God, and to profit others with
our last words. Let those who have had experience of God's
goodness, and the pleasantness of the ways of wisdom, when they
come to finish their course, leave a record of those experiences,
and bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. Raised -
Advanced from an obscure estate, to the kingdom. Whom, God
singled out from all the families of Israel, and anointed to be king.
Psalmist - He who was eminent among the people of God, for
composing sweet and holy songs to the praise of God, and for the
use of his church in after ages: these seem not to be the words of
David, but of the sacred penman of this book.
Verse 2. His word - The following words, and consequently the other
words and Psalms composed and uttered by me upon the like
solemn occasions, are not to be looked upon as human inventions,
but both the matter and the words of them are suggested by God's
spirit, the great teacher of the church.
Verse 3. Rock - He who is the strength, and defense, and protector of his
people; which he manifests by directing kings and rulers so to
manage their power as may most conduce to their comfort and
benefit. Ruleth - Here are the two principal parts of a king's duty,
answerable to the two tables of God's law, justice towards men,
and piety towards God, both which he is to maintain and promote
among his people.
Verse 4. Shall be - These words are a farther description of the king's
duty, which is not only to rule with justice and piety, but also with
sweetness, and gentleness, and condescension to the infirmities of
his people; to render his government as acceptable to them, as is
the sun-shine in a clear morning, or the tender grass which springs
out of the earth by the warm beams of the sun after the rain.
Verse 5. Altho' - Although God knows, that neither I, nor my children
have lived and ruled as we should have done, so justly, and in the
fear of the Lord; and therefore have not enjoyed that uninterrupted
prosperity which we might have enjoyed. Covenant -
Notwithstanding all our transgressions whereby we have broken
covenant with God, yet God, to whom all my sins were known,
was graciously pleased to make a sure covenant, to continue the
kingdom to me, and to my seed for ever, chap. vii, 16, until the
coming of the Messiah who is to be my son and successor, and
whose kingdom shall have no end. Ordered - Ordained in all
points by God's eternal counsel; and disposed by his wise and
powerful providence which will over-rule all things, even the sins
of my house so far, that although he punished them for their sins,
yet he will not utterly root them out, nor break his covenant made
with me and mine. Sure - Or, preserved, by God's power and
faithfulness in the midst of all oppositions. For this - Or, in this is,
that is, it consists in, and depends upon this covenant. Salvation -
Both mine own eternal salvation, and the preservation of the
kingdom to me and mine. Tho' - Although God as yet hath not
made my house or family to grow; that is, to increase, or to
flourish with worldly glory as I expected; yet this is my comfort,
that God will inviolably keep this covenant. But this refers also to
the covenant of grace made with all believers. This is indeed an
everlasting covenant, from everlasting, in the contrivance of it,
and to everlasting, in the continuance and the consequence of it. It
is ordered, well ordered in all things; admirably well, to advance
the glory of God and the honour of the mediator, together with the
holiness and happiness of believers. It is sure, and therefore sure,
because well-ordered: the promised mercies are sure, on the
performance of the conditions. It is all our salvation: nothing but
this will save us, and this is sufficient. Therefore it should be all
our desire. Let me have an interest in this covenant, and I have
enough, I desire no more.
Verse 6. But - Having in the foregoing verses described the nature, and
stability of that kingdom which God had by a sure covenant
settled upon him and his seed; and especially, upon the Messiah,
who was to be one of his posterity; he now describes the nature
and miserable condition, of all the enemies of this holy and
blessed kingdom. As thorns - Which men do not use to handle,
but thrust them away. And so will God thrust away from himself,
and from his people, and kingdom, all those who shall either
secretly or openly set themselves against it.
Verse 7. Fenced - He must arm himself with some iron weapon,
whereby he may cut them down; or, with the staff of a spear, or
some such thing, whereby he may thrust them away from himself,
that they do him no hurt. Burnt - Or, if they do not cut them down
or thrust them away they will burn and consume them. The place -
Or, in their place, where they grow or stand.
Verse 8. These - But this catalogue, though placed here, was taken long
before, as is manifest from hence, that Asahel and Uriah are
named here. And whereas there are some difference between this
list, and that, 1 Chron. xi, 10-47, most of them are easily
reconciled by these two considerations;
1. that nothing is more common than for one person to have divers
names.
2. That as some of the worthies died, and others came in their
stead; this must needs cause some alteration in the latter
catalogue, 1 Chron. xi, 10-47, from this which was the former.
Learn hence, how much religion tends to inspire men with true
courage. David both by his writings and example greatly
promoted piety among the grandees of the kingdom. And when
they became famous for piety, they became famous for bravery.
Adino - This was his proper name. Lift up - Which words are fitly
supplied out of 1 Chron. xi, 11, where they are expressed. One
time - In one battle, which though it be strange, yet cannot seem
incredible, supposing him to be a person of extraordinary strength
and activity, and his enemies to be discouraged, and fleeing away.
Verse 9. Gone away - That is, fled away, 1 Chron. xi, 13, being
dismayed at the approach of their enemies.
Verse 11. Lentiles - Or barley, as it is 1 Chron. xi, 13. For both might
grow in the same field, in divers parts of it. And this fact is
ascribed to Eleazar, 1 Chron. xi, 12, but it is implied, that he had some partner or
partners in it; for it is there said, 1 Chron. xi, 14 they set
themselves, &c. So Eleazar might fight in that part where the
barley was and Shammah where the lentiles were.
Verse 12. Lord wrought - How great soever the bravery of the
instruments is, the praise of the achievement is to be given to
God. These fought, but God wrought the victory.
Verse 15. Said - Being hot and thirsty, he expresses how acceptable a
draught of that water would be to him; but was far from desiring,
or expecting that any of his men should hazard their lives to
procure it.
Verse 16. Would not - Lest by gratifying himself upon such terms, he
should seem either to set too high a price upon the satisfaction of
his appetite, or too low a price upon the lives of his soldiers.
Poured it - As a kind of drink offering, and acknowledgment of
God's goodness in preserving the lives of his captains in so
dangerous an enterprize; and to shew, that he esteemed it as a
sacred thing, which it was not fit for him to drink.
Verse 17. These three - Jointly: then two of them are mentioned
severally.
Verse 19. Attained not - He fell short of them in strength and valour.
Verse 21. Pit - Where he put himself under a necessity, either of killing,
or being killed. Of snow - When lions are most fierce, both from
the sharpness of their appetite in cold seasons, and from want of
provisions.
Verse 25. Harodite - In 1 Chron. xi, 27, Shammoth the Harorite.
Concerning which, and other changes of the names, which will be
observed, by comparing this catalogue with that, it will be
sufficient to suggest,
1. that the same names of persons, or places, are differently
pronounced according to the different dialects of divers places or
ages.
2. That one man had often two names.
3. That David had more worthies than those here mentioned; and
as some of these were slain in the former part of David's reign, as
Asahel was; so others came up in their stead; and some were
added to this number, as appears from 1 Chron. xi, 10-47, where
they are named, but not numbered, as they were here; and where
there is a greater number than is here expressed.
Chapter 23:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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