2 Samuel 23 Bible Commentary

23:1 Now these [be] the ^a last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

(a) Which he spoke after he had written the psalms.

23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my ^b tongue.

(b) Meaning, he spoke nothing but by the motion of God's Spirit.

23:4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender ^c grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

(c) Which grows quickly, and fades soon.

23:5 Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to ^d grow.

(d) But that my kingdom may continue for ever according to his promise.

23:8 These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the ^e seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

(e) As one of the king's counsel.

23:9 And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were ^f gone away:

(f) Meaning, fled from the battle.

23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his ^g hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

(g) By a cramp which came from weariness and fighting.

23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a ^h great victory.

(h) Which has no respect for many or few, when he will show his power.

23:15 And David ⁱ longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

(i) Being overcome with weariness and thirst.

23:16 And the three mighty men 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but ^k poured it out unto the LORD.

(k) Bridling his affection, and also desiring God not to be offended for that rash enterprise.

23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a ^l spear in his hand; but 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.

(l) Which was as big as a weavers beam, (1 Chronicles 11:23).

23:23 He was more honourable than the ^m thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.

(m) He was more valiant than the thirty that follow and not so valiant as the six before.

23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, ⁿ Mebunnai the Hushathite,

(n) Some of these had two names, (1 Chronicles 11:29) and also many more are mentioned there.

23:39 Uriah the Hittite: ^o thirty and seven in all.

(o) These came to David, and helped restore him to his kingdom.