[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.
Chief — 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.
Verse 10
[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.
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.
Verse 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.
Slain — By his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory, both which sums make up the eight hundred, numbered 2 Samuel 23:8. The slaughter of all is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour.
Verse 18
[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. If we have any thing better than other, let God be honoured with it, who is the best and should have the best.
Verse 19
[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.
Shall I drink the blood, … — It put him into the utmost confusion, to think three brave men should hazard their lives, to fetch water for him. In his account, it turns the water into blood. It is to the honour of great men, not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ.
Verse 21
[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 — He did not equal them.
Verse 41
[41] Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Uriah — The last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown amongst David's commanders.
Verse 42
[42] Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Thirty — Thirty captains who were under him as their colonel.
1 Chronicles 11 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 6
[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.
Chief — 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.
Verse 10
[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.
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.
Verse 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.
Slain — By his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory, both which sums make up the eight hundred, numbered 2 Samuel 23:8. The slaughter of all is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour.
Verse 18
[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. If we have any thing better than other, let God be honoured with it, who is the best and should have the best.
Verse 19
[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.
Shall I drink the blood, … — It put him into the utmost confusion, to think three brave men should hazard their lives, to fetch water for him. In his account, it turns the water into blood. It is to the honour of great men, not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ.
Verse 21
[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 — He did not equal them.
Verse 41
[41] Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Uriah — The last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown amongst David's commanders.
Verse 42
[42] Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Thirty — Thirty captains who were under him as their colonel.