24 As'ahel the brother of Jo'ab was one of the thirty; Elha'nan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Eli'ka of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Teko'a, 27 Abi-e'zer, of An'athoth, Mebun'nai the Hu'shathite, 28 Zalmon the Aho'hite, Ma'harai of Netoph'ah, 29 Heleb the son of Ba'anah of Netoph'ah, It'tai the son of Ri'bai of Gib'e-ah of the Benjaminites, 30 Benai'ah of Pira'thon, Hid'dai of the brooks of Ga'ash, 31 Abi-al'bon the Ar'bathite, Az'maveth of Bahu'rim, 32 Eli'ahba of Sha-al'bon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Har'arite, Ahi'am the son of Sharar the Har'arite, 34 Eliph'elet the son of Ahas'bai of Ma'acah, Eli'am the son of Ahith'ophel of Gilo, 35 Hezro of Carmel, Pa'arai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Na'harai of Be-er'oth, the armor-bearer of Jo'ab the son of Zeru'iah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite 39 Uri'ah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:24-39
Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:8-39
(Read 2 Samuel 23:8-39)
David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.