1 Chronicles 11:10 Kommentar

In this chapter is repeated, I. The elevation of David to the throne, immediately upon the death of Saul, by common consent (Ch1 11:1-3). II. His gaining the castle of Zion out of the hands of the Jebusites (Ch1 11:4-9). III. The catalogue of the worthies and great men of his kingdom (v. 10-47).

We have here an account of David's worthies, the great men of his time that served him and were preferred by him. The first edition of this catalogue we had, Sa2 23:8, etc. This is much the same, only that those named here from Ch1 11:41 to the end are added. Observe, I. The connexion of this catalogue with that which is said concerning David, Ch1 11:9. 1. David waxed greater and greater, and these were his mighty men. Much of the strength and honour of great men is borrowed from their servants and depends upon them, which cannot but somewhat diminish pomp and power in the opinion of those that are wise. David is great because he has great men about him; take these away, and he is where he was. 2. The Lord of hosts was with him, and these were the mighty men which he had. God was with him and wrought for him, but by men and means and the use of second causes. By this it appeared that God was with him, that he inclined the hearts of those to come over to him that were able to serve his interest. As, if God be for us none can be against us, so, if God be for us, all shall be for us that we have occasion for. Yet David ascribed his success and increase, 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 whose presence with us is all in all. II. The title of this catalogue (Ch1 11:10): These are the men who strengthened themselves with him. In strengthening him they strengthened themselves and their own interest; for his advancement was theirs. What we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David we shall be gainers by. In strengthening it we strengthen ourselves. It may be read, They held strongly with him and with all Israel. Note, When God has work to do he will not want fit instruments to do it with. If it be work that requires mighty men, mighty men shall either be found or made to effect it, according to the word of the Lord. III. That which made all these men honourable was the good service that they did to their king and country; they helped to make David king (Ch1 11:10) - a good work. They slew the Philistines, and other public enemies, and were instrumental to save Israel. Note, The way to be great is to do good. Nor did they gain this honour without labour and the hazard of their lives. The honours of Christ's kingdom are prepared for those that fight the good fight of faith, that labour and suffer, and are willing to venture all, even life itself, for Christ and a good conscience. It is by a patient continuance in well-doing that we must seek for glory, and honour, and immortality; and those that are faithful to the Son of David shall find their names registered and enrolled much more to their honour than these are in the records of fame. IV. Among all the great exploits of David's mighty men, here is nothing great mentioned concerning David himself but his pouring out water before the Lord which he had longed for, Ch1 11:18, Ch1 11:19. Four very honourable dispositions of David appeared in that action, which, for aught I know, made it as great as any of the achievements of those worthies. 1. Repentance for his own weakness. It is really an honour to a man, when he is made sensible that he has said or done any thing unadvisedly, to unsay it and undo it again by repentance, as it is a shame to a man when he has said or done amiss to stand to it. 2. Denial of his own appetite. He longed for the water of the well of Bethlehem; but, when he had it, he would not drink it, because he would not so far humour himself and gratify a foolish fancy. He that has such a rule as this over his own spirit is better than the mighty. It is an honour to a man to have the command of himself; but he that will command himself must sometimes cross himself. 3. Devotion towards God. That water which he thought too good, too precious, for his own drinking, he poured out to the Lord for a drink offering. If we have any thing better than another, let God be honoured with it, who is the best, and should have the best. 4. Tenderness of his servants. It put him into the greatest confusion imaginable to think that three brave men should hazard their lives to fetch water for him. In his account it turns the water into blood. It is the honour of great men not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ, but, in all the commands they give them, to put their own souls into their souls' stead. V. In the wonderful achievements of these heroes the power of God must be acknowledged. How could one slay 300 and another the same number (Ch1 11:11, Ch1 11:20), another two lion-like men (Ch1 11:22), and another an Egyptian giant (Ch1 11:23), if they had not had the extraordinary presence of God with them, according to that promise, Jos 23:10, One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God fighteth for you? VI. One of these worthies is said to be an Ammonite (Ch1 11:39), another a Moabite (Ch1 11:46), and yet the law was that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the congregation of the Lord, Deu 23:3. These, it is likely, had approved themselves so hearty for the interest of Israel that in their case it was thought fit to dispense with that law, and the rather because it was an indication that the Son of David would have worthies among the Gentiles: with him there is neither Greek nor Jew.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 11 This chapter treats of David's being anointed king by all Israel, Ch1 11:1, which agrees with Sa2 5:1 See Gill on Sa2 5:1 See Gill on Sa2 5:2 See Gill on Sa2 5:3 and of his taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites, Ch1 11:4 the account of which we have Sa2 5:6. See Gill on Sa2 5:6 See Gill on Sa2 5:7 See Gill on Sa2 5:8 See Gill on Sa2 5:9 See Gill on Sa2 5:10 only here we are told, that it was Joab that smote the Jebusites first, and so was made chief captain according to David's promise; and that he also repaired the rest of the city David built round about; perhaps the fortifications demolished in taking it, Ch1 11:6 or rather, as others give the sense, he "saved alive" (b) those that remained in the city, after he had slain the lame and the blind; though a learned (d) writer conjectures it should be read, "and Joab was made the governor of the city"; and the Targum is,"Joab governed the rest of the city.''And then follows an account of David's mighty men and worthies, Ch1 11:10 of whom see the notes on Sa2 23:8, Sa2 23:9, Sa2 23:10, Sa2 23:11, Sa2 23:12, Sa2 23:13, Sa2 23:14, Sa2 23:15, Sa2 23:16, Sa2 23:17, Sa2 23:18, Sa2 23:19, Sa2 23:20, Sa2 23:21, Sa2 23:22, Sa2 23:23, Sa2 23:24, Sa2 23:25, Sa2 23:26, Sa2 23:27, Sa2 23:28, Sa2 23:29, Sa2 23:30, Sa2 23:31, Sa2 23:32, Sa2 23:33, Sa2 23:34, Sa2 23:35, Sa2 23:36, Sa2 23:37, Sa2 23:38, Sa2 23:39 and others are added here, Ch1 11:42 of whom we know no more than their names. (b) "vivas conservavit urbis reliquias", Junius & Tremellius; Strigelius in Poli Synops. in loc. (d) Dr. Kennicot's State of the Hebrew Text, dissert. 1. p. 54. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 12

David is anointed king in Hebron, Ch1 11:1-3. He wars against the Jebusites, and takes their city, Ch1 11:4-9. An account of David's three mightiest heroes; and particularly of their hazardous exploit in bringing water from the well of Beth-lehem, Ch1 11:10-19. A list of the rest, and an account of their acts, vv. 20-47.

DAVID MADE KING. (Ch1 11:1-3) Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron--This event happened on the death of Ish-bosheth (see on Sa2 5:1). The convention of the estates of the kingdom, the public and solemn homage of the representatives of the people, and the repeated anointing of the new king in their presence and by their direction, seem to have been necessary to the general acknowledgment of the sovereign on the part of the nation (compare Sa1 11:15).

A CATALOGUE OF HIS WORTHIES. (1Ch. 11:10-47) These . . . are the chief of the mighty men--(See on Sa2 23:8). They are here described as those who held strongly with him (Margin) to make him king, &c. 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. In the original form of the list, and the connection in which it occurs in Samuel, there is no reference to the choice of a king; and even in this passage it is only in the clause introduced into the superscription that such a reference occurs [KEIL].

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 11 This chapter treats of David's being anointed king by all Israel, Ch1 11:1, which agrees with Sa2 5:1 See Gill on Sa2 5:1 See Gill on Sa2 5:2 See Gill on Sa2 5:3 and of his taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites, Ch1 11:4 the account of which we have Sa2 5:6. See Gill on Sa2 5:6 See Gill on Sa2 5:7 See Gill on Sa2 5:8 See Gill on Sa2 5:9 See Gill on Sa2 5:10 only here we are told, that it was Joab that smote the Jebusites first, and so was made chief captain according to David's promise; and that he also repaired the rest of the city David built round about; perhaps the fortifications demolished in taking it, Ch1 11:6 or rather, as others give the sense, he "saved alive" (b) those that remained in the city, after he had slain the lame and the blind; though a learned (d) writer conjectures it should be read, "and Joab was made the governor of the city"; and the Targum is,"Joab governed the rest of the city.''And then follows an account of David's mighty men and worthies, Ch1 11:10 of whom see the notes on Sa2 23:8, Sa2 23:9, Sa2 23:10, Sa2 23:11, Sa2 23:12, Sa2 23:13, Sa2 23:14, Sa2 23:15, Sa2 23:16, Sa2 23:17, Sa2 23:18, Sa2 23:19, Sa2 23:20, Sa2 23:21, Sa2 23:22, Sa2 23:23, Sa2 23:24, Sa2 23:25, Sa2 23:26, Sa2 23:27, Sa2 23:28, Sa2 23:29, Sa2 23:30, Sa2 23:31, Sa2 23:32, Sa2 23:33, Sa2 23:34, Sa2 23:35, Sa2 23:36, Sa2 23:37, Sa2 23:38, Sa2 23:39 and others are added here, Ch1 11:42 of whom we know no more than their names. (b) "vivas conservavit urbis reliquias", Junius & Tremellius; Strigelius in Poli Synops. in loc. (d) Dr. Kennicot's State of the Hebrew Text, dissert. 1. p. 54. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 12