2 Samuel 23:9 Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 23 In this chapter are recorded the last words of David under a divine inspiration, Sa2 23:1; and an account is given of his great men, famous for warlike exploits, particularly of three mighty men who did very marvellous things, Sa2 23:8; and of two others next unto them, which belonged to another class of three, Sa2 23:18; and then of thirty one more, Sa2 23:24; who are all mentioned by name.

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite,.... Or the son of Ahohi, perhaps the same with Ahoah, a descendant of Benjamin, Ch1 8:4; this Eleazar was the next to the Tachmonite, the second worthy of the first class: one of the three mighty men with David; the second of the three valiant men that were with David in his wars, and fought with him, and for him: when they defied the Philistines; clapped their hands at them, gloried over them, daring them to come and light them; so did David and his mighty men, as Goliath had defied them before: that were there gathered together to battle; at Pasdammim, as appears from Ch1 11:13, and the men of Israel were gone away; fled when they saw the Philistines gather together to fight them, notwithstanding they had defied them; and so David, and his three mighty men, were left alone to combat with the Philistines.

The last words of David, Sa2 23:1-7. The names and exploits of has thirty-seven worthies, vv. 8-39.

When they defied the Philistines that were there gathered - This is supposed to refer to the war in which David slew Goliath.

DAVID NUMBERS THE PEOPLE. (Sa2 24:1-9) again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah--"Again" carries us back to the former tokens of His wrath in the three years' famine [Sa2 21:1]. God, though He cannot tempt any man (Jam 1:13), is frequently described in Scripture as doing what He merely permits to be done; and so, in this case, He permitted Satan to tempt David. Satan was the active mover, while God only withdrew His supporting grace, and the great tempter prevailed against the king. (See Exo 7:13; Sa1 26:19; Sa2 16:10; Psa 105:25; Isa 7:17, &c.). The order was given to Joab, who, though not generally restrained by religious scruples, did not fail to present, in strong terms (see on Ch1 21:3), the sin and danger of this measure. He used every argument to dissuade the king from his purpose. The sacred history has not mentioned the objections which he and other distinguished officers urged against it in the council of David. But it expressly states that they were all overruled by the inflexible resolution of the king.