2 Samuele 23:12 Commento

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.

But he stood in the midst of the ground,.... The field of lentiles: and defended it; the field, so that the Philistines could not ravage it, and get food and forage from it: and slew the Philistines; made a great slaughter among them, entirely routed them, so that they that escaped his sword were obliged to flee: and the Lord wrought a great victory; to whom the glory of it belonged; a similar fact is ascribed to Eleazar before mentioned in Ch1 11:13; and, indeed, it seems to be the same, and in which they were both concerned; for it is plain from the account that there were more than one engaged in this action, since it is there said, "and they set themselves in the midst of that parcel"; and though that parcel of ground is said there to be full of barley, it may easily be reconciled by observing, that one part of it might be sowed with barley, and the other part with lentiles; so the Targum in Ch1 11:13; for it was half lentiles and half barley; and Eleazar might be placed to defend the one, and Shammah the other; from whence it appears it was about March when this action was, at the latter end of which barley harvest began.

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

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.