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2-Samuel 23
[2-Samuel 23:1] NOW THESE BE THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID. DAVID THE SON OF JESSE SAID, AND THE MAN WHO WAS RAISED UP ON HIGH, THE ANOINTED OF THE GOD OF JACOB, AND THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL, SAID,
THE MAN. Hebrew "Ha-Gever"  connotes "he-man", "hero".
THE ANOINTED. Hebrew "Mashiach", translated as "Messiah". The Final Messiah will be  a descendant of David.
SWEET. Hebrew "nayim" connoting pleasant, cultivated, a gentleman. Yehudah Kiel points out that "nayim" also suggests "beloved, handsome".
THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL. David composed the Psalms. He gave us the holy words of Praise to the Almighty. He was the Sweet Singer of Israel.
Benjamin Disraeli: <<The most popular poet in England is the Sweet
Singer of Israel. Since the days of the heritage, there never was a race
who sang so often the odes of David as the people of Great Britain. It was
the "sword of the Lord and of Gideon" that won the boasted liberties of
England; and the Scots upon their hillsides achieved their religious
freedom chanting the same canticles that cheered the heart of Judah amid
their glens.
David was all of the above all at once: A heroic warrior, spiritually inspired, mystical, a poet and singer who was pleasant in his ways.
 
[2-Samuel 23:2] THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPAKE BY ME, AND HIS WORD WAS IN MY TONGUE.
God spoke through David.
HIS WORD WAS IN MY TONGUE. The level of Prophecy held by David was lower than that of the mainstream Prophets in so far as David gave his own expression to the inspiration he received, i.e. he formulated it in his own way.  That is why the Book of Psalms is included in the Writings rather than in the Prophets.
The Hebrew Bible is called the Tanach.
The word Tanach stands for "Torah (the Pentateuch, Five Books of Moses); Neviiim (Prophets), Cetuvim (Writings)".
The Psalms is part of the Cetuvim (or "Ketuvim") meaning literally "Writings" but in English frequently referred to as "Wisdom Books". These include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Job was written by Job himself or by Moses (it is debated); Psalms was written mostly by David with additions from others and the whole canonized by the Court of Judgment headed by King Hezekiah; the other works were all written by King Solomon son and successor of King David.
 
[2-Samuel 23:3] THE GOD OF ISRAEL SAID, THE ROCK OF ISRAEL SPAKE TO ME, HE THAT RULETH OVER MEN MUST BE JUST, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD.
David foresees that future rulers will arise from his descendants. He advises them to rule in justice and to fear God.
 
[2-Samuel 23:4] AND HE SHALL BE AS THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING, WHEN THE SUN RISETH, EVEN A MORNING WITHOUT CLOUDS; AS THE TENDER GRASS SPRINGING OUT OF THE EARTH BY CLEAR SHINING AFTER RAIN.
The Dynasty of David is compared to the shining of the sun,
ONCE HAVE I SWORN BY MY HOLINESS THAT I WILL NOT LIE UNTO DAVID [Psalms 89:35].                  
HIS SEED SHALL ENDURE FOR EVER, AND HIS THRONE AS THE SUN BEFORE ME [Psalms 89:36].                     
IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR EVER AS THE MOON, AND AS A FAITHFUL WITNESS IN  HEAVEN. SELAH [Psalms 89:37].                     
 
[2-Samuel 23:5] ALTHOUGH MY HOUSE BE NOT SO; YET HE HATH MADE WITH ME AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, ORDERED IN ALL THINGS, AND SURE: FOR THIS IS ALL MY SALVATION, AND ALL MY DESIRE, ALTHOUGH HE MAKE IT NOT TO GROW.
ALTHOUGH MY HOUSE BE NOT SO WITH GOD. This is one possible interpretation
But the expression may be understood as continuing from the previous verse and be rendered (as Yehudah Kiel suggests) MY HOUSE SHALL BE AS GRASS [that springs up after the rain and then withers away] BUT RATHER MY HOUSE SHALL BE WITH GOD, -an immortal lineage.
ALTHOUGH HE MAKE IT NOT TO GROW. This is a difficult expression but the Commentators understood it to mean that if any other dynasty should set itself up over Israel in place of the Dynasty of David then that dynasty would not prosper for long.
 
[2-Samuel 23:6] BUT THE SONS OF BELIAL SHALL BE ALL OF THEM AS THORNS THRUST AWAY, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE TAKEN WITH HANDS:
SONS OF BELIAL: A Common expression in the Bible for evil people. Here it is referring to anyone who attempts to reign in place of the Seed of David or whomsoever does not respect the right to rule of the descendants of David.
They shall be as dried up thorns cut off from their stem that have no purpose or continuation but only prick anyone who touches them.
 
[2-Samuel 23:7] BUT THE MAN THAT SHALL TOUCH THEM MUST BE FENCED WITH IRON AND THE STAFF OF A SPEAR; AND THEY SHALL BE UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE IN THE SAME PLACE.
Whoever has anything to do with them will be only interested in cutting them down and burning them up like troublesome thorns that must be removed and done away with.
Amongst the Jews are families descended from David. The rulers of peoples in the west in some cases may also be descended from David.
 
"Sons of David as Rulers"
http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleDavid.html
 
Descendants of David in Ireland?
http://www.britam.org/hiberi.html
In 1581 Vincenzio Galilei (father of the astronomer, Galileo Galilei) wrote that the Irish believed themselves descended from David, King of Israel, and that was why they used a harp as their symbol.
 
http://www.standingstones.com/wireharp.html
Extract:
David and the Harp as Depicted in the Pictish Area of Scotland
<<In Scotland, in the area once inhabited by people known as Picts, musical instruments that are obviously frame harps are represented on six monuments. Perhaps earliest is the example carved on a monument known as Aberlemno No. 3, a red sandstone slab over nine feet in height, standing beside the narrow road leading from the town of Forfar to the village of Aberlemno (Angus). Originally this monument must has looked like a much-enlarged version of an illuminated page from a precious religious book, as a decorated wheel cross surrounded with angels, zoomorphic interlace and other patterns, is carved in relief on the slab front which faces the road. The back of the slab, divided into three sections, includes carvings of Pictish symbols (designs of an earlier era whose true meanings have yet to be discovered), a hunting scene and a carving of David Rending the Jaws of a Lion. Above and to the right of David two of his iconographic symbols, a sheep and a harp, are carved. ? The appearance of the harp alone provides a sort of 'shorthand' interprestation of the David and Harp motif; the harp itself thus becomes an important iconographic symbols for David's association with music, and all that this implied to the medieval mind. The same theme appears on a second Angus monument, the Aldbar cross-slab, and also on the most northern of the Pict area monuments, the Nigg cross-slab.
 
[2-Samuel 23:8] THESE BE THE NAMES OF THE MIGHTY MEN WHOM DAVID HAD: THE TACHMONITE THAT SAT IN THE SEAT, CHIEF AMONG THE CAPTAINS; THE SAME WAS ADINO THE EZNITE: HE LIFT UP HIS SPEAR AGAINST EIGHT HUNDRED, WHOM HE SLEW AT ONE TIME.            
THE TACHMONITE: Hebrew "Tachamoni" from the root "chacham" meaning wiseman.
This could refer to a counsel of Sages., i.e. a group of advisors or chief warriors.
Adino with his spear had once slaughtered eight hundred of the enemy in one battle.
 
[2-Samuel 23:9] AND AFTER HIM WAS ELEAZAR THE SON OF DODO THE AHOHITE, ONE OF THE THREE MIGHTY MEN WITH DAVID, WHEN THEY DEFIED THE PHILISTINES THAT WERE THERE GATHERED TOGETHER TO BATTLE, AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL WERE GONE AWAY:           
 
[2-Samuel 23:10] HE AROSE, AND SMOTE THE PHILISTINES UNTIL HIS HAND WAS WEARY, AND HIS HAND CLAVE UNTO THE SWORD: AND THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY THAT DAY; AND THE PEOPLE RETURNED AFTER HIM ONLY TO SPOIL.             
David together with Eleazar son of Dodo and two others had been cut off and left alone to face an army of Philistines. The rest of the people had either fled or mistakenly gone elsewhere. Largely due to the heroism of Eleazar  son of Dodo what could have been a disaster was turned into a great victory.
 
[2-Samuel 23:11] AND AFTER HIM WAS SHAMMAH THE SON OF AGEE THE HARARITE. AND THE PHILISTINES WERE GATHERED TOGETHER INTO A TROOP, WHERE WAS A PIECE OF GROUND FULL OF LENTILES: AND THE PEOPLE  FLED FROM THE PHILISTINES.    
 
[2-Samuel 23:1 BUT HE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE GROUND, AND DEFENDED IT, AND SLEW THE PHILISTINES:  AND THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY.
 
[2-Samuel 23:13] AND THREE OF THE THIRTY CHIEF WENT DOWN, AND CAME TO DAVID IN THE HARVEST TIME UNTO THE CAVE OF ADULLAM: AND THE TROOP OF THE PHILISTINES PITCHED IN THE VALLEY OF REPHAIM.
 
[2-Samuel 23:14] AND DAVID WAS THEN IN AN HOLD, AND THE GARRISON OF THE PHILISTINES WAS THEN IN BETHLEHEM.
AN HOLD. Hebrew "Matsudah" meaning here a small stronghold or fortified position besides the Cave of Adullam.
 
[2-Samuel 23:15] AND DAVID LONGED, AND SAID, OH THAT ONE WOULD GIVE ME DRINK OF THE WATER OF THE WELL OF BETHLEHEM, WHICH IS BY THE GATE!
 
[2-Samuel 23:16] AND THE THREE MIGHTY MEN 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: NEVERTHELESS HE WOULD NOT DRINK THEREOF, BUT POURED IT OUT UNTO THE LORD.
 
[2-Samuel 23:17] AND HE SAID, BE IT FAR FROM ME, O LORD, THAT I SHOULD DO THIS: IS NOT THIS THE BLOOD OF THE MEN THAT WENT IN JEOPARDY OF THEIR LIVES? THEREFORE HE WOULD NOT DRINK IT. THESE THINGS DID THESE THREE MIGHTY MEN.     
 
[2-Samuel 23:18] AND ABISHAI, THE BROTHER OF JOAB, THE SON OF ZERUIAH, WAS CHIEF AMONG THREE.  AND HE LIFTED UP HIS SPEAR AGAINST THREE HUNDRED, AND SLEW THEM, AND HAD THE NAME AMONG THREE.
 
[2-Samuel 23:19] WAS HE NOT MOST HONOURABLE OF THREE? THEREFORE HE WAS THEIR CAPTAIN: HOWBEIT HE ATTAINED NOT UNTO THE FIRST THREE.
The first three were ADINO THE EZNITE, ELEAZAR THE SON OF DODO, and
SHAMMAH THE SON OF AGEE.
 
[2-Samuel 23:20] AND BENAIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA, THE SON OF A VALIANT MAN, OF KABZEEL, WHO HAD DONE MANY ACTS, HE SLEW TWO LIONLIKE MEN OF MOAB: HE WENT DOWN ALSO AND SLEW A LION IN THE  MIDST OF A PIT IN TIME OF SNOW:       
Beniah was a Cohen from the Tribe of Levi) 1-Chronciles 27:5-6) who did not usually go out to battle. He apparently was an exception and David appointed him first as head of his bodyguard and later head of the Army.
 
[2-Samuel 23:21] AND HE SLEW AN EGYPTIAN, A GOODLY MAN: AND THE EGYPTIAN HAD A SPEAR IN HIS HAND; BUT HE WENT DOWN TO HIM WITH A STAFF, AND PLUCKED THE SPEAR OUT OF THE EGYPTIAN'S HAND, AND SLEW HIM WITH HIS OWN SPEAR.     
 
[2-Samuel 23:2 THESE THINGS DID BENAIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA, AND HAD THE NAME AMONG THREE MIGHTY MEN.
 
[2-Samuel 23:23] HE WAS MORE HONOURABLE THAN THE THIRTY, BUT HE ATTAINED NOT TO THE FIRST THREE. AND DAVID SET HIM OVER HIS GUARD.
THE FIRST THREE. In Hebrew it just says "HaShaloshah" i.e. the three. It does not say
"THE FIRST THREE" but rather "THE THREE". There were two lots of three, each triad being more prestigious than the previous one.
 
[2-Samuel 23:24] ASAHEL THE BROTHER OF JOAB WAS ONE OF THE THIRTY; ELHANAN THE SON OF DODO OF BETHLEHEM,     
The mother of Asahel was Zeruiah the sister of David.     
 
[2-Samuel 23:25] SHAMMAH THE HARODITE, ELIKA THE HARODITE,            
According to Yehudah Kiel these were from the Clan of Zerach of Judah (1-Chronicles 28:8).
 
[2-Samuel 23:26] HELEZ THE PALTITE, IRA THE SON OF IKKESH THE TEKOITE,
HELEZ THE PALTITE. Yehudah Kiel compares these names with those of the administrators of David listed in the Book of Chronicles. In this case HELEZ THE PALTITE mentioned here is to be identified with HELEZ THE PELONITE, OF THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM (1-Chronicles 27:10).
IRA came from Tekoah south of Jerusalem in the territory of Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:27] ABIEZER THE ANETHOTHITE, MEBUNNAI THE HUSHATHITE,
ABIEZER from Benjamin.
MEBUNNAI from the clan of Zerach of Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:28] ZALMON THE AHOHITE, MAHARAI THE NETOPHATHITE, 
ZALMON from Benjamin.
MAHARAI from the region of Bethlehem in Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:29] HELEB THE SON OF BAANAH, A NETOPHATHITE, ITTAI THE SON OF RIBAI OUT OF GIBEAH OF THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN,     
HELEB from Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:30] BENAIAH THE PIRATHONITE, HIDDAI OF THE BROOKS OF GAASH,
BENAIAH from Ephraim.
HIDDAI from Ephraim.
 
 [2-Samuel 23:31] ABIALBON THE ARBATHITE, AZMAVETH THE BARHUMITE,
ABIALBON from Judah.
AZMAVETH from Benjamin.
 
[2-Samuel 23:3 ELIAHBA THE SHAALBONITE, OF THE SONS OF JASHEN, JONATHAN.
ELIAHBA from Shelabim which was in the heritage of Dan though Ephraimites may have settled there later.
Shelabim (pronounced "Shelavim") is now the site of a Religious Kibbutz alongside an independent settlement. It also has a well-known Yeshivah or Rabbinical College. Yair Davidiy learned there for a period as did two of his sons after him.
OF THE SONS OF JASHEN, JONATHAN. This is an unusual expression and is not like the other listings. It is however a usage for someone from the Tribe of Dan which suggests that ELIAHBA mentioned above was also from Dan and not from Ephraim.
Rashi says that THE SONS OF JASHEN, JONATHAN is referring to two (not one) warriors.
 
[2-Samuel 23:33] SHAMMAH THE HARARITE, AHIAM THE SON OF SHARAR THE HARARITE,
SHAMMAH...AHIAM: Yehudah Kiel suggests they were from Issachar.
 
[2-Samuel 23:34] ELIPHELET THE SON OF AHASBAI, THE SON OF THE MAACHATHITE, ELIAM THE SON OF AHITHOPHEL THE GILONITE,             
ELIPHELET... THE MAACHATHITE possibly from Manasseh.
ELIAM from Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:35] HEZRAI THE CARMELITE, PAARAI THE ARBITE,                  
HEZRAI. Yehudah Kiel seems to suggest either Judah or Manasseh
PAARAI: Yehudah Kiel suggest Judah based on the place-name but this is not a stonfg association.
[2-Samuel 23:36] IGAL THE SON OF NATHAN OF ZOBAH, BANI THE GADITE,
IGAL maybe from Judah.
BANI from Gad.
 
[2-Samuel 23:37] ZELEK THE AMMONITE, NAHARI THE BEEROTHITE, ARMOURBEARER TO JOAB THE SON OF ZERUIAH,                     
ZELEK probably an Ammonite who had joined the forces of David though other interpretations have been given, e.g. he commanded the army over Ammon, etc.
NAHARI from Benjamin.
 
[2-Samuel 23:38] IRA AN ITHRITE, GAREB AN ITHRITE,
IRA...GAREB from Judah.
 
[2-Samuel 23:39] URIAH THE HITTITE: THIRTY AND SEVEN IN ALL.               
URIAH THE HITTITE: Our impression is that he really was a Hittite who had attached himself to David and to Israel. Here too other interpretations exist saying that he was really an Israelite but fought against the Hittites etc.
THIRTY AND SEVEN: When they are counted there are only thirty-six and various explanations have been offered, e.g. the explanation of Rashi in 23:32 above.
Who were the  THIRTY AND SEVEN?
David, the first set of THREE, the second set of THREE (see 2-Samuel 23:23), and the Thirty giving a total of 37.
 
We have allocated these members of the Thirty Mighty Warriors of King David  mainly according to Yehudah Kiel who compares them with the parallel list of administrators in the Book of Chronicles. Where no parallel exists Yehudah Kiel has relied on place names and here our feeling is that his conclusions are less reliable.
Even allowing for mistaken Tribal allocations here and there the impression is that most of the Thirty Warriors came from the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin followed by Ephraimites and a few of the other Tribes.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four