mh_parser/vol_split/13 - 1Chronicles/Chapter 11.xml

<div2 id="iCh.xii" n="xii" next="iCh.xiii" prev="iCh.xi" progress="75.34%" title="Chapter XI">
<h2 id="iCh.xii-p0.1">F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iCh.xii-p0.2">CHAP. XI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iCh.xii-p1">In this chapter is repeated, I. The elevation of
David to the throne, immediately upon the death of Saul, by common
consent, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.1-1Chr.11.3" parsed="|1Chr|11|1|11|3" passage="1Ch 11:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II.
His gaining the castle of Zion out of the hands of the Jebusites,
<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.4-1Chr.11.9" parsed="|1Chr|11|4|11|9" passage="1Ch 11:4-9">ver. 4-9</scripRef>. III. The
catalogue of the worthies and great men of his kingdom, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.10-1Chr.11.47" parsed="|1Chr|11|10|11|47" passage="1Ch 11:10-47">ver. 10-47</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iCh.xii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11" parsed="|1Chr|11|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 11" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iCh.xii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.1-1Chr.11.9" parsed="|1Chr|11|1|11|9" passage="1Ch 11:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.11.1-1Chr.11.9">
<h4 id="iCh.xii-p1.6">David's Accession to the
Throne. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xii-p2">1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David
unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we <i>are</i> thy bone and thy flesh.
  2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou
<i>wast</i> he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p2.1">Lord</span> thy God said unto thee, Thou
shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people
Israel.   3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the
king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron
before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p2.2">Lord</span>; and they anointed
David king over Israel, according to the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p2.3">Lord</span> by Samuel.   4 And David and all
Israel went to Jerusalem, which <i>is</i> Jebus; where the
Jebusites <i>were,</i> the inhabitants of the land.   5 And
the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither.
Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which <i>is</i> the
city of David.   6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the
Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of
Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.   7 And David dwelt in
the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.   8
And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and
Joab repaired the rest of the city.   9 So David waxed greater
and greater: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p2.4">Lord</span> of hosts
<i>was</i> with him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p3">David is here brought to the
possession.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p4">I. Of the throne of Israel, after he had
reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only. In consideration of
his relation to them (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.1" parsed="|1Chr|11|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>), his former good services, and especially the divine
designation (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.2" parsed="|1Chr|11|2|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
they anointed him their king: he covenanted to protect them, and
they to bear faith and true allegiance to him, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.3" parsed="|1Chr|11|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Observe, 1. God's counsels will
be fulfilled at last, whatever difficulties lie in the way. If God
had said, <i>David shall rule,</i> it is in vain to oppose it. 2.
Men that have long stood in their own light, when they have long
wearied themselves with their lying vanities, it is to be hoped,
will understand the things that belong to their peace and return to
<i>their own mercies.</i> 3. Between prince and people there is an
original contract, which both ought religiously to observe. If ever
any prince might have claimed an absolute despotic power, David
might, and might as safely as any have been entrusted with it; and
yet he made a covenant with the people, took the coronation-oath,
to rule by law.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p5">II. Of the strong-hold of Zion, which was
held by the Jebusites till David's time. Whether David had a
particular eye upon it as a place fit to make a royal city, or
whether he had a promise of it from God, it seems that one of his
first exploits was to make himself master of that fort; and, when
he had it, he called it the <i>city of David,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.7" parsed="|1Chr|11|7|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. To this reference is
had, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.6" parsed="|Ps|2|6|0|0" passage="Ps 2:6">Ps. ii. 6</scripRef>. <i>I have set
my king upon my holy hill of Zion.</i> See here what quickens and
engages resolution in great undertakings. 1. Opposition. When the
Jebusites set David at defiance, and said, <i>Thou shalt not come
hither.</i> he resolved to force it, whatever it cost him. 2.
Prospect of preferment. When David proposed to give the general's
place to him that would lead the attack upon the castle of Zion,
Joab was fired with the proposal, and he <i>went up first, and was
chief.</i> It has been said, "Take away honour out of the soldier's
eye and you cut off the spurs from his heels."</p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.xii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.10-1Chr.11.47" parsed="|1Chr|11|10|11|47" passage="1Ch 11:10-47" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.11.10-1Chr.11.47">
<h4 id="iCh.xii-p5.4">David's Mighty Men. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p5.5">b. c.</span> 1048.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xii-p6">10 These also <i>are</i> the chief of the mighty
men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his
kingdom, <i>and</i> with all Israel, to make him king, according to
the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p6.1">Lord</span> concerning
Israel.   11 And this <i>is</i> the number of the mighty men
whom David had; Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains:
he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain <i>by him</i> at
one time.   12 And after him <i>was</i> Eleazar the son of
Dodo, the Ahohite, who <i>was one</i> of the three mighties.  
13 He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were
gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of
barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.   14
And they set themselves in the midst of <i>that</i> parcel, and
delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p6.2">Lord</span> saved <i>them</i> by a great deliverance.
  15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to
David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines
encamped in the valley of Rephaim.   16 And David <i>was</i>
then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison <i>was</i> then at
Bethlehem.   17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would
give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that <i>is</i>
at the gate!   18 And the three brake through the host of the
Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that
<i>was</i> by the gate, and took <i>it,</i> and brought <i>it</i>
to David: but David would not drink <i>of</i> it, but poured it out
to the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xii-p6.3">Lord</span>,   19 And said, My
God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the
blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with
<i>the jeopardy of</i> their lives they brought it. Therefore he
would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.  
20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for
lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew <i>them,</i>
and had a name among the three.   21 Of the three, he was more
honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he
attained not to the <i>first</i> three.   22 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: also he went down and slew
a lion in a pit in a snowy day.   23 And he slew an Egyptian,
a man of <i>great</i> stature, five cubits high; and in the
Egyptian's hand <i>was</i> a spear like a weaver's beam; and 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.   24 These
<i>things</i> did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name
among the three mighties.   25 Behold, he was honourable among
the thirty, but attained not to the <i>first</i> three: and David
set him over his guard.   26 Also the valiant men of the
armies <i>were,</i> Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of
Dodo of Bethlehem,   27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the
Pelonite,   28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the
Antothite,   29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
  30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the
Netophathite,   31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, <i>that
pertained</i> to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
  32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,  
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,   34 The
sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the
Hararite,   35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal
the son of Ur,   36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the
Pelonite,   37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
  38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
  39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the
armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,   40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,   41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of
Ahlai,   42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of
the Reubenites, and thirty with him,   43 Hanan the son of
Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,   44 Uzzia the
Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
  45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the
Tizite,   46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah,
the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,   47 Eliel, and
Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p7">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,
<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.23.8-2Sam.23.39" parsed="|2Sam|23|8|23|39" passage="2Sa 23:8-39">2 Sam. xxiii. 8</scripRef>, &amp;c.
This is much the same, only that those named here from <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.41-1Chr.11.47" parsed="|1Chr|11|41|11|47" passage="1Ch 11:41-47"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef> to the end are
added. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p8">I. The connexion of this catalogue with
that which is said concerning David, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.9" parsed="|1Chr|11|9|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. 1. <i>David waxed greater and
greater,</i> 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. <i>The
Lord of hosts was with him, and these were the mighty men which he
had.</i> God was with him and wrought for him, but by men and means
and the use of second causes. By <i>this</i> 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 <i>Lord of hosts,</i> not to
the mighty men that were with him, but to the mighty God whose
presence with us is all in all.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p9">II. The title of this catalogue (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.10" parsed="|1Chr|11|10|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>These are the men
who strengthened themselves with him.</i> 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, <i>They held strongly with
him and with all Israel.</i> 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,
<i>according to the word of the Lord.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p10">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 (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.10" parsed="|1Chr|11|10|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>)—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 <i>fight
the good fight of faith,</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p11">IV. Among all the great exploits of David's
mighty men, here is nothing great mentioned concerning David
himself but his <i>pouring out water before the Lord</i> which he
had <i>longed for,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.18-1Chr.11.19" parsed="|1Chr|11|18|11|19" passage="1Ch 11:18,19"><i>v.</i>
18, 19</scripRef>. 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 <i>over his own spirit is better than the mighty.</i> 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 <i>poured out to the Lord</i> for a <i>drink
offering.</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p12">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 (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.11 Bible:1Chr.11.20" parsed="|1Chr|11|11|0|0;|1Chr|11|20|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:11,20"><i>v.</i> 11, 20</scripRef>), another two lion-like
men (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.22" parsed="|1Chr|11|22|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), and
another an Egyptian giant (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.23" parsed="|1Chr|11|23|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), if they had not had the extraordinary presence of
God with them, according to that promise, <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.23.10" parsed="|Josh|23|10|0|0" passage="Jos 23:10">Josh. xxiii. 10</scripRef>, <i>One man of you shall
chase a thousand, for the Lord your God fighteth for you?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xii-p13">VI. One of these worthies is said to be
<i>an Ammonite</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.39" parsed="|1Chr|11|39|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:39"><i>v.</i>
39</scripRef>), another <i>a Moabite</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.xii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.46" parsed="|1Chr|11|46|0|0" passage="1Ch 11:46"><i>v.</i> 46</scripRef>), and yet the law was that an
<i>Ammonite</i> and <i>a Moabite should not enter into the
congregation of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.23.3" parsed="|Deut|23|3|0|0" passage="De 23:3">Deut.
xxiii. 3</scripRef>. 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.</p>
</div></div2>