23:13–17 three of the thirty. Three of the soldiers mentioned in vv. 34–39.
23:13 cave of Adullam. See note on 1 Sam. 22:1. Valley of Rephaim. See note on 5:18.
23:14 stronghold. See note on 1 Sam. 22:4.
23:16 poured it out to the LORD. Because David’s men brought him water from Bethlehem’s well at the risk of their own lives, he considered it as “blood” and refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out on the ground as a sacrifice to the Lord (cf. Gen. 35:14; Ex. 30:9; Lev. 23:13, 18, 37).
23:18 Abishai. See note on 2:18.
23:20 Benaiah. See note on 8:18.
23:24 Asahel. See note on 2:18.
23:24–39 thirty. A technical term for a small military contingent, named “the thirty” since it usually consisted of around 30 men, whereas 32 men are listed here, counting Joab.
23:39 Uriah. Here is inserted a mention of one of David’s great soldiers, a reminder of David’s great sin (11:1–27), and a preparation for David’s further failure recorded in 24:1–10. thirty-seven. The 3 (vv. 8–12) with Abishai (vv. 18–19) and Benaiah (vv. 20–23) plus the 32 men of “the thirty” (vv. 24–39).
2 Samuel 24
24:1–17 See notes on 1 Chr. 21:1–16.
24:1 Again. A second outbreak of the divine wrath occurred after the 3-year famine recorded in 21:1. against Israel. The inciting of David to conduct a census was a punishment on Israel from the Lord for some unspecified sins. Perhaps sins of pride and ambition had led him to increase the size of his army unnecessarily and place heavy burdens of support on the people. Whatever the sin, it is clear God was dissatisfied with David’s motives, goals, and actions and brought judgment. He moved David. Satan incited David to take this census, and the Lord sovereignly and permissively used Satan to accomplish His will. See note on 1 Chr. 21:1. number Israel and Judah. A census was usually for military purposes, which seems to be the case here (see v. 9). Numbering the potential army of Israel had been done in the past (Num. 1:1, 2; 26:1–4). However, this census of Israel’s potential army did not have the sanction of the Lord and proceeded from wrong motives. David either wanted to glory in the size of his fighting force or take more territory than what the Lord had granted him. He shifted his trust from God to military power (this is a constant theme in the Psalms; cf. 20:7; 25:2; 44:6).
24:2 from Dan to Beersheba. A proverbial statement for all the land of Israel from N to S.
24:3 But why. Although Joab protested the plan, he was overruled by David with no reason for the census being stated by David.
24:5 Aroer. The census began about 14 mi. E of the Dead Sea on the northern bank of the Arnon River, in the southeastern corner of Israel, and continued in a counterclockwise direction through the land. Jazer. A town in the territory of Gad about 6 mi. W of Rabbah. Jazer was close to the border of the Ammonite territory.
24:6 Gilead. The Transjordan territory N of Gad. Dan Jaan. Either a village near the town of Dan or a fuller name for Dan itself. Dan is 25 mi. N of the Sea of Galilee.
24:7 Tyre. The census takers seem to have gone N from Dan and then W towards Sidon before turning S toward Tyre, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea ruled by David’s friend Hiram (see note on 5:11), but remaining in Israelite territory. Beersheba. A major settlement in the S of the land of Israel located about 45 mi. SW of Jerusalem.
24:9 Israel eight hundred thousand…Judah…five hundred thousand. First Chronicles 21:5 has “one million one hundred thousand” and “four hundred and seventy thousand,” respectively. A solution can be found in seeing the 1 Chronicles figure including all the available men of military age, whether battle seasoned or not. But the 2 Samuel figure could be 800,000 battle-seasoned soldiers with the additional 300,000 being of military age who were in reserve but never fought, or it could be the 288,000 in the standing army (1 Chr. 27:1–15) rounded off to 300,000. Either of these two contingents would make up the 1.1 million number of 1 Chr. 21. As far as Judah was concerned, the number in 2 Samuel is 30,000 more than the 1 Chronicles figure. First Chronicles makes it clear that the numbering was not completed by Joab, because he didn’t get to the census regarding Benjamin (or Levi) before David came under conviction about completing it all. Joab was glad to stop when he saw the king’s changed heart. Because of the procedure selected (see note on 24:5) the numbering of Benjamin would have been last, so their number was not included. In the record of 2 Samuel the figure for Judah included the already-known number of 30,000 troops from Benjamin, hence the total of 500,000. The Benjamites remained loyal to David and Judah.
24:10 David’s heart condemned him. Although God’s prohibition is not clear in the text, it was clear to David. sinned greatly…done very foolishly. David recognized the enormity of his willful rebellion against God. David’s insight saw the seriousness of his error in relying on numerical strength instead of on the Lord, who can deliver by many or few (see 1 Sam. 14:6).
24:11 Gad. See note on 1 Sam. 22:5.
24:13 famine…enemies…plague. David was given a choice of 3 possible punishments for his sin of numbering the people: 1) 3 years of famine in Israel (see marginal note and note on 1 Chr. 21:12); 2) 3 months of fleeing from his enemies; or 3) 3 days of pestilence in the land. Implicit in the threat of pursuit by “enemies” was death by the sword. Famine, sword, and plague were OT punishments of the Lord against His sinful people (Lev. 26:23–26; Deut. 28:21–26; Jer. 14:12).
24:14 fall into the hand of the LORD. David knew that the Lord would be more merciful than his enemies, so he took the third option.
24:16 relented. Or “repented, grieved,” an expression of God’s deep sorrow concerning man’s sin and evil (see 1 Sam. 15:11, 29). Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah (or Ornan) was a pre-Israelite inhabitant of Jerusalem. He owned a threshing floor N of the citadel of Jerusalem and outside its fortified area.
24:17 Let Your hand…be against me. Rather than witness the further destruction of his people, David called down the wrath upon himself and his own family (cf. Ex. 32:32).
24:18–25 See 1 Chr. 21:18–27.
24:18 altar. At this time, the altar associated with the tabernacle of Moses was located at Gibeon (1 Chr. 21:29; 2 Chr. 1:2–6). David was instructed by Gad to build another altar to the Lord at the place where the plague had stopped. This indicated where the Lord’s choice was for the building of His temple.
24:24 costs me nothing. Sacrifice is an essential part of worship and service to God (see Mal. 1:6–10; 2 Cor. 8:1–5). fifty shekels. A little more than a pound of silver. First Chronicles 21:25 says David paid 600 shekels of gold. How is this discrepancy resolved? In the initial transaction, David either bought or leased the small threshing floor (usually 30 or 40 ft. square) and purchased the oxen. Fifty shekels of silver was appropriate. After that, 1 Chr. 21:25 says he bought “the place,” costing 180 times as much, and referring to the entire area of Mt. Moriah.
24:25 the plague was withdrawn. This indicates that judgment is not the final action of the Lord toward either Israel or the house of David. God will fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants (cf. Ezek. 37).
2 Samuel 1
1:1 a 1 Sam. 31:6
1:1 b 1 Sam. 30:1, 17, 26
1:2 c 2 Sam. 4:10
1:2 d 1 Sam. 4:12
1:2 e 1 Sam. 25:23
1:2 1 To show grief
1:4 f 1 Sam. 4:16; 31:3
1:4 g 1 Sam. 31:2
1:6 h 1 Sam. 31:1
1:6 i 1 Sam. 31:2–4
1:9 2 agony
1:10 j Judg. 9:54; 2 Kin. 11:12
1:11 k 2 Sam. 3:31; 13:31
1:12 l 2 Sam. 3:31
1:12 m 1 Sam. 31:13
1:12 n 2 Sam. 6:21
1:14 o Num. 12:8
1:14 p 1 Sam. 31:4
1:14 q 1 Sam. 24:6; 26:9
1:15 r 2 Sam. 4:10, 12
1:16 s 1 Sam. 26:9; 2 Sam. 3:28; 1 Kin. 2:32–37
1:16 t 2 Sam. 1:10; Luke 19:22
1:18 u 1 Sam. 31:3
1:18 v Josh. 10:13
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1:18 3 Lit. of the Upright
1:19 w 2 Sam. 1:27
1:20 x 1 Sam. 27:2; 31:8–13; Mic. 1:10
1:20 y 1 Sam. 6:17; Jer. 25:20
1:20 z Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; 1 Sam. 18:6
1:20 a 1 Sam. 31:4
1:21 b 1 Sam. 31:1
1:21 c Ezek. 31:15
1:21 d 1 Sam. 10:1
1:21 4 Lit. defiled
1:22 e Deut. 32:42; 1 Sam. 18:4
1:23 f 1 Sam. 31:2–4
1:23 g Judg. 14:18
1:26 h 1 Sam. 18:1–4; 19:2; 20:17
1:27 i 2 Sam. 1:19, 25
2 Samuel 2
2:1 a Judg. 1:1; 1 Sam. 23:2, 4, 9; 30:7, 8
2:1 b 1 Sam. 30:31; 2 Sam. 2:11; 5:1–3; 1 Kin. 2:11
2:2 c 1 Sam. 25:42, 43; 30:5
2:3 d 1 Sam. 27:2, 3; 30:1; 1 Chr. 12:1
2:4 e 1 Sam. 30:26; 2 Sam. 2:11; 5:5; 19:14, 41–43
2:4 f 1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 5:3
2:4 g 1 Sam. 31:11–13
2:5 h Ruth 2:20; 3:10
2:6 i Ex. 34:6; 2 Tim. 1:16, 18
2:8 j 1 Sam. 14:50; 2 Sam. 3:6
2:8 k Gen. 32:2; Josh. 21:38; 2 Sam. 17:24
2:8 1 Esh-Baal, 1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39
2:9 l Josh. 22:9
2:9 m Judg. 1:32
2:9 n 1 Sam. 29:1
2:11 o 2 Sam. 5:5; 1 Kin. 2:11
2:11 2 Lit. number of days
2:12 p Josh. 10:2–12; 18:25
2:13 q 1 Sam. 26:6; 2 Sam. 8:16; 1 Chr. 2:16; 11:6
2:13 r Jer. 41:12
2:16 3 Heb. Helkath Hazzurim
2:18 s 1 Chr. 2:16
2:18 t 1 Chr. 12:8; Hab. 3:19
2:18 u Ps. 18:33
2:23 v 2 Sam. 3:27; 4:6; 20:10
2:23 w 2 Sam. 20:12
2:25 4 one band
2:27 x 2 Sam. 2:14
2:27 5 if you had not spoken
2:32 y 1 Sam. 20:6
2 Samuel 3
3:1 a 1 Kin. 14:30; (Ps. 46:9)
3:2 b 1 Chr. 3:1–4
3:2 c 1 Sam. 25:42, 43
3:3 d 2 Sam. 15:1–10
3:3 e Josh. 13:13; 1 Sam. 27:8; 2 Sam. 13:37; 14:32; 15:8
3:3 1 Daniel, 1 Chr. 3:1
3:4 f 1 Kin. 1:5
3:7 g 2 Sam. 21:8–11
3:7 h 2 Sam. 16:21
3:8 i Deut. 23:18; 1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 9:8; 16:9
3:9 j Ruth 1:17; 1 Kin. 19:2
3:9 k 1 Sam. 15:28; 16:1, 12; 28:17; 1 Chr. 12:23
3:10 l Judg. 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 17:11; 1 Kin. 4:25
3:10 2 family
3:13 m Gen. 43:3
3:13 n 1 Sam. 18:20; 19:11; 25:44; 2 Sam. 6:16
3:14 o 2 Sam. 2:10
3:14 p 1 Sam. 18:25–27
3:15 3 Palti, 1 Sam. 25:44
3:16 q 2 Sam. 16:5; 19:16
3:16 4 Lit. going and weeping
3:18 r 2 Sam. 3:9
3:18 5 So with many Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Tg.; MT he
3:19 s 1 Sam. 10:20, 21; 1 Chr. 12:29
3:21 t 2 Sam. 3:10, 12
3:21 u 1 Kin. 11:37
3:22 6 booty
3:25 v Deut. 28:6; 1 Sam. 29:6; Is. 37:28
3:27 w 2 Sam. 20:9, 10; 1 Kin. 2:5
3:27 x 2 Sam. 4:6
3:27 y 2 Sam. 2:23
3:27 7 Lit. struck
3:28 8 innocent
3:29 z Deut. 21:6–9; 1 Kin. 2:32, 33
3:29 a Lev. 15:2
3:29 9 family
3:30 b 2 Sam. 2:23
3:31 c Josh. 7:6; 2 Sam. 1:2, 11
3:31 d Gen. 37:34
3:33 e 2 Sam. 13:12, 13
3:35 f 2 Sam. 12:17; Jer. 16:7, 8
3:35 g Ruth 1:17
3:35 h Judg. 20:26; 2 Sam. 1:12
3:39 i 2 Sam. 19:5–7
3:39 j 1 Kin. 2:5, 6, 32–34; 2 Tim. 4:14
2 Samuel 4
4:1 a Ezra 4:4; Is. 13:7
4:1 b Matt. 2:3
4:1 1 Ishbosheth
4:1 2 Lit. his hands dropped
4:2 c Josh. 18:25
4:2 3 considered part of
4:3 d Neh. 11:33
4:4 e 2 Sam. 9:3
4:4 f 1 Sam. 29:1, 11
4:4 g 2 Sam. 9:6
4:4 4 Merib-Baal, 1 Chr. 8:34; 9:40
4:5 h 2 Sam. 2:8, 9
4:6 i 2 Sam. 2:23; 20:10
4:6 5 Lit. struck
4:8 j 1 Sam. 19:2, 10, 11; 23:15; 25:29
4:9 k Gen. 48:16; 1 Kin. 1:29; Ps. 31:7
4:10 l 2 Sam. 1:2–16
4:11 m (Gen. 9:5, 6; Ps. 9:12)
4:11 6 Or bloodshed
4:11 7 Lit. consume you
4:12 n 2 Sam. 1:15
4:12 o 2 Sam. 3:32
2 Samuel 5
5:1 a 1 Chr. 11:1–3
5:1 b Gen. 29:14; Judg. 9:2; 2 Sam. 19:12, 13
5:2 c 1 Sam. 18:5, 13, 16
5:2 d 1 Sam. 16:1
5:3 e 2 Sam. 3:17; 1 Chr. 11:3
5:3 f 2 Sam. 2:4; 3:21; 2 Kin. 11:17
5:3 g Judg. 11:11; 1 Sam. 23:18
5:4 h Gen. 41:46; Num. 4:3; Luke 3:23
5:4 i 1 Kin. 2:11; 1 Chr. 26:31; 29:27
5:5 j 2 Sam. 2:11; 1 Chr. 3:4; 29:27
5:6 k Judg. 1:21
5:6 l Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:8; 19:11, 12
5:7 m 2 Sam. 6:12, 16; 1 Kin. 2:10; 8:1; 9:24
5:8 n 1 Chr. 11:6–9
5:9 o 2 Sam. 5:7; 1 Kin. 9:15, 24
5:9 1 Lit. The Landfill
5:10 p 1 Sam. 17:45
5:10 q 1 Sam. 18:12, 28
5:11 r 1 Kin. 5:1–18
5:11 s 1 Chr. 14:1
5:12 t Num. 24:7
5:12 u Is. 45:4
5:13 v (Deut. 17:17); 1 Chr. 3:9
5:14 w 1 Chr. 3:5–8
5:14 x 2 Sam. 12:24
5:14 2 Shimea, 1 Chr. 3:5
5:15 3 Elishama, 1 Chr. 3:6
5:17 y 1 Chr. 11:16
5:17 z 2 Sam. 23:14
5:18 a Gen. 14:5; Josh. 15:8; 1 Chr. 11:15; Is. 17:5
5:19 b 1 Sam. 23:2; 2 Sam. 2:1
5:20 c 1 Chr. 14:11; Is. 28:21
5:20 4 Lit. Master of Breakthroughs
5:21 d Deut. 7:5, 25
5:21 5 idols
5:22 e 1 Chr. 14:13
5:23 f 2 Sam. 5:19
5:24 g 2 Kin. 7:6; 1 Chr. 14:15
5:24 h Judg. 4:14
5:25 i 1 Chr. 14:16
5:25 j Josh. 16:10
5:25 6 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX Gibeon
2 Samuel 6
6:2 a 1 Chr. 13:5, 6
6:2 b Ex. 25:22; 1 Sam. 4:4; Ps. 80:1
6:2 1 Baalah, Kirjath Jearim, Josh. 15:9; 1 Chr. 13:6
6:2 2 LXX, Tg., Vg. omit by the Name; many Heb. mss., Syr. there
6:3 c 1 Sam. 26:1
6:3 3 LXX adds with the ark
6:4 d 1 Sam. 7:1; 1 Chr. 13:7
6:5 e 1 Sam. 18:6, 7
6:6 f 1 Chr. 13:9
6:6 g Num. 4:15, 19, 20
6:6 4 held it
6:7 5 Or irreverence
6:8 6 Lit. Outburst Against Uzzah
6:9 h Deut. 9:19; Ps. 119:120; Luke 5:8
6:10 i 2 Sam. 5:7
6:10 j 1 Chr. 13:13; 26:4–8
6:11 k 1 Chr. 13:14
6:11 l Gen. 30:27; 39:5
6:12 m 1 Chr. 15:25—16:3
6:13 n Num. 4:15; Josh. 3:3; 1 Sam. 6:15; 2 Sam. 15:24; 1 Chr. 15:2, 15
6:13 o 1 Kin. 8:5
6:14 p Ps. 30:11; 149:3
6:14 q 1 Sam. 2:18, 28
6:14 7 whirled about
6:15 r 1 Chr. 15:28
6:16 s 2 Sam. 3:14
6:17 t 1 Chr. 16:1
6:17 u 1 Chr. 15:1; 2 Chr. 1:4
6:17 v 1 Kin. 8:5, 62, 63
6:18 w 1 Kin. 8:14, 15, 55
6:19 x 1 Chr. 16:3
6:20 y Ps. 30:title
6:20 z 2 Sam. 6:14, 16
6:20 a Judg. 9:4
6:20 8 openly
6:21 b 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:28
6:21 c 2 Kin. 11:17
6:23 d 1 Sam. 15:35; Is. 22:
14
2 Samuel 7
7:1 a 1 Chr. 17:1–27
7:2 b 2 Sam. 5:11
7:2 c Acts 7:46
7:2 d Ex. 26:1
7:3 e 1 Kin. 8:17, 18; 1 Chr. 22:7
7:5 f 1 Kin. 5:3, 4; 8:19; 1 Chr. 22:8
7:6 g Josh. 18:1; 1 Kin. 8:16
7:6 h Ex. 40:18, 34
7:7 i Lev. 26:11, 12
7:7 j 2 Sam. 5:2; (Acts 20:28)
7:8 k 1 Sam. 16:11, 12; Ps. 78:70, 71
7:9 l 1 Sam. 18:14; 2 Sam. 5:10
7:9 m 1 Sam. 31:6
7:9 1 destroyed
7:10 n Ex. 15:17; Ps. 44:2; 80:8; Jer. 24:6
7:10 o Ps. 89:22, 23; Is. 60:18
7:11 p Judg. 2:14–16
7:11 q Ex. 1:21; 1 Sam. 25:28; 2 Sam. 7:27
7:11 2 declares to you
7:11 3 Royal dynasty
7:12 r 1 Kin. 2:1
7:12 s Deut. 31:16; Acts 13:36
7:12 t 1 Kin. 8:20; Ps. 132:11; Matt. 1:6; Luke 3:31
7:13 u 1 Kin. 5:5; 8:19; 2 Chr. 6:2
7:13 v 2 Sam. 7:16; (Is. 9:7; 49:8)
7:14 w (Heb. 1:5)
7:14 x (Ps. 2:7; 89:26, 27, 30); Matt. 3:17
7:14 4 strokes
7:15 y 1 Sam. 15:23, 28; 16:14
7:16 z 2 Sam. 7:13; Ps. 89:36, 37; Matt. 25:31; John 12:34
7:16 5 LXX Me
7:18 a Gen. 32:10; Ex. 3:11; 1 Sam. 18:18
7:19 b (Is. 55:8, 9)
7:20 c (1 Sam. 16:7); Ps. 139:1; John 21:17
7:22 d Deut. 10:17; 1 Chr. 16:25; 2 Chr. 2:5; Ps. 86:10; Jer. 10:6
7:22 e Ex. 15:11; Deut. 3:24; 4:35; 32:39
7:22 f Ex. 10:2; Ps. 44:1
7:22 6 Tg., Syr. O LORD God
7:23 g Ps. 147:20
7:23 h Deut. 9:26; 33:29
7:24 i Gen. 17:7, 8; Ex. 6:7; (Deut. 26:18)
7:24 j Ps. 48:14
7:28 k Ex. 34:6; Josh. 21:45; John 17:17
7:29 l 2 Sam. 22:51
2 Samuel 8
8:1 1 Lit. struck
8:1 2 Lit. The Bridle of the Mother City
8:2 a Num. 24:17
8:2 b 2 Sam. 12:31
8:2 c 1 Sam. 10:27; 1 Kin. 4:21
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 163