HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  David’s Mighty Men and Their Exploits

  10Now these are the chiefs of David’s warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11This is an account of David’s mighty warriors: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni,a was chief of the Three;b he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

  12And next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley. Now the people had fled from the Philistines, 14but he and David took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory.

  15Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, while the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17David said longingly, “O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18Then the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD, 19and said, “My God forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.

  20Now Abishai,c the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty.d With his spear he fought against three hundred and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. 21He was the most renownede of the Thirty,f and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three.

  22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant mang of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons ofh Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name beside the three warriors. 25He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

  26The warriors of the armies were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27Shammoth of Harod,i Helez the Pelonite, 28Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30Maharai of Netophah, Heled son of Baanah of Netophah, 31Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32Hurai of the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba of Shaalbon, 34Hashemj the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, 35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37Hezro of Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai, 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, 42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45Jediael son of Shimri, and his brother Joha the Tizite, 46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

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  a Or a Hachmonite

  b Compare 2 Sam 23.8: Heb Thirty or captains

  c Gk Vg Tg Compare 2 Sam 23.18: Heb Abshai

  d Syr: Heb Three

  e Compare 2 Sam 23.19: Heb more renowned among the two

  f Syr: Heb Three

  g Syr: Heb the son of a valiant man

  h See 2 Sam 23.20: Heb lacks sons of

  i Compare 2 Sam 23.25: Heb the Harorite

  j Compare Gk and 2 Sam 23.32: Heb the sons of Hashem

  11.1–9 Cf. 2 Sam 5.1–10. Chronicles omits the events of 2 Sam 1–4, many of which might be interpreted as negative events following the death of Saul.

  11.3 Hebron, a city south of Jerusalem. Chronicles does not mention the separate anointings of David by Judah (2 Sam 2.4) and by Israel (2 Sam 5.3); instead, all Israel anoints him at once. David’s covenant with the people is echoed by the great feast in 12.38–40.

  11.4 Jebus, an alternate name for Jerusalem, apparently derived from the name of its inhabitants, the Jebusites. In 2 Sam 5.6–7 David’s personal army conquers the future capital; in Chronicles the campaign is waged by David and a united Israel.

  11.6 Joab, David’s nephew, becomes chief officer because of his heroic actions.

  11.8 In Chronicles, blessed kings undertake building projects. The Millo was a series of terraces built on the eastern side of the city.

  11.9 The Lord is with David as surely as he had departed from Saul.

  11.10–47 Cf. 2 Sam 23.8–39. The individual exploits told here are not as important as the unanimous support of these chiefs for David’s kingship. The Chronicler puts the list at the beginning of David’s reign; in Samuel it comes near the king’s death. The first twelve names are repeated in 27.2–15.

  11.10 David has the support of all the tribes (ch. 12) in addition to the heroes. David’s kingship also results from the divine word of promise.

  11.11 Three. Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah (2 Sam 23.11–12) make up this elite group of warriors.

  11.15–19 David refuses to drink water gained by a daring raid on the Philistines.

  11.20–25 Abishai and Benaiah, though outstanding leaders, are not included among the Three.

  11.41 Uriah, husband of Bathsheba.

  11.41b–47 Names without parallel in 2 Samuel.

  1 CHRONICLES 12

  David’s Followers in the Wilderness

  1The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war. 2They were archers, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right hand or the left; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kindred. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah,a Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5Eluzai,b Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

  8From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains: 9Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14These Gadites were officers of the army, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. 15These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

  16Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. 17David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment.” 18Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said,

  “We are yours, O David;

  and with you, O son of Jesse!

  Peace, peace to you,

  and peace to the one who helps you!

  For your God is the one who helps you.”

  Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.

  19Some of the Manassi
tes deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”) 20As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. 21They helped David against the band of raiders,c for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. 22Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

  David’s Army at Hebron

  23These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops. 25Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred. 26Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. 27Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 28Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house. 29Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses. 31Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command. 33Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help Davidd with singleness of purpose. 34Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty-seven thousand armed with shield and spear. 35Of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle. 36Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. 37Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war.

  38All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them. 40And also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

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  a Heb verse 5

  b Heb verse 6

  c Or as officers of his troops

  d Gk: Heb lacks David

  12.1–22 A list of tribal groups who rallied to David already at Hebron.

  12.1–7 Twenty-three soldiers from Saul’s own tribe of Benjamin support David.

  12.1 Ziklag, a city in the southern part of Judah, given to David by Achish, king of Gath (1 Sam 27.5–12).

  12.8–15 Eleven Gadites come from their tribal home on the other side of the Jordan River.

  12.16–18 Benjamin and Judah are often linked in Chronicles. Clothed with the spirit, the soldier Amasai delivers a prophetic oracle supporting David. He wishes peace to both the king and God.

  12.19–22 Seven chiefs of Manasseh, a northern tribe, also join David at Ziklag.

  12.19 Though David is allied with the Philistines, the enemies of Saul, he is dismissed by them before Saul’s death in battle, thus clearing him of any guilt for that death (1 Sam 29).

  12.22 God’s help (v. 18) is matched by help offered by numerous military volunteers. Army of God can mean a numerous army or one that exerts the power of God’s army in holy war.

  12.23–40 The size of the armies that rally to David at Hebron from the southern tribes (Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin) is relatively small, but the troops from the north (Ephraim, the half-tribe of Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, and Asher) are quite large, as are the volunteers from Transjordan (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh). The more distant tribes show their enthusiasm for David’s kingship by their extremely high numbers. Judah has a mere 6,800 men; Zebulun 50,000. There are a total of 339,600 soldiers. Through large numbers the author stresses the overwhelming and unified support of all Israel for David. Ephraim and Manasseh are more enthusiastic than Judah; the remotest tribes are the most enthusiastic of all.

  12.28 Zadok, possibly to be identified with the high priest who served David in Jerusalem.

  12.29 Saul’s tribe has supported the short-lived kingdom of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 2–4).

  12.38 Even those who do not participate in the army are of a single mind (28.9; 2 Chr 19.9; 25.2).

  12.40 Three tribes from the far north bring abundant foodstuffs, as if to celebrate the king’s coronation with a great banquet. Twin themes emerge: unanimity and joy.

  1 CHRONICLES 13

  The Ark Brought from Kiriath-jearim

  1David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. 2David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us. 3Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul.” 4The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people.

  5So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by hisa name. 7They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahiob were driving the cart. 8David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

  9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it. 10The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11David was angry because the LORD had burst out against Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzahc to this day. 12David was afraid of God that day; he said, “How can I bring the ark of God into my care?” 13So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

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  a Heb lacks his

  b Or and his brother

  c That is Bursting Out Against Uzzah

  13.1–14 Cf. 2 Sam 6.1–11. All Israel, at David’s invitation, brings the ark of the covenant from its temporary home in Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam 4–6, without parallel in Chronicles, which tells only of the Philistine capture and return of the ark). All Israel also participates in the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr 7.8) and in Hezekiah’s Passover (2 Chr 30.5). The Lord’s sharp punishment of Uzzah for touching the ark irritates and terrifies David, causing him not to take the ark directly to Jerusalem. Another explanation for this detour is given in 15.2, 13.

  13.1–5 These verses are added in Chronicles to emphasize the people’s total dedication to the ark, including the participation of priests and Levites in the procession. In 2 Sam 6.1 the ark is brought up by thirty thousand men from David’s army.

  13.5 Shihor, either the Wadi el Arish or one of the eastern branches of the Nile. Lebo-hamath (Hebrew, “Entrance of Hamath”), the traditional northern border of Israel. Kiriath-jearim, a city eight miles northwest of Jerusalem, where the ark was left by the Philistines.

  13.6–14 There are numerous minor variations from the
text of Samuel.

  13.6 The epithet enthroned on the cherubim first appears in 1 Sam 4.4.

  13.9 Chidon, in 2 Sam 6.6 “Nacon.”

  13.11 The Hebrew term translated burst out is derived from the same root as Perez in Perez-uzzah.

  13.13 Did not take. In 2 Sam 6.10 David is “unwilling” to take the ark to Jerusalem. This may have struck the Chronicler as too critical of David. Obed-edom, apparently a Philistine expatriate who was loyal to David. In the remaining parts of the ark narrative Obed-edom appears as a levitical singer, a gatekeeper, and even a son of Jeduthun (15.18, 21, 24; 16.5, 38).

  1 CHRONICLES 14

  David Established at Jerusalem

  1King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, and masons and carpenters to build a house for him. 2David then perceived that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

  3David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet; 6Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia; 7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.