231 Now these are the last words of David . David the son of Jesse declares , The man who was raised on high declares , The anointed of the God of Jacob , And the sweet psalmist of Israel , 2 " The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue . 3 "The God of Israel said , The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ' He who rules over men righteously , Who rules in the fear of God , 4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises , A morning without clouds , When the tender grass springs out of the earth , Through sunshine after rain . 5 "Truly is not my house so with God ? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things , and secured ; For all my salvation and all my desire , Will He not indeed make it grow ? 6 " But the worthless , every one of them will be thrust away like thorns , Because they cannot be taken in hand ; 7 But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear , And they will be completely burned with fire in their place ."
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite , chief of the captains , he was called Adino the Eznite , because of eight hundred slain by him at one time ; 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mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn . 10 He arose and struck the Philistines until e his hand was weary and clung to the sword , and the Lord brought about a great victory that day ; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. 11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite . And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils , and the people fled from the Philistines . 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot , defended it and struck the Philistines ; and the Lord brought about a great victory . 13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam , while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim . 14 David was then in the stronghold , while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem 15 David had a craving and said , "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate !" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines , and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate , and took it and brought it to David . Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord ; 17 and he said , "Be it far from me, O Lord , that I should do this . Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives ?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did . 18 Abishai , the brother of Joab , the son of Zeruiah , was chief of the thirty . And he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name as well as the three . 19 He was most honored of the thirty , therefore he became their commander ; however, he did not attain to the three 20 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel , who had done mighty deeds , killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab . He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day . 21 He killed an Egyptian , an impressive man . Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand , but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did , and had a name as well as the three mighty men . 23 He was honored among the thirty , but he did not attain to the three . And David appointed him over his guard . 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty ; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem , 25 Shammah the Harodite , Elika the Harodite , 26 Helez the Paltite , Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite , 27 Abiezer the Anathothite , Mebunnai the Hushathite ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:1-27
Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:1-7
(Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7)
These words of David are very worthy of regard. Let those who have had long experience of God's goodness, and the pleasantness of heavenly wisdom, when they come to finish their course, bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. David avows his Divine inspiration, that the Spirit of God spake by him. He, and other holy men, spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In many things he had his own neglect and wrong conduct to blame. But David comforted himself that the Lord had made with him an everlasting covenant. By this he principally intended the covenant of mercy and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Saviour, who embraced the promised blessing, who yielded up himself to the Lord, to be his redeemed servant. Believers shall for ever enjoy covenant blessings; and God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be for ever glorified in their salvation. Thus pardon, righteousness, grace, and eternal life, are secured as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation. This covenant was all David's salvation, he so well knew the holy law of God and the extent of his own sinfulness, that he perceived what was needful for his own case in this salvation. It was therefore all his desire. In comparison, all earthly objects lost their attractions; he was willing to give them up, or to die and leave them, that he might enjoy full happiness, Psalm 73:24-28. Still the power of evil, and the weakness of his faith, hope, and love, were his grief and burden. Doubtless he would have allowed that his own slackness and want of care were the cause; but the hope that he should soon be made perfect in glory, encouraged him in his dying moments.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:8-39
(Read 2 Samuel 23:8-39)
David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.