1Dies ist Dawids letzte Rede: Erlauten Dawids des Sohnes Jischajs, Erlauten des Wehrlichen, hochhin gestellt, Gesalbten des Gottes Jaakobs, gefreundet dem Liederspiel Jissraels: 2Geistbraus von IHM her redet in mir, sein Raunen ist auf meiner Zunge, 3der Gott Jissraels spricht: Mir ist - der Fels Jissraels redet - ein Walter über Menschheit, bewährt, ein Walter in Gottes Furcht, 4und wie Morgenlicht strahlt er auf, Sonne er eines Morgens, da vor Glanze nicht Nebeldunst blieb, vom Regen her treibt Gras aus der Erde. 5- Ja, ist so nicht mein Haus bei Gott? setzte er mir ja einen Weltzeitbund, ausgerichtet in allem und verwahrt! - Ja, all meine Freiheit, alle Lust, ja, ihm zu lasse ichs sprießen. 6Aber das Heillose, wie wallgewordnes Gedörn sind sie allsamt, nicht mit der Hand ja können hinweg sie genommen werden, 7der Mann, der an sie rühren soll, wird bevollmächtigt mit Speeres Eisen und Holz, und im Feuer verbrannt werden sie, ausgebrannt, wann gesiedelt wird. 8Dies sind die Namen der Helden, die Dawids waren: Jaschabam, der Chakmonit, Haupt der Drei, der schwang seine Barte über achthundert auf einmal Durchbohrten. 9Nach ihm Elasar Sohn Dodajs, der Achochiter, er war unter den drei Helden bei Dawid, als sie sich unter die Philister gewagt hatten, wo die zum Kampf versammelt waren, die Mannschaft von Jissrael, die waren hinaufgezogen, 10er aber widerstand, er schlug auf die Philister ein, bis seine Hand erschöpft war, seine Hand blieb haften am Schwert. Eine große Siegbefreiung hat ER an jenem Tag getan, um kehrten sie, das Volk, ihm nach, - nur noch um zu entpanzern. 11Nach ihm Schamma Sohn Ages, der Harariter: einst hatten sich die Philister auf Lechi versammelt, dort war ein Feldstück von Linsen, das Volk war vor den Philistern entflohn, 12er aber faßte Posten auf dem Stück und entriß es, schlug die Philister, eine große Siegbefreiung hat ER da getan. 13Einst stiegen die Drei aus der Hauptdreißigschaft hinab, sie kamen, zur Erntezeit, zu Dawid zur Höhle Adullam hin, während im Gespenstergrund ein Rudel Philister lagerte. 14In dem Felsennest war damals Dawid, und in Betlehem war damals ein Philisterposten. 15Da hatte Dawid ein Begehren, er sprach: Wer mich doch letzte mit Wasser aus der Zisterne von Betlehem, der am Tor! 16Die Drei Helden drangen durchs Lager der Philister ein, schöpften Wasser aus der Zisterne von Betlehem, der am Tor, trugens, kamen damit zu Dawid. Er aber war nicht gesonnen, es zu trinken, er goß es IHM dar, 17er sprach: Weitab mir, DU, daß ich das tue! das Blut der Männer, die um ihre Seele den Gang gemacht haben?! Drum war er nicht gesonnen, es zu trinken. Dies haben die Drei Helden getan. 18Haupt der Dreißigschaft war Abischaj, Joabs Bruder, Sohn der Zruja, der schwang seinen Speer über dreihundert Durchbohrten, er hatte Namen unter den Dreißig, 19zwar aus den Dreißig geehrt, er wurde ihnen zum Obern, aber bis an die Drei kam er nicht. 20Bnajahu Sohn Jehojadas, eines tüchtigen Mannes, reich an Werkbetrieben, aus Kabzel, der erschlug die zwei Gotteslöwen Moabs, der stieg hinab und erschlug das Löwentier, mitten in der Zisterne am Schneetag, 21der erschlug einen ägyptischen Mann, einen ansehnlichen Mann, ein Speer war in der Hand des Ägypters, er aber stieg zu ihm mit dem Stabe hinab, raubte dem Ägypter den Speer aus der Hand, brachte ihn mit seinem eignen Speer um. 22Dieses hat Bnajahu Sohn Jehojadas getan, er hatte Namen unter den dreißig Helden, 23aus den Dreißig geehrt, aber an die Drei kam er nicht. Dawid setzte ihn über seine Leibwache. 24In der Dreißigschaft: Assael, Joabs Bruder, Elchanan Sohn Dodos, aus Bethlehem, 25Schamma, der Charoditer, Elika, der Charoditer, 26Chalez, der Paltiter, Ira Sohn Ikkeschs, der Tekoiter, 27Abieser, der Anatotiter, Mebunnaj, der Chuschaiter, 28Zalmon, der Achochiter, Maharaj, der Ntofatiter, 29Cheleb Sohn Baanas, der Ntofatiter, Ittaj Sohn Ribajs, aus dem Giba der Söhne Binjamins, 30Bnajahu, der Piratoniter, Hiddaj, aus Nachale Gaasch, 31Abialbon, der Arbatiter, Asmawet, der Barchumiter, 32Eljachba, der Schaalboniter, die Söhne Jaschens, Jonatan 33Sohn Schammas, der Harariter, Achiam Sohn Scharars, der Arariter, 34Elifalet Sohn Achassbais, der Betmaachatiter, Eliam Sohn Achitofels, der Giloniter, 35Chezraj, der Karmeliter, Paaraj, der Arbiter, 36Jigal Sohn Natans, aus Zoba, Bani, der Gaditer, 37Zelek, der Ammoniter, Nacharaj, der Beerotiter, Waffenträger Joabs Sohns Zrujas, 38Ira, der Jitriter, Gareb, der Jitriter, 39Urija, der Chetiter: allesamt siebenunddreißig.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DAVID PROFESSES HIS FAITH IN GOD'S PROMISES. (
2Sam 23:1-7)
Now these be the last words of David--Various opinions are entertained as to the precise meaning of this statement, which, it is obvious, proceeded from the compiler or collector of the sacred canon. Some think that, as there is no division of chapters in the Hebrew Scriptures, this introduction was intended to show that what follows is no part of the preceding song. Others regard this as the last of the king's poetical compositions; while still others consider it the last of his utterances as an inspired writer.
raised up on high--from an obscure family and condition to a throne.
the anointed of the God of Jacob--chosen to be king by the special appointment of that God, to whom, by virtue of an ancient covenant, the people of Israel owed all their peculiar destiny and distinguished privileges.
the sweet psalmist of Israel--that is, delightful, highly esteemed.
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me--Nothing can more clearly show that all that is excellent in spirit, beautiful in language, or grand in prophetic imagery, which the Psalms of David contain, were owing, not to his superiority in natural talents or acquired knowledge, but to the suggestion and dictates of God's Spirit.
3 the Rock of Israel--This metaphor, which is commonly applied by the sacred writers to the Almighty, was very expressive to the minds of the Hebrew people. Their national fortresses, in which they sought security in war, were built on high and inaccessible rocks.
spake to me--either preceptively, giving the following counsels respecting the character of an upright ruler in Israel, or prophetically, concerning David and his royal dynasty, and the great Messiah, of whom many think this is a prophecy, rendering the words, "he that ruleth"--"there shall be a ruler over men."
4 as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain--Little patches of grass are seen rapidly springing up in Palestine after rain; and even where the ground has been long parched and bare, within a few days or hours after the enriching showers begin to fall, the face of the earth is so renewed that it is covered over with a pure fresh mantle of green.
5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure--"the light of the morning," that is, the beginning of David's kingdom, was unlike the clear brilliant dawn of an Eastern day but was overcast by many black and threatening clouds; neither he nor his family had been like the tender grass springing up from the ground and flourishing by the united influences of the sun and rain; but rather like the grass that withereth and is prematurely cut down. The meaning is: although David's house had not flourished in an uninterrupted course of worldly prosperity and greatness, according to his hopes; although great crimes and calamities had beclouded his family history; some of the most promising branches of the royal tree had been cut down in his lifetime and many of his successors should suffer in like manner for their personal sins; although many reverses and revolutions may overtake his race and his kingdom, yet it was to him a subject of the highest joy and thankfulness that God will inviolably maintain His covenant with his family, until the advent of his greatest Son, the Messiah, who was the special object of his desire, and the author of his salvation.
6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns--that is, the wicked enemies and persecutors of this kingdom of righteousness. They resemble those prickly, thorny plants which are twisted together, whose spires point in every direction, and which are so sharp and strong that they cannot be touched or approached without danger; but hard instruments and violent means must be taken to destroy or uproot them. So God will remove or destroy all who are opposed to this kingdom.
8 A CATALOGUE OF HIS MIGHTY MEN. (2Sa. 23:8-39)
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had--This verse should be translated thus: He who sits in the seat of the Tachmonite (that is, of Jashobeam the Hachmonite), who was chief among the captains, the same is Adino the Eznite; he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. The text is corrupt in this passage; the number eight hundred should be three hundred [DAVIDSON, Hermeneutics]. Under Joab he was chief or president of the council of war. The first or highest order was composed of him and his two colleagues, Eleazar and Shammah. Eleazar seems to have been left to fight the Philistines alone; and on his achieving the victory, they returned to the spoil. In like manner Shammah was left to stand alone in his glory, when the Lord, by him, wrought a great victory. It is not very easy to determine whether the exploits that are afterwards described were performed by the first or the second three.
15 the well of Beth-lehem--An ancient cistern, with four or five holes in the solid rock, at about ten minutes distance to the north of the eastern corner of the hill of Beth-lehem, is pointed out by the natives as Bir-Daoud; that is, David's well. Dr. ROBINSON doubts the identity of the well; but others think that there are no good grounds for doing so. Certainly, considering this to be the ancient well, Beth-lehem must have once extended ten minutes further to the north, and must have lain in times of old, not as now, on the summit, but on the northern rise of the hill; for the well is by or (
1Chr 11:7) at the gate. I find in the description of travellers, that the common opinion is, that David's captains had come from the southeast, in order to obtain, at the risk of their lives, the so-much-longed-for water; while it is supposed that David himself was then in the great cave that is not far to the southeast of Beth-lehem; which cave is generally held to have been that of Adullam. But (
Josh 15:35) Adullam lay "in the valley"; that is, in the undulating plain at the western base of the mountains of Judea and consequently to the southwest of Beth-lehem. Be this as it may, David's men had in any case to break through the host of the Philistines, in order to reach the well; and the position of Bir-Daoud agrees well with this [VAN DE VELDE].
19 the first three--The mighty men or champions in David's military staff were divided into three classes--the highest, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; the second class, Abishai, Benaiah, and Asahel; and the third class, the thirty, of which Asahel was the chief. There are thirty-one mentioned in the list, including Asahel; and these added to the two superior orders make thirty-seven. Two of them, we know, were already dead; namely, Asahel [
2Sam 3:30] and Uriah [
2Sam 11:17]; and if the dead, at the drawing up of the list, amounted to seven, then we might suppose a legion of honor, consisting of the definite number thirty, where the vacancies, when they occurred, were replaced by fresh appointments.