Here we are told that these are David’s last words (v1-7). Interesting, because chapter 24 tells of another incident in the life of David. The context is another psalm like we had in chapter 22, so maybe it means the last words of this kind, his last Psalm or poem. These are, apparently, not words from his deathbed in the sense of ‘last words’.
He acknowledged that he was raised up by God. He recognizes the faithfulness of God and how much he depends upon him. He states what God has spoken to him and through him (v2,3). He states that his house stands secure with God and His everlasting covenant and is assured what will happen to the wicked. David recognized that his authority came from God. All in similar positions need to recognize this and they should rule in justice and the fear of God. David made mistakes, sometimes sinned grievously, but he was accountable to God and one day he would answer to God as all leaders will.
God blessed David despite his failings. He obviously had great failures, but God has great praise for David for he had great love for God and a desire to serve Him even to the end of his life. He trusted in God’s covenant which (v5) was an everlasting covenant. David knew it was not based on his merits. Even though his house was not right with God, God blessed him with the covenant. David knew full well about the state of his house and there is no way he would have suggested that it was righteous before God. The wonder of it is that God still made the covenant with him even though his house was not right before God.
Chuck Smith comments on v3 – Human government is corrupt to the core. Anybody is naive, and their head is in the sand if they think any different because men are not obedient to the word of God, where the LORD came to him and declared, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” If we would follow that one rule, we could clean up the whole society. If those who were ruling over men were just, and ruling in the fear of God, that would end all the corruption in government. But such is not the case, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be the case in the near future, unless Christ comes.
The chapter concludes with a list of David’s mighty men, a bit like a roll of honour – thirty-seven in all. Some of them are mentioned in detail the rest simply by name. What is significant is that they are all described as mighty warriors, no less. These men did not arrive as mighty men. You may recall that in 1 Samuel 22 they came to him in the cave of Adullam – those in distress, in debt and discontented, and David himself was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. He was at a low ebb himself, but he led his men, and they became a mighty army.
These verses (8-39) list and describe these men and some of their exploits. “Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.” (v8) Whatever his name, he killed 800 men single-handed. (300 according to 1 Chronicles 11:11) whichever is correct, it was some feat to defeat them single-handedly. Next, we have Eleazar the son of Dodo: This leader of David’s mighty men was famous for enduring with David in a famous battle and when his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword, when Israel had retreated. Through his tenacity, the LORD brought about a great victory that day. The people returned to plunder after him. He was a warrior who never gave up.
“After him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.” (v11,12) It appears that he did this single-handedly having been left alone after Israel’s troops fled. Another truly courageous warrior!
Note, however, that in the case of these last two it was “The LORD who brought about a great victory.”
It seems that David probably returned to the Cave of Adullam and three of his mighty men met him there (v13). The Philistines were camped in the Valley of Rephaim and David was in the stronghold with his men. He expressed a longing for a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem where the Philistines were. The three men went and drew water from the well and brought it to David. This was not an order, it was simply a longing, but the three men went at great risk for their lives to satisfy their beloved leader. David was so overwhelmed that he could not drink the water but poured it out to the LORD (v13-17).
He considered himself too unworthy to satisfy his longing and was honoured by their sacrifice. I’m not sure how I would have felt after risking my life, but it seemed clear that these loyal men understood his actions and great commitment to The LORD.
Some commentators consider that the three who risked their lives and brought the water to David were the three already referred to but the fact that there are thirty-seven mentioned at the end of v39 seems to indicate that it was not those three otherwise the total would be incorrect. 1 Chronicles 11:10 indicates Eleazer the son of Dodo as one who brought the water to David.
Three sons of Zeruiah are listed, Asahel, Joab and Abishai. Zeruiah was David’s sister. Abishai was chief of another three. Abishai was a brave soldier. He accompanied David into Saul’s camp when David took Saul’s spear (1 Samuel 26:6-9); he once saved David’s life, and he was ready to kill Shimei for his insubordination if David had allowed it (16:5). Whether or not it was the same occasion I’m not sure, but he killed one hundred men with his spear and was honoured. He became their captain, but he wasn’t as great as the first three (v18,19).
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, the son of a man from Kabzeel, a valiant man, had done many deeds, including killing two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, as well as an Egyptian who was a spectacular man, who had a spear in his hand. He defeated him with a staff and wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. He was more honoured than the thirty, but not as the first three. David appointed him over his own guard (v20-23). (See also 8:18).
We next have a list of thirty –
Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah and Erika, both Harodites, Helen the Pattie, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin. Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armour bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all. (v24-39)
The list of these mighty men also appears in 1 Chronicles 11:10-45 although some are slightly different, the list is essentially the same. However, there are sixteen further names which may indicate that as some were killed in battle they were replaced.
Asahel a brother of Joab was dead (2:23) and probably replaced. Uriah is mentioned last in v39 maybe as a reminder of David’s sin. (11:1-27) Note also Eliam, (34) (also named Amiel in other passages) is one of David’s mighty men. He was Bathsheba’s father and was the son of Ahithophel her grandfather who became one of Absalom’s advisers. (15:31)
In 1 Chronicles 12:1-40 we have reference to lists of men who joined David, some at Ziklag when he was on the run from Saul, when, before his reign in Hebron, David had taken refuge, some time under the protection of King Achish of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:6) All this shows the growing support of David. Note some of them were Benjamites, Saul’s own tribe. Among them were warriors who could shoot arrows or sling stones with either hand and were relatives of Saul. Some were Gadites who defected to David when he was hiding in the wilderness, brave fighters who could handle shields and spears. They were as swift as gazelles and had faces as lions. I guess that means they looked fierce in battle. These Gadites were army commanders end even the least could take on a hundred, the greatest could take on a thousand. This was some calibre of fighting men! They even crossed the Jordan when it was in flood. David was wary of some other of the Benjamites and asked them if they came in peace and not to betray him to the enemies. If peacefully, he was ready to accept them with the proviso that God would judge their motives.
Amasai chief of the thirty pledged their allegiance to David and David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. Some of the tribe of Manasseh joined David when he fought against Saul with the Philistines. Joining him at Ziklag were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. They were brave men, and such men joined David until he had a great army. From Judah came 6,800 shield and spear carrying, armed men; from Simeon – 7,100; from Levi – 4,600 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron with 3,700; Zadok a young brave warrior with 22 members of his family; from Benjamin, the tribe which Saul belonged to – 3,000 most of whom, until then had remained loyal to Saul but now defected to David; from Ephraim – 20,800 brave men famous in their own families; from the half tribe of Manasseh – 18,000; from Issachar – 200 with all their relatives, these men had special expertise in the times and what Israel should do; from Zebulun – 50,000 experienced fighters with every type of weapon; from Naphtali – 1,000 officers plus 37,000 men carrying shields and spears; from Dan – 28,600; from Asher – 40,000 experienced soldiers. From the east of the Jordan from Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh – 120,000 fully armed men. All these were valiant men of war who could keep ranks, thus were well trained and loyal to make David king. They spent three days with David eating and drinking the provisions which their brethren had prepared. Others were bringing food, some from distant places, on donkeys and other animals – flour, cakes of figs, raisins, wine and oil, oxen and sheep in abundance. There was great joy in the land (v39,40)
David succeeded in uniting tribes which had been at odds with each other, and these men came to David (v22) – it was totally God’s doing. David was not going rounding up these men. God was gathering a large army and strengthening him; v 8-15 indicate that even Gadites joined him – they were from Transjordan. Under David’s leadership, as well as peace, unity and prosperity, God brought joy to Israel.
The day for mighty men and women – heroic men and women for God – has not ended.
“The triumph of the church as a whole depends upon the personal victory of every Christian. In other words, your victory, your life, your personal testimony, are important to the cause of God today. What happens out in New Guinea, down in the Amazon jungle, over in disturbed Congo, is not unrelated to what happens in your own personal relationship with God and your personal battle against the forces of darkness. Victory for the church on the whole world-front depends upon victory in your life and in mine; ‘home’ and ‘foreign’ situations cannot be detached.” (A. Redpath)
