Ver. 1. Then all Israel.] See on 2 Samuel 5:1-5. We are thy bone and thy flesh.] And may not we safely say as much to Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:30) and bespeak him as Ruth did Boaz, Thou art my kinsman; oh, stretch the skirt of thy garment over me? (Ruth 3:9)
Ver. 2. Thou shalt feed,] sc., By procuring for them the wholesome food of the word; by going before them in good example; by driving away the wolf; by tending them, and tendering their good every way.
Ver. 3. Therefore came, &c.] See on 2 Samuel 5:3.
Ver. 4. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem.] He laid hold on so good an opportunity, having now all his forces about him, to set upon the Jebusites, and expelled them. We should watch and catch at opportunities of grace, and not procrastinate.
Ver. 5,6. See 2 Samuel 5:6-8.
Ver. 7. And David dwelt in the castle.] Herein he became a type of Christ, who subdueth all our enemies, and openeth unto us the heavenly Jerusalem.
Ver. 8. From Millo.] This was a fair street, saith Vatablus; wherein were public meetings, and speeches made. And Joab repaired.] Heb., Revived, vivificavit vel sanavit, as 2 Chronicles 24:13. The rest of the city.] To re-ingratiate with David, who was justly offended at him for the death of Abner.
Ver. 9. See on 2 Samuel 5:10.
Ver. 10. These also are the chief of the mighties.] The same catalogue of David’s worthies we have in 2 Samuel 23, but here with a more ample inscription. Christ hath his heroes also, who in their several generations have done “worthily in Ephrata,” and been “famous in Bethlehem.” And if their names be not all registered on earth, yet they are “written in heaven,” and shall one day be renowned in that great amphitheatre. (Hebrews 12:22,23) Who strengthened themselves with him.] Where God intendeth to raise or preserve kingdoms and states, he giveth and gifteth men for the purpose; as he did for Alexander the Great, for the Romans, and for our Queen Elizabeth.
Ver. 11. Jashobeam, a Hachmonite.] See on 2 Samuel 23:8, where he is called Adino the Eznite; for he had two names. Against three hundred.] At one time, and eight hundred at another. (2 Samuel 23:8)
Ver. 12. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo.] As after him was Shammah, (2 Samuel 23:11) though not here mentioned. Of their exploits done. [See Trapp on “2Sa 23:11”]
Ver. 14. And they set themselves.] The Romans boast of their Cochles, who himself alone defended a bridge against an army of enemies; the Greeks of their Achilles; the Dutch of their Albertus Brandenburgicus—though better they might of their magnanimous Martin Luther, who, like another Athanasius, totius orbis impetum solus sustinuit, stood out against a world of adversaries in defence of the truth.
Ver. 15. Now three of the thirty captains.] Or, Three captains over the thirty. These first famous three jointly did the following exploit. See 1 Chronicles 11:19.
Ver. 16-17. See on 2 Samuel 23:14-17.
Ver. 18. But David would not drink of it.] No more would Alexander the Great drink of the water that in a great drought was brought him in the country of the Gedrosi, but poured it out on the ground before his commanders and soldiers, though upon another account than David here did, viz., to stir them up, by his example, to suffer hardship. But poured it out to the lord.] As a drink offerng, in thankfulness that his captains came off so safe and well. Arrian, lib. vi.
Ver. 19. These things did these three mightiest.] See on 1 Chronicles 11:15.
Ver. 22. Who had done many acts.] Egregiorum facinorum fuit patrator. Gallice, Homme d’execution: Anglice, A man of his hands; Heb., A master of acts. Also he went down, &c.] See 2 Samuel 23:20.
Ver. 23. And he slew an Egyptian.] See 2 Samuel 23:21.
Ver. 25. Behold, he was honourable among the thirty.] Yea, and above them too. And David set him over his guard.] Heb., Over his hearing; that is, over those praetorian soldiers that were ever within his hearing and at his hand, viz., the Cherethites and the Pelethites, who stuck to him in all his troubles, and were now his bodyguard. 1 Chronicles 11:26
Ver. 26. Asahel the brother of Joab.] Joab himself is not mentioned, nor Amasa. This had lost himself for his conspiracy with Absalom, and the other for his hypocrisy and cruelty: hence some think that they were left out of this list as vile persons. See Daniel 11:21.
Ver. 39. The armourbearer of Joab.] See on 1 Chronicles 11:26.
Ver. 41. Uriah the Hittite.] The worthier this man was, the greater was David’s sin against him. Zabad the son of Ahlai.] These following worthies are added to those in 1 Samuel 23, and this was done by David after he came to the crown, likely.
Ver. 42. And thirty with him.] Or, But the thirty were over him.