Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 11:11. Jashobeam, called Tachmoni, 2 Samuel 23:8, a wise man and valiant. He had earned the laurel to sit as the chairman of David’s generals. Three hundred men he killed, and five hundred more in the pursuit, which makes up the eight hundred mentioned in the above passage.

1 Chronicles 11:22. Two lion-like men. The Vulgate reads as the Hebrew, two lions of Moab. Slaying the Egyptian giant, more than nine feet high, and the lion at the cave, or rather at the cistern, are also narrated. No doubt, he slew two gigantic men of Moab.

REFLECTIONS.

This and the remaining chapters of the first book of Chronicles throw additional light on the reign of David, and the fruits of his victories. As soon as he came to the crown he conferred honours on his worthies, correspondent to their achievements; and some of them performed heroic actions which might have appeared impracticable. Let us learn of them to assume courage, and fight the good fight of faith. Let us be discouraged by no reverses, nor intimidated by any difficulty, for our captain, though long opposed, like David, shall surely triumph, and give the victor’s crown to every one that overcometh.

Among his worthies, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 11:46, we find Ithmah the Moabite. Hence we see that the sentence pronounced against the people of Ammon and of Moab, never to enter the congregation of the Lord, Deuteronomy 23:3, was not irrevocable, where repentance prevailed. The pious Ruth is another instance to the same effect. Individual sinners and whole nations are encouraged to repentance, for the gracious and longsuffering God, in cases without number, repenteth him of the evil, and rejoices to see humiliation even in an Ahab.