Bible Commentaries

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 11

David made king at Hebron; by Joab’s valour winneth the castle of Zion from the Jebusites; repaireth the city of Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 11:1-9. A catalogue of his mighty men, 1 Chronicles 11:10-47.

All Israel, i.e. all the tribes of Israel, as it is expressed, 2 Samuel 5:1, i.e. their elders, as it is there said, 2 Samuel 5:3, and officers, and a great multitude of the soldiers and people.

God said unto thee, or, concerning thee; for it is apparent that they knew of it; and therefore many of them opposed David hitherto against their own consciences.

Of this and the three following verses See Poole "2 Samuel 5:6", &c.

Before this he was one of David’s chief captains, 2 Samuel 3:22,23, and general of the forces of Judah; but now he is made captain-general of all the forces of Israel and Judah.

Who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom; who helped him with all their might to settle him in his kingdom.

With all Israel; in conjunction with all those loyal Israelites who joined with David; of whom see the next chapter.

An Hachmonite; called the Tachmonite, and Adino the Eznite, 2 Samuel 23:8.

Slain by him, to wit, by his own hand, five hundred more being slain by others then joining with him, who pursued the victory that he alone got, and in the pursuit slew five hundred, both which sums make up the eight hundred numbered 2 Samuel 23:8, the slaughter of all which is justly ascribed to him, because it was the effect of his valour. But concerning that and other differences about these persons or things, see my notes on 2Sa 23.

Heb. these three mighties, to wit, last mentioned, whereof one was Abishai, 1 Chronicles 11:20; for the acts of two of the first three are here passed over, being recorded 2Sa 23.

He slew them; he vanquished them all, and slew a great number of them; though it be not said that he slew them all at one time, as it is said of Jashobeam, above, 1 Chronicles 11:11.

He did not equal them in valiant exploits.

Had a name, i.e. was greatly reputed; for though he did not equal Abishai, one of these three, as appears by 1 Chronicles 11:20,21, yet he did excel the third of them, and all the thirty here following.

Heb. his hearing, or obedience, i.e. those that were always ready to hear and obey or execute his commands, to wit, the guards of his body.

Of the brooks, or of the valleys, i.e. of one of them; the plural number for the singular; so called because he was born or bred there.

Hashem, or Jashem, to wit,

Jonathan here following, and Shammah here omitted, but expressed 2 Samuel 23:32,33.

Joel the brother of Nathan; either,

1. The same who is called Jaal the son of Nathan of Zobah, being possibly his brother by birth and nature, and called his son by adoption, or right of succession to his estate, or called his brother at large for his near kinsman, and his son for his nephew. Or,

2. Another, who, upon the death of the former, was put in his stead.

Uriah the Hittite; the last of that catalogue in 2 Samuel 23:39. But here some others are added to the number, because though they were not of the thirty, yet they were men of great valour and renown amongst David’s commanders.

Thirty captains, who were under him at their colonel

The Aroerite; so called possibly because his station and quarters were upon the river Aroer beyond Jordan, being placed there for the defence of those parts.

So called, either because he was by birth a Moabite, though now proselyted to the true religion, or from some eminent service done by him against the Moabites, as among the Romans Scipio was called Asiatic and African, because of his great achievements and victories over those parts and people.