2 Samuel 23 Study Notes

23:1-7 Whereas the theme of chap. 22 is the Lord’s great deliverances of David, the theme of these verses is the Davidic permanent covenant.

23:1 The heading for this chapter, These are the last words of David, is not intended chronologically; other words of David appear after this section and even in 1Kg 1:28-35 and 2:1-9. Perhaps the section contains David’s last recorded public statement or testimony to God’s work through his life. Anointed (Hb mashiach) emphasizes David’s dedication to God’s service. God of Jacob ties David to the history of the patriarchs; God’s work in David was the continuation of a work that began with Abraham (Gn 12:1-3).

23:2 David’s words should be understood not as boastful, but as portraying a sense of wonder that God would use him to convey his words.

23:3-4 On Rock, see note at 22:2. Fear of God denotes a healthy reverence for his power and majesty; the book of Proverbs associates such an attitude with wisdom and knowledge (Pr 1:7; 9:10). The Davidic covenant is that one day Israel would have such a ruler. See Ps 72:1-7; Is 11:1-5.

23:5 My house denotes David’s family. God’s permanent covenant with David’s house was ordered and secured in every detail. David was confident the Lord would bring its every aspect to fruition.

23:6-7 David’s experience had taught him that the wicked had no future in God’s plan. Since they were neither useful nor usable, the day of their judgment would surely come.

23:8-39 These are the names and accounts of some of David’s warriors—his most valiant soldiers. God blessed David with exceptional military men. The list includes the three famous heroes who turned the tide of events in single combat and the thirty warriors who served in a special detachment. There were men from many different tribes of Israel and even a few foreigners among the men who rallied to David.

23:9 Defied is the same word used of Goliath’s words against Israel (1Sm 17:10,26,36).

23:10 Eleazar displayed tenacity as he attacked the Philistines, yet the Lord brought the victory. The troops returned later to plunder the dead, a means of securing “extra payment” for their military service.

23:11 Lentils were a common food source.

23:12 The Philistines and other enemies often came up Judah’s valleys to raid food supplies.

23:13 The cave of Adullam was in the Valley of Elah (1Sm 17:2) below Bethlehem. The Valley of Rephaim lay southwest of Jerusalem.

23:14 The stronghold probably designates the cave in which David was stationed. A Philistine garrison occupied Bethlehem—perhaps a move designed to draw David out of hiding.

23:15 Probably David’s vocalized wish came not only from his thirst, but from his desire that his hometown would once again know the peace that allowed people to drink from the well at the city gate freely.

23:16-17 Three of the warriors under David’s command took their leader’s wish as a challenge and made the twenty-five-mile round-trip journey at the risk of their lives to secure water from . . . Bethlehem. Whether the three in this story are the Three in vv. 8-12 or among the Thirty in vv. 24-39 is not certain. David’s response revealed the depth to which he was moved by his men’s loyalty and bravery. The water from Bethlehem’s well was a precious gift because of the sacrifice the men made to get it. Consequently, it was a fitting sacrifice to David’s God. David’s act turned the water into a drink offering (Gn 35:14; Lv 23:13; Nm 15:7-10; 28:7-15).

23:18 Abishai, Joab’s brother, played a leading role in David’s rise to power and kingship (10:10; 18:2-3).

23:20 Benaiah was a well-known warrior (8:18; 20:23). Despite his position in a pit and severe weather that hampered both his dexterity and his mobility, he killed a lion.

23:24 Asahel was a soldier who was killed by Abner during Israel’s civil war following Saul’s death (2:18-23).

23:25 Harodite may designate a person from the Harod Valley that leads from the Jezreel Valley down to Beth-shan (1Sm 31:10) in the Jordan Valley.

23:26 A Tekoite was a person from Tekoa, seven miles south of Jerusalem (Am 1:1).

23:27 Anathoth, located in Benjamin, was later the prophet Jeremiah’s hometown (Jr 1:1).

23:29 Gibeah of the Benjaminites was Saul’s hometown and capital, a fact that shows David had some following even there.

23:34 According to 11:3, Eliam was Bathsheba’s father. If this is the same Eliam, then Ahithophel, counselor to David and Absalom (15:31; 16:20-23; 17:1-3,23), would be Bathsheba’s grandfather.

23:36 Zobah may have been the Aramean city-state that David conquered (8:3-6). Gadite probably designates someone from Gad’s territory east of the Jordan River.

23:37 David subdued Ammon on his eastern border; at some point Zelek, another foreigner, joined David’s forces.

23:39 The text intentionally ends with the mention of Uriah the Hethite. Uriah was another foreigner among David’s mighty men. He gave his life for David under the most evil of circumstances (11:14-17). The fact that there were thirty-seven members of the Thirty may be explained in one of two ways: either “Thirty” was a title rather than a specific figure, or the extra men were brought in to replace those who fell in battle.