1Všichni Izraelci se shromáždili k Davidovi do Chebrónu se slovy: Hle, jsme tvá kost a tvé tělo. 2Již dávno předtím, když byl ještě králem Saul, ty jsi vodil Izrael do boje i z boje. Hospodin, můj Bůh, ti řekl: Ty budeš pást můj lid Izrael, ty budeš vévodou nad mým lidem Izraelem. 3Všichni izraelští starší přišli ke králi do Chebrónu a David s nimi v Chebrónu uzavřel před Hospodinem smlouvu. Pomazali Davida za krále nad Izraelem podle Hospodinova slova prostřednictvím Samuela. 4Pak David a celý Izrael vytáhl na Jeruzalém, to je Jebús; tam byli Jebúsejci, obyvatelé té země. 5Obyvatelé Jebúsu řekli Davidovi: Nevstoupíš sem. Ale David dobyl pevnost Sijón, to je Město Davidovo. 6David řekl: Ten, kdo udeří na Jebúsejce první, stane se předákem a velitelem. První vytáhl Jóab, syn Serújin, a stal se předákem. 7A David se usadil v pevnosti, proto se nazývala Město Davidovo. 8Postavil město všude kolem, od Miló na všechny strany. Zbytek města obnovil Jóab. 9David se stále rozmáhal a Hospodin zástupů byl s ním. 10Toto jsou předáci Davidových hrdinů, kteří ho podporovali v jeho kralování spolu s celým Izraelem, aby ho ustanovili králem podle Hospodinova slova o Izraeli. 11Toto je výčet Davidových hrdinů: Jášobeám, syn Chachmóního, vůdce kapitánů, který zamával svým kopím proti třem stům, jež naráz pobil. 12Po něm byl Eleazar, syn Dóda Achóchijského, který byl mezi těmi třemi hrdiny. 13Byl s Davidem v Pas-damímu, když se k tam Pelištejci shromáždili boji. Byl tam díl pole plný ječmene. Lid před Pelištejci utekl. 14Postavili se uprostřed toho pole, vysvobodili ho a Pelištejce pobili. Hospodin způsobil velkou záchranu. 15Tři z těch třiceti vůdců sestoupili na skálu k Davidovi do adulamské jeskyně. Pelištejské vojsko tábořilo v údolí Refájců. 16David byl tehdy v pevnosti a pelištejská posádka byla tehdy v Betlémě. 17David zatoužil a řekl: Kdyby mi tak někdo dal napít vody z betlémské studny, která je u brány! 18Ti tři pronikli do pelištejského tábora, načerpali vodu z betlémské studny, která je u brány, vzali ji a přinesli Davidovi. David však nechtěl pít a vylil ji Hospodinu v úlitbu. 19Řekl: Ať je to ode mě vzdáleno, můj Bože, abych udělal něco takového. Což smím pít krev těchto mužů, kteří šli s nasazením vlastního života? Vždyť ji přinesli s nasazením vlastního života. A nechtěl ji pít. To udělali ti tři hrdinové. 20Abíšaj, bratr Jóabův, byl vůdcem tří. Zamával svým kopím proti třem stům, jež pobil. Proslavil se mezi těmi třemi. 21Z těch tří byl váženější než druzí dva a stal se jejich velitelem, ale těch prvních tří nedosáhl. 22Benajáš, syn Jójadův, byl bojovník z Kabseelu, který učinil mnoho mocných činů. Ten zabil dva syny Aríele Moábského. On také přišel a v čase sněhu ubil lva uvnitř jámy. 23Zabil Egypťana, muže měřícího pět loket. Egypťan měl v ruce kopí jako tkalcovské vratidlo. On k němu přišel s holí, sebral kopí z Egypťanovy ruky a jeho vlastním kopím ho zabil. 24Tyto činy vykonal Benajáš, syn Jójadův, a proslavil se mezi třemi hrdiny. 25Mezi třiceti byl nejváženější, ale těch tří nedosáhl. David ho ustanovil nad svou tělesnou stráží. 26Udatný hrdina: Asáel, bratr Jóabův, Elchánan, syn Dóda z Betléma, 27Šamót Harórský, Cheles Pelónský, 28Íra, syn Íkeše Tekójského, Abíezer Anatótský, 29Sibekaj Chúšatský, Ílaj Achóchijský, 30Mahraj Netófský, Cheled, syn Baany Netófského, 31Ítaj, syn Ríbaje z Gibeje synů Benjamínových, Benajáš Pireatónský, 32Chúraj z gaašských údolí, Abíel Arbátský, 33Azmávet Bacharúmský, Eljachba Šaalbónský, 34synové Hašema Gizónského, Jónatan, syn Šagéa Hararského, 35Achíam, syn Sakara Hararského, Elífal, syn Úrův, 36Chefer Mekeratský, Achijáš Pelónský, 37Chesró Karmelský, Naaraj, syn Ezbajův, 38Jóel, bratr Nátanův, Mibchár, syn Hagrího, 39Selek Amónský, Nacharaj Beerótský, zbrojnoš Jóaba, syna Serújina, 40Íra Jitrejský, Gáreb Jitrejský, 41Urijáš Chetejský, Zábad, syn Achlájův, 42Adína, syn Šízy Rúbenského, vůdce Rúbenovců a nad třiceti, 43Chánan, syn Maakův, Jóšafat Mitnejský, 44Uzija Ašterátský, Šama a Jeíel, synové Chótama Aróerského, 45Jedíael, syn Šimrího, a jeho bratr Jócha Tisejský, 46Elíel Machavímský, Jeríbaj a Jóšavjáš, synové Elnaamovi, Jitma Moábský, 47Elíel, Obéd a Jaasíel Mesóbajští.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 David is here brought to the possession.
I. Of the throne of Israel, after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, over Judah only. In consideration of his relation to them (
1Chr 11:1), his former good services, and especially the divine designation (
1Chr 11:2), they anointed him their king: he covenanted to protect them, and they to bear faith and true allegiance to him,
1Chr 11:3. Observe, 1. God's counsels will be fulfilled at last, whatever difficulties lie in the way. If God had said,
David shall rule, it is in vain to oppose it. 2. Men that have long stood in their own light, when they have long wearied themselves with their lying vanities, it is to be hoped, will understand the things that belong to their peace and return to
their own mercies. 3. Between prince and people there is an original contract, which both ought religiously to observe. If ever any prince might have claimed an absolute despotic power, David might, and might as safely as any have been entrusted with it; and yet he made a covenant with the people, took the coronation-oath, to rule by law.
II. Of the strong-hold of Zion, which was held by the Jebusites till David's time. Whether David had a particular eye upon it as a place fit to make a royal city, or whether he had a promise of it from God, it seems that one of his first exploits was to make himself master of that fort; and, when he had it, he called it the
city of David, 1Chr 11:7. To this reference is had,
Pss 2:6.
I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. See here what quickens and engages resolution in great undertakings. 1. Opposition. When the Jebusites set David at defiance, and said,
Thou shalt not come hither. he resolved to force it, whatever it cost him. 2. Prospect of preferment. When David proposed to give the general's place to him that would lead the attack upon the castle of Zion, Joab was fired with the proposal, and he
went up first, and was chief. It has been said, Take away honour out of the soldier's eye and you cut off the spurs from his heels.
10 We have here an account of David's worthies, the great men of his time that served him and were preferred by him. The first edition of this catalogue we had,
2Sam 23:8, etc. This is much the same, only that those named here from
1Chr 11:41 to the end are added. Observe,
I. The connexion of this catalogue with that which is said concerning David,
1Chr 11:9. 1.
David waxed greater and greater, and these were his mighty men. Much of the strength and honour of great men is borrowed from their servants and depends upon them, which cannot but somewhat diminish pomp and power in the opinion of those that are wise. David is great because he has great men about him; take these away, and he is where he was. 2.
The Lord of hosts was with him, and these were the mighty men which he had. God was with him and wrought for him, but by men and means and the use of second causes. By
this it appeared that God was with him, that he inclined the hearts of those to come over to him that were able to serve his interest. As, if God be for us none can be against us, so, if God be for us, all shall be for us that we have occasion for. Yet David ascribed his success and increase, not to the hosts he had, but to the
Lord of hosts, not to the mighty men that were with him, but to the mighty God whose presence with us is all in all.
II. The title of this catalogue (
1Chr 11:10):
These are the men who strengthened themselves with him. In strengthening him they strengthened themselves and their own interest; for his advancement was theirs. What we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David we shall be gainers by. In strengthening it we strengthen ourselves. It may be read,
They held strongly with him and with all Israel. Note, When God has work to do he will not want fit instruments to do it with. If it be work that requires mighty men, mighty men shall either be found or made to effect it,
according to the word of the Lord. III. That which made all these men honourable was the good service that they did to their king and country; they helped to make David king (
1Chr 11:10) - a good work. They slew the Philistines, and other public enemies, and were instrumental to save Israel. Note, The way to be great is to do good. Nor did they gain this honour without labour and the hazard of their lives. The honours of Christ's kingdom are prepared for those that
fight the good fight of faith, that labour and suffer, and are willing to venture all, even life itself, for Christ and a good conscience. It is by a patient continuance in well-doing that we must seek for glory, and honour, and immortality; and those that are faithful to the Son of David shall find their names registered and enrolled much more to their honour than these are in the records of fame.
IV. Among all the great exploits of David's mighty men, here is nothing great mentioned concerning David himself but his
pouring out water before the Lord which he had
longed for, 1Chr 11:18,
1Chr 11:19. Four very honourable dispositions of David appeared in that action, which, for aught I know, made it as great as any of the achievements of those worthies. 1. Repentance for his own weakness. It is really an honour to a man, when he is made sensible that he has said or done any thing unadvisedly, to unsay it and undo it again by repentance, as it is a shame to a man when he has said or done amiss to stand to it. 2. Denial of his own appetite. He longed for the water of the well of Bethlehem; but, when he had it, he would not drink it, because he would not so far humour himself and gratify a foolish fancy. He that has such a rule as this
over his own spirit is better than the mighty. It is an honour to a man to have the command of himself; but he that will command himself must sometimes cross himself. 3. Devotion towards God. That water which he thought too good, too precious, for his own drinking, he
poured out to the Lord for a
drink offering. If we have any thing better than another, let God be honoured with it, who is the best, and should have the best. 4. Tenderness of his servants. It put him into the greatest confusion imaginable to think that three brave men should hazard their lives to fetch water for him. In his account it turns the water into blood. It is the honour of great men not to be prodigal of the blood of those they employ, but, in all the commands they give them, to put their own souls into their souls' stead.
V. In the wonderful achievements of these heroes the power of God must be acknowledged. How could one slay 300 and another the same number (
1Chr 11:11,
1Chr 11:20), another two lion-like men (
1Chr 11:22), and another an Egyptian giant (
1Chr 11:23), if they had not had the extraordinary presence of God with them, according to that promise,
Josh 23:10,
One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God fighteth for you? VI. One of these worthies is said to be
an Ammonite (
1Chr 11:39), another
a Moabite (
1Chr 11:46), and yet the law was that an
Ammonite and
a Moabite should not enter into the congregation of the Lord, Deut 23:3. These, it is likely, had approved themselves so hearty for the interest of Israel that in their case it was thought fit to dispense with that law, and the rather because it was an indication that the Son of David would have worthies among the Gentiles: with him there is neither Greek nor Jew.