2 Samuel 23
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Samuel chapter 23, the account continues the story of the reign of King David and establishment of his kingdom. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Now these {be} the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man {who was} raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2 Samuel 23:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word {was} in my tongue.
2 Samuel 23:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men {must be} just, ruling in the fear of God. {He...: or, Be thou ruler, etc}
2 Samuel 23:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And {he shall be} as the light of the morning, {when} the sun riseth, {even} a morning without clouds; {as} the tender grass {springing} out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
2 Samuel 23:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Although my house {be} not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all {things}, and sure: for {this is} all my salvation, and all {my} desire, although he make {it} not to grow.
2 Samuel 23:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
But {the sons} of Belial {shall be} all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
2 Samuel 23:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
But the man {that} shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the {same} place. {fenced: Heb. filled}
2 Samuel 23:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
These {be} the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same {was} Adino the Eznite: {he lift up his spear} against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. {The Tachmonite...: or, Joshebbassebet the Tachmonite, head of the three} {whom he...: Heb. slain} {he lift...: from (1ch:) whom he...: Heb. slain}
2 Samuel 23:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And after him {was} Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, {one} of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines {that} were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
2 Samuel 23:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
2 Samuel 23:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And after him {was} Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. {into...: or, for foraging}
2 Samuel 23:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
2 Samuel 23:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. {three...: or, the three captains over the thirty}
2 Samuel 23:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And David {was} then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines {was} then {in} Bethlehem.
2 Samuel 23:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which {is} by the gate!
2 Samuel 23:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that {was} by the gate, and took {it}, and brought {it} to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
2 Samuel 23:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: {is not this} the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, {and} slew {them}, and had the name among three. {and slew them: Heb. slain}
2 Samuel 23:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the {first} three.
2 Samuel 23:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: {who...: Heb. great of acts} {lionlike...: Heb. lion of God}
2 Samuel 23:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. {a goodly...: Heb. a man of countenance, or, sight: also called, a man of great stature}
2 Samuel 23:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
These {things} did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the {first} three. And David set him over his guard. {more...: or, honourable among the thirty} {guard: or, council: Heb. at his command}
2 Samuel 23:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Asahel the brother of Joab {was} one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
2 Samuel 23:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
2 Samuel 23:25 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
2 Samuel 23:26 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
2 Samuel 23:27 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
2 Samuel 23:28 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
2 Samuel 23:29 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, {brooks: or, valleys}
2 Samuel 23:30 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
2 Samuel 23:31 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
2 Samuel 23:32 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
2 Samuel 23:33 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
2 Samuel 23:34 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
35
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
2 Samuel 23:35 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
36
Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
2 Samuel 23:36 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
37
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
2 Samuel 23:37 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
38
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
2 Samuel 23:38 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
39
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
2 Samuel 23:39 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.