Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Samuel · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
THese are the last words of David. David the sonne of Ishai said, The man, who was set on high, said, The anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet finger V. 1.of Israel. This is a prophesie, as all both Jewish and Christian Expositors hold touching Christ, and is set forth by this title, The last words of David; because that after the song before going compiled, and all other Psalmes, which hee made in his last old age, he uttered this, and lest it as the last confession of his Peter Martyr.faith for the comfort of all the faithfull, which loved his house, of which Christ was to come, and for the terrour of all the wicked enemies to him and his. For it is not to be understood so, as if hee dyed without speaking more after these words spoken, for he caused the people to be numbred after this, Chap. 24. and appointed by word of mouth Solomon to bee his successour in the kingdome, 1 King. 1. and gave him many instructions, Chap. 2. unlesse we shall say, that those things were done before, though placed after, that this might come next to other matter of the like kinde. But granting all to bee set downe in order, these are called his last words, both because they are of things to come to passe in the last times, and the last words of praise to God which hee uttered, as Lyra hath it, or the last propheticall words. Jonathan the Chald. Paraphrast, Lyra.hereupon saith thus; These are the propheticall words of David, which hee prophesied to the end of the world, to the times of comfort which were to Chald. Parap.come, that is, of the kingdom of the Messiah promised to David and to all the holy Fathers, they were spoken, and shall be performed in due time.
This prophesie beginneth with the titles of David, which are four: 1 David the sonne of Ishai hath said; hee setteth downe his parentage, as not being ashamed of it, although hee were a great King. 2 The man, that was raised up on high, that is, from a keeper of sheep, to bee King over Israel. 3 The anointed of the God of Jacob, for both these the vulg. Latine hath these words: Dixit vir, cui constitutum est de Christo dei Jaacob, that is, saith Lyra, to whom a firme promise was made, never to bee revoked, concerning Christ of the God of Jaacob, Lyra.who is so called, because Jaacob spake of him, Gen. 49. 10. Hebr. it is, the man said, that was set up, of the Christ of the God of Jaacob, Junius hath it, the anointed of the God of Jaacob, expounding it of his doing herein like Jaacob when he was now ready to die, and like Moses holding that this was uttered by him last Junius. Gen. 49. Deut. 32. 33.of all, when he had made an end of giving instructions to his sonne Soloman, 1 King. 2. and of praying for him, Psal. 72. and for the word rendred, cui constitutum est, both hee and Martyr have it, as in our translation, the man that was raised or set up on high, which I thinke to bee the best, but because in the next words there is the preposition foreign of, I preferre herein the vulg. Latine, to which the Chaldee Paraphrase agreeth. The last title is the sweet singer of Israel, for hee compiled many sweet and heavenly Psalmes for the publike use of the Church of God, and set them to Instruments of Musick, and did himselfe sing and play so sweetly, that hee drove away hereby the evill spirit from Saul. And that the giving of himselfe these titles might not seeme to come from vaine glory, and that the prophesie following might bee the better marked by all the faithfull, it is added, Vers. 2. the spirit of the Lord spake by mee, and his words were in my tongue, so that by the Spirit of God breathing upon him hee V. 2.spake thus, as all Prophets did, 1 Pet. 2. 19. and therefore these words were not his owne, but both the matter and very words came from the Spirit of God.
The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spake unto me, hee that ruleth over men must bee V. 3.just, ruling in the feare of God; the vul. Latin, he that ruleth over men, the just ruler in the feare of God, and this is according to the Hebr. and saith Lyra, they be all the titles of God, and of him it is said, ruling in the feare of God, because he striketh into Lyra.men, in whose hearts he ruleth, the feare of God, not a servile but filiall. Pellican followeth the same translation, yet distinguisheth the sentence thus, the strong Pellican.God, that is, the Almightie promised me who ruleth over the sonnes of men, being called just, because hee ruleth most justly. Lastly, he said, that he would one day set up a King, which should be the Messiah, who should be setled and rule with the feare of God, that is, whose kingdome is setled not by any other strength or firmenesse, but by the feare of God, it being a kingdome of beleevers and of such as doe worship and feare the true God onelyonly. Martyr having mentioned Peter Martyr.the first exposition, saith, there is another exposition more agreeable to the words following thus: This rock of Israel said of mee to Samuel, that I should bee a just ruler, ruling in the feare of God, and taking care for the restoring of his worship, and this was performed partly in David, who yet by reason of his inbred corruption was not altogether so just in all things, but in the Messiah, who came of David perfectly, because hee also hath power to work in the hearts of men the true feare of God, which David had not, although hee taught it unto them. And this I thinke to bee the best, to understand the last words, as the thing spoken by the rock of Israel to David by the spirit of the Messiah. For so the sentence will bee perfect, one word, is, being supplyed, the ruler over men is just, ruling in the feare of God, that is, hee of whom I said before, that I was about to speake, viz. the Messiah or Anointed.
And hee shall bee as the light of the morning when the Sunne riseth, &c. the vulgar V. 4.Latine, as the light of the morning, when the Sunne ariseth, without these words connecting it with the former Verse, and hee shall bee, and therefore it is by Lyra applyed to the manner of Gods speaking unto David, and by him Vers. 2. as if it were meant, that his speaking was not obscure and as it were, clouded, Lyra.but cleare and perspicuous, as a morning, wherein the Sunne ariseth cleare. And whereas the next words may seeme not to agree to this, as grasse groweth out of the earth by raines, that hee applyeth to Christ, to set forth whose comming of a Virgin the comparison is used, because as the ground is barren and bringeth forth no fruit, but by the rain falling upon it, so that virgin could not have brought forth a Sunne, but by the Spirit of God making her fruitfull. Pellican following R. David applieth it to Davids kingdome thus, as the Pellican.morning light ariseth, and the Sunne alwayes increasing and shining, so shall or let my kingdome bee alwayes faire and never troubled with clouds, because if the morning bee cloudy, one while cleare and then rainy, it never profiteth such things, as grow out of the earth. Hugo Card applyeth it to the word of Hugo Card.Christ, thus his word is like the morning light, which illuminateth and maketh fruitfull, so as that his rising againe is like the morning rising without any clouds of infidelitie, and hee shone by miracles and made the ground of beleevers hearts fruitfull, as the raine the earth, by the preaching of the Word. Peter Martyr expounding this and the next Verse together understandeth it of Peter Martyr.the kingdome of the Messiah, of which it is hereby prophesied, that it should bee cleare, as the fairest day, as the Sunne shining in his strength overcommeth and annihilateth all cloudinesse, so overcomming all that opposed themselves against it, and such was the covenant of God made with him touching it. And for the other similitude of the raine, hereby hee saith was meant, that persecutions notwithstanding should arise, but they should bee improved as raine to the making of the earth fruitfull, yet hee saith, that his house should not bee thus, because the raine falling upon the earth produceth fruits that are fading, but the fruit of this covenant should bee everlasting, because of the Kingdome of the Messiah there should bee no end; but of the last word, because he shall not make it to grow, he saith nothing, and so leaveth all indeed obscure. Junius having expounded the former of these Verses of them, that hee should Iunius.rule over, for hee supplyeth these words, and they shall bee as the morning light, &c. hee rendreth this, as the reason of the next words, although my house be not so, that is, although it bee not so cleare without clouds of sinne, yet Gods covenant with me is firme and sure, when hee maketh it not to grow, that is, when for sinne my house for a time shall not injoy such prosperitie. There are also divers other translations, as in the vulg. Latine, Vers. 5. Neither is my house so great with God, that hee should make with mee an everlasting Covenant, &c. Neither is there any thing of him, that shall not bud. The Geneva translation, after these words, the morning without clouds, hath it thus, Vers. 4. so shall my house bee, and not as the grasse of the earth is by the bright raine, supplying all these words, so shall my house bee, and not, which are not in the Hebrew, Vers. 5. the last words, therefore all my health and whole desire is, that hee would not make grow so, where so, againe is supplyed, not being in the Hebrew. Our new translation followeth Junius. Hebr. it is, And as the light of the morning, the Sunne, hee shall arise, the V. 4.morning, not clouds, the tendergrasse from the earth from the shining after raine, for my house is not so with God, and then the last words, for all my salvation V. 5.and all my love, for he shall not make it grow. For the meaning, Iunius giveth the best light into it, for some words must needs bee supplyed in such an abrupt and concise kind of speaking, that the sense may bee attained to, thus going forward here to prophesie of the Messiah, under the name of a just ruler, hee further saith, that hee shall bee as the Sun, the light of the morning, which is cleare and without all clouds, for he is called the Sun of righteousnesse, Mal. 4. for his glory, wherein hee excelleth the Sunne, and for a more superexcellent spirituall light comming from him, the tender grasse, that is, hee is also as the greene grasse, which the bright Sunne causeth to shoote out apace after a large raine, because his kingdome encreased so fast, the Gospel being received and Churches planted in so many countreys farre and wide over all the world in a short time. For my house is not so with God, that is, my house I grant is but meane, and not of that greatnesse, that God should out of it bring such a ruler, for I was at the first but a shepheard, yet God out of his meere grace & mercy towards me, hath made a firm Covenant with me, and given me a sure promise, that cannot be broken, but shall stand for ever, that such a ruler shall come of me, and this is my salvation and delight, for by him I hope to be saved eternally. For he shall not make to grow, or although hee shall not make, &c. for thus also may foreign the word here used bee expounded, that is, as Iunius before, although my house flourish not constantly in my posterity, but bee sometime so crushed, as that it may seeme to bee without all possibilitie of growing up to such a glorious kingdome, yet that which hath beene said, shall bee verified: so that these words seeme to bee added, as pointing at the desperate state that the house of David should bee in under the Babylonish captivitie, and afterwards through Herods tyranny, to denote which and yet to give hope of the Messiah, Esa. 11. 1. it is said, a branch shall come out of the trunke or root of Iesse, that is, his house cut downe, as it were, to the roots.
But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all as thornes thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands. But the man that will touch them must bee fenced with iron and the staffe of V. 6.a speare, and they shall bee utterly burnt with fire in the same place, the vulg. Latine V. 7.comburentur usque ad nihilum, Hebr. foreign ad cessationem, i. ad nihilum. This, saith Lyra, is to be understood of the wicked Jews, who were as thornes to those Lyra.that handled them, that is, to Christ and his Apostles, wherefore they were by the Romans destroyed by force of Armes, and many of them with their Citie and Temple burnt with fire, and after that, because they died in infidelitie, they were burnt everlastingly in hell fire. Others generally understand this of all the wicked compared to thornes, because they beare no good fruit, but pricks to hurt those that meddle with them by way of instruction or reprehension, wherefore as a man dealeth with thornes, so they shall be dealt withall, that is, powerfully proceeded against, and finally burnt in the place where they stand, that they may do no more hurt to such as come near them. Yet Martyr in this bringeth the Jewes also for example, who were destroyed by Titus Peter Martyr. Pellican.and Vespasian in their owne Citie. Pellican will have Antichrist and his adherents, the greatest enemies of Christ understood, whom hee shall consume by the breath of his month, as by fire. I hold with Lyra, because it is a prophesie of things most remarkable happening about the kingdome of the Messiah, that his greatest enemies and first oppugners, the Jewes, are particularly meant, who were therefore justly destroyed by the Romans. And morally wee may Note. note, what the end of all the incorrigibly wicked shall bee, viz. destruction for ever in hell fire.
These are the names of the valiant men, which David had. As the sacred history doth first and chiefly set forth the gests of King David, as being a man singularly V. 8.chosen of God, so it seemed good to the Spirit of God, that the valiant men about him with their worthy gests should be put upon record for their honour, whereby is implied that they were not onelyonly most valiant but faithfull also both to God and the King, and godly, for Joah who murthered two men most treacherously, Abner and Amasa, and presumptuously transgressed against the Kings charge touching Absalom, is not for these his wickednesses named amongst them, nor Amasa, who had rebelled with Absalom against the King, but onelyonly such, as constantly followed him in adversitie and prosperitie, and helped him both in the time of his persecution under Saul, and against Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul to obtaine the kingdome, to which God had chosen 1 Chron. 11. 11.him, being for this purpose extraordinarily assisted with valour and might to subdue the enemy, and obtaine unto him a very large dominion over all the neighbouring nations, who had hitherto possessed a great part of the Land, which was given for inheritance to the children of Israel; some yet stand for Joah to bee meant by him sitting in the chaire: but Hugo, Rupert and Martyr hold, that hee was excluded from his ill deserts before spoken of.
And herein David was a figure of Christ, who had also his worthies, the The Mystery.Apostles, and 72. more Disciples, whom he sent out and instructed with power extraordinarily to conquer for him, by shewing signes and working miracles, and the putting off the names of Davids worthies upon record in holy Scripture, figured out the writing of the names of Christs faithfull Ministers Note. in heaven, as Martyr partly noteth, that wee all might bee incouraged to Peter Martyr.fight manfully under Christs banner, and never for any danger bee made to shrinke from him; for the valour of any faithfull servant of God in this kind shall assuredly be registred, and hee shall not lose the praise thereof at Gods hands, as it is said of the Jew within, that his praise is not of men but of God. Rom. 2. 29:And in that David kept such men about him, who were both valiant and godly, it is commended hereby to other Kings and Princes to doe the like, and not to keepe about them vaine and vicious persons to the corrupting and weakning of their states and kingdomes.
Of these worthies of David here are reckoned up 36. and yet Vers. 39. they are summed up 37. Joab also, saith Junius, being understood, although hee be Iunius.not named. Comester numbreth David for one, as the head of them all, and so maketh up 37. and this hee groundeth upon the vulg. Latine, where it is, David Scholast. histor.sitting in the chaire was most wise, but Hebr. there is no mention made of David any more, but that these were the valiant men, that David had, and then it is said, sitting in the chaire, the most wise, the head of the three, hee was Adino the Eznite, or as in our new translation rather, the Tachmonite sitting in the chaire, he was Adino, for the word rendred, the most wise, Hebr. is foreign which, although foreign signifieth wise, cannot well bee rendred most wise, but rather Tachmonite, as setting forth the place, of which hee was, as the Eznite doth his family. But Junius for sitting in the chaire, &c. hath it, Josheh bashebeth Tachcemonites, huic gratum fuit hastato una vice invadere 800. taking the two first words Junius.for his proper names, which are commonly rendred, sitting in the chaire, and Adino according to the signification (which is commonly taken for a proper name, but onelyonly in the vulg. Latine, where it is expounded by tenerrimus) for grammei, it was delightfull to him, and foreign being armed with his speare, which is commonly rendred Eznite. The Hebrews will have David described here, as the chiefe of the most valiant, because it is for Kings and Masters to sit in chaires, and he, saith Lyra, is called most tender, because hee was gentle to Lyra.his friends, although terrible to his enemies, for which is added ligni vermiculus, as the vulg. Latine rendreth foreign because as the worme eateth into the hardest wood, so hee pierced his strongest enemies by his might and destroyed them. But because Davids worthies and not David himselfe are here propounded to bee numbred, neither doe wee read that ever hee slew 800. enemies at once, it is certaine that some other man and not David is meant. Some thinke that Joah is thus described, because hee was Captaine of all the Army, but this is not probable for the reason before rendred, why hee is not put into this Catalogue at all, or according to others because his gests were sufficiently set forth before, and the purpose of the Spirit here was not to reckon up any, but such valiant men of David, as either had hitherto been passed over in silence, or without any hint giving of their valour, or although something were spoken hereof, yet not the gest most memorable: for so Sibbecai, whose killing of a Giant is spoken of Chap. 21. is here omitted, and Elhanan and Jonathan onelyonly cursorily named, that wee might gather, when wee recount their valiant gests before set forth, what the rest of the 30. who are onelyonly named were, but Abishai there spoken of is here againe commended for another most valiant act of his, viz. slaying 300. at once. Vers. 18. It seemeth to mee, that Sibbecai spoken of, Chap. 21. but here omitted, is also to be understood, who being added, as hee may well be from thence, maketh up the number of 37. and indeed without understanding him the second ternary is imperfect, there being in it but two expressed, Vers. 18, 19, 20. And for the former words, sitting in a chaire, they may best bee referred to David thus; these are the valiant men, which David sitting in the chaire of State had, and thus the Tygurin translation rendreth it: the Tachmonite, who was the chiefe of the three, hee was otherwise called Adino the Eznite, &c. That of Junius doth not arride me, because if Adino bee rendred gratum ei, the word foreign is redundant, and there is no reason to take the two first words for a proper name contrary to the streame of all interpreters. And for the making up of this number of 37. that Sibbecai is to bee understood 1 Chron. 11.may bee gathered from 1 Chron. 11. where hee is also named: but there are many more also named, so that the Catalogue here is imperfect, and these 37. were not all Davids worthies, for there are named about 13 more, these were all, that it pleased the Spirit of God to set downe here, the rest being reserved to bee registred in that place, happily because they came not all unto him so soone as these 37. but when hee was in Hebron, and Ishbosheth Sauls sonne was now dead, for then many more of great valour of all the Tribes are also named, 1 Chron. 12. But 1 Chron. 11. 11. it is Jashobeam, the Hachmonite, who is first mentioned, but he is generally held to bee the same, although called by another name, and whereas there it is said, that hee slew 300. at once here 800. by Josephus 900. some thinke, that 300. of these 800. were slaine by his speare, the rest otherwise, but others better, that hee did that valiant act at another time. If any man shall thinke it incredible, that one man should in one day slay so many in a battell, he must remember, how Sampson alone slew 1000. men with the Jaw-bone of an Asse, and Jonathan and his Armor-bearer alone set upon the whole Army of the Philistims and brought confusion to it, and Gedeon with his 300. men overthrew the Army of the Midianites being as the Grashoppers for multitude. The Lord promised to such as served him, that one should chace a 1000. the enemy seeing the valour of this man might bee so astonisht through feare, as to become feeble and unable to resist, or to flee from him wounding and killing them, as the beasts are said to fall downe for feare before the Lion pursuing them neare. Now for the method here used in making this Catalogue. 1 Here are two ternaries of the most valiant, together with their most memorable gests. 2 An enumeration of the names of 30. more, and the same method is followed, 1 Chron. 11. Touching the two ternaries, the first three are said to bee superiour to the other three, and yet those other three of wonderfull valour also.
The second was Eleazar the sonne of Dodo, which word signifieth his uncle, V. 9.and so it is by some rendred, but it is more commonly and better taken for a proper name, hee is said to have been of that valour, that hee slew the Philistims till his sword did cleave to his hand, and then the people which before were fled from him for feare of the Philistims returned onelyonly after him to take the spoyle.
The third was Shammah the sonne of Agee, who defended a piece of ground V. 12.full of Lentiles against a troope of the Philistims, when all others fled from the Philistims for feare, and obtained a great victory. The history touching these two differeth much from this, 1 Chron. 11. 12, 13. where that is ascribed 1 Chron. 11. 12to Eleazar, which is here to Shammah, no mention being made o… Shammah, but implicitly. Hee was with David in Padammim, and the Philistims were gathered together to battell, where there was parcell of Barley, and when the people fled from before the Philistims, they set themselves in the midst of the parcell and delivered it and slew the Philistims To reconcile this difference some thinke, that the History of Shammah is quite omitted, 1 Chron. 11. rendring therefore the plurall, they stood in the midst of the parcell by the singular, hee stood, as the Septuagint, and Tostatus, and because it was in a parcell of a Barley Tostatus.field where Eleazar fought, but of Lentils, where Shammah, and it seemeth to bee onelyonly a more full description of the valiant act of Eleazar, the occasion of his fight being but in part set forth here, but in the other part there, and the name of the place, where hee was, when hee entred into this fight, Pashdammim, which is here omitted. For the plurall used there, it may bee reconciled, that some of his men seeing him to defend that ground alone were gathered unto him againe, but it was his valour alone, by which this was done. Some others thinke, that the histories of both these are conjoyned in the Chronicles, and whereas Lentils are spoken of here, but there Barley, there Peter Martyr. Lyra. Iunius.might bee stacks of both, which the Philistims would have burned Lyra saith, because Eleazar was the chiefe in defending that ground, hee onelyonly is mentioned, but Shammah also implyed in that the plurall number is used. And this is the more probable, because Vers. 15. it is spoken of three, that together did also another most valiant act in breaking through the hoast of the Philistims for water, when as two onelyonly had beene expresly named before, intimating, that the third was left to bee understood from 2 King. 23. Whereas Vers. 9. it is said, when they defied the Philistims that were there gathered together, some thinke rather it should bee read, when the Philistims defied and objected cowardize unto them, but the word foreign signifieth also their exposing of themselves to danger, as Pagninus hath it, and the word rendred the Philistims, is foreign against the Philistims; wherefore Junius, when they Iunius.exposed their lives to danger against the Philistims, and this is best, because it is not likely, that they would reproach the Philistims, and then flee away from them, and the words agree not to the other reading, the Philistims reproached them.
And three of the thirty went downe to David, &c. here by thirty is to be understood the whole number of Davids valiant men, who might bee so called although V. 13.they were more, because happily so many were by David chosen at the first, and had the name of the thirtie worthies given unto them, and authoritie and command over others accordingly, but some others afterwards also shewing great valour were joyned unto them, but they were still called by the name of the thirty, as the 12. Apostles, when Paul and Barnabas were added, and Epaphroditus, Junius and Andronicus, of whom, Rom. 16. 7. it is said, that they were of note amongst the Apostles, were still called the 12. Apostles. These 1 Sam. 22.three came to David to the Cave of Odullam in the time when hee was persecuted by Saul, a Garrison of the Philistims being then at Bethlehem, and when David longed for some of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which was a well, that of old hee happily had used to drinke of, for hee was of that City and knew it to be very good, these three adventured to fetch him some water thence, &c. and this is noted to have beene done in the harvest time, when it was hot, and when it was brought hee would not drinke thereof, but considering that they with perill of their lives had fetcht it, hee poured it out for a drinke offering to the Lord for the health and safetie of these three, saith Pellican: Pellican. Peter Martyr.hee offered it for a drinke offering, saith Martyr, in way of thanksgiving to God, who had given him such worthy men, and preserved their lives in this great danger, and hee called it the blood of those men, because gotten with danger of their lives, as the wine in the Sacrament is also called blood figuratively: a notable example for Princes and Captaines to bee tender over the Note. lives of their servants, to bee prodigall of their blood is tyranny. And their readinesse to give content to their Captaine serveth to commend ready obedience to all servants, although not in imitating desperately this example, when there is no such great need: but in time of necessitie for the safetie of the King, and the Commonwealth, subjects ought to put themselves upon apparent dangers. Some thinke, that David bade them fetch this water to try their Glos: Ord.valour, but his astonishment, when he saw, that they had done it, plainly manifesteth the contrary. Kimhi ascribeth this fact to the next three, but this is against the order of the history, yet Hugo will have these three to be Abishai, Hugo Card.Sobbecai and Jonathan, following the vulgar Latine, Nec non ante descenderant tres, qui erant de 30. and following Jerom hee saith, that Davids being in the Cave of Odullam in Sauls time is not meant here, but after his sinne with Bethshebah, and that the water being brought, which hee so greatly desired, hee being thirsty yet would not drinke it, to teach his souldiers fortitude and constancy. Lyra contrariwise saith, that it cannot bee understood of any but of Lyra.the first three, because it is concluded, these were the three most valiant, and hee saith, that David by sacrificing this water shewed, that who so indanger themselves by fighting against infidells, doe offer unto God a most acceptable sacrifice. Junius illustrateth the fact of these three the more by saying, that the Iunius.Garrison of the Philistims kept the way to this well. Hugo in affirming these three to bee the second followeth Jerom in Tradit. Hebr. So likewise doth Dionysius and Tostatus, but enough hath been said by Lyra already to confute this.
Abishai the brother of Joab was also chiefe among three. Thus it is said also, 1 Chron. 11. but here are two worthies onelyonly named, hee and Benajah, how then shall V. 18.this number of three be made up? Pellican thinketh, that hee is said to bee the Pellican.chiefe of the three with relation to two more mentioned, Chap. 21. who also slew two Giants, thus also Lyra and Hugo annumerating to him Sobbecai and Sallianus.Jonathan; but so there will not bee three but foure. Wherefore Sobbecai or Sibbecai, as I said before, may most probably bee understood and not Jonathan, as some would have him, for hee is named afterwards, Vers. 32. unlesse that bee another Jonathan, because hee is called the sonne of Jashen, and not of Shammah, Davids brother, as Ch. 21. 21.
And Benajah the sonne of Jehojada, the sonne of a valiant man of Kabzeel: Of Jehojada V. 20.mention is made 1 Chron. 12. 27. that hee was Captaine of 3700. Aaronites, which came to David to helpe him, and of this Jehojada Benajah seemeth to bee the sonne, and so Josephus accordingly calleth him a Priest, as all the Aaronites were: Cabzeel, of which hee was, was of the tribe of Judah, for which Josephus.cause Theodoret will have him of that tribe and son to Davids brother. Touching Theodoret.Benajah it is said, first, that he slew two Lionlike men of Moab, Hebr. two lions, but it is generally held, that they were men for their valour called Lions. 2. Hee slew a Lion in the time of Snow in a pit, the Lion, saith Josephus, being deceived by the Snow that covered the pit fell into it, and roaring there so, as that the people neare were scared, hee went valiantly thither and slew the Lion. This by some is called in question, whether it were true Tostatus.valour or temerity, because although to slay a Lion, when a man is inforced to fight with him, be valour, as in Samson and David, yet when there is no necessitie to do it, it is rashnesse, and by the Roman Lawes such as fought with beasts causelesly onelyonly for ostentation of their strength, were censured as infamous, and this they say was the case of Benaiah. But the commemoration of this in sacred writ to his praise doth sufficiently cleare him from all such calumnies, hee did it to deliver the country from that feare, in which they were, as David o deliver his Lambe from the Lion caught him by the beard and slew him. 3. He slew an Egyptian, a goodly man, having a speare in his hand, V. 21.1 Chron. 11. 23. hee is said to have beene of great stature, and his speare like a Weavers beame, but Benaiah had onelyonly a staffe in his hand, and therefore plucking through his great valour his speare out of his hand hee slew him with his owne speare. This and the former fact of his are by the Hebrews expounded of Joab, who they say, was meant by the Lion, and Shimei meant by this Egyptian, for Benaiah slew them both: but neither the time nor circumstances doe agree, wherefore it is onelyonly mentioned by expositors and rejected as a putid comment, and because Jerom hath it de tradit. Hebr. it is questioned, whether that booke were his or no. And for these his valiant gests David set him over his guard, that is, as hath been said before, over the Cheretbites and Pelethites. Hebr. it is foreign rendred in the vulg. Latine, auricularium à secreto, his Privy Counsellour, Martyr, ad auditum suum, that is, saith hee, over his Privy Counsell, but hee approveth rather of the other exposition, over his guard, who are set forth by his audience, because they were alwayes at hand to heare his commands to execute them.
Next followeth Asahel, who was before commended from his swiftnesse of V. 24.foot, hee was slaine being but a young man by Abner, then Elhanan the sonne of Dodo, Chap. 21. 19. the sonne of Jare Oregim, of which names see there; it is probable, that he is not set after Asahel, of whom no such famous exploit is commemorated, but onelyonly for honours sake to Asahel, who was neare a kin to David.
The third Semmah, 1 Chron. 11. Sammoth: the fourth Elika, omitted 1 Chron. V. 25.11, &c.
Mystically by Davids longing after water out of the well of Bethlehem may The Mystery. Glos. Ordin.bee understood his longing for the Messiah that should bee borne there, who was made a sacrifice for our sinnes, and by his blood, as by water poured out cleanseth us from them, so many as beleeve in his name: thus the Ordin. Glosse applying also morally his refusing to drinke of this water to his penitency for his unlawfull desiring of the wife of Ʋriab, for according to the Glosse following Josephus, hee is understood to have beene in Jerusalem at that time in the fort of Zion, after his sinne committed with Bathshebah, but this agreeth not with the Scripture, wherein he is said to have been then in the Cave of Odullam.