The
Book of 2 Samuel 2 chapters 20-24
2 Samuel 20
2Sa 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. Sheba was a trouble maker (a Benjamite), from the tribe of Saul. He tries to rally the people against David.
2Sa 20:2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. The men of Israel followed Sheba back home, but the men of Judah stayed with David.
2Sa 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. These are the women Abasalom slept with while David was on the run. Now they will be secluded forever.
2Sa 20:4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. Mobilize the army and hurry about it David commands.
2Sa 20:5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. This took a little longer than expected.
2Sa 20:6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. David tells Abishai to take the army and head off Sheba and his men before they reach home.
2Sa 20:7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. These would be the elite troops (personal guards of David). Like our special forces today.
2Sa 20:8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. (Slipped the dagger from its sheath).
2Sa 20:9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. "A kiss of death."
2Sa 20:10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. Joab kills Amasa (probably for taking his job).
2Sa 20:11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. "Lets follow Joab."
2Sa 20:12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. The men got a little edgy seeing their commander laying dead in the street.
2Sa 20:13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. One of Joab's men pulled the body to the side, covered him up, and the march continued.
2Sa 20:14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. Meanwhile Sheba came upon the Bicrites (members of his own clan), who followed him into the town of Abel-beth.
2Sa 20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. Joab's forces finally arrive and begin to attack the town.
2Sa 20:16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. Here we come across a wise women that will do the negotiating with Joab. (Able was know for wise people). "We call then wise-guys."
2Sa 20:17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Listen to me Joab.
2Sa 20:18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. There was an old wise saying, "if you want to settle a argument, ask advice at the town of Abel."
2Sa 20:19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? She asked Joab why he wants to destroy the city that belongs to the Lord? Good question?
2Sa 20:20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. No so, Joab replies.
2Sa 20:21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. That's not my purpose to destroy the city, all I want is a man named Sheba, who revolted against king David. Hmmm, the women thinks, its only one man. She agrees to deliver the mans head.
2Sa 20:22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king. No problem for this woman to tell the people, "cut the guys head off and throw it over the wall." (That's why terrorist use women and children to do their dirty work). All is well with Joab now and he returns home with his troops.
2Sa 20:23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: Joab is back in the seat again as leader of the kings army. Benaiah was captain of the kings body guard.
2Sa 20:24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: Adoniram became the labor force leader, and Jehosaphat was the royal historian.
2Sa 20:25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: Sheva was the court secretary, and Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
2Sa 20:26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. Ira was David's personal priest. All seems well now, but what will happen in the near future of David's reign.
2 Samuel 21
2Sa 21:1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites made a peace treaty with Israel so they would not attack them, but Saul broke that promise, and now the famine has caught up with them as the result.
2Sa 21:2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Saul tried to wipe them all out.
2Sa 21:3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? David wants to make things right with the Gibeonites.
2Sa 21:4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. It appears they don't want money to make thing right.
2Sa 21:5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
2Sa 21:6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. Since it was Saul's doing, the Gibeonites want seven of Saul's sons handed over to them. "The king agrees."
2Sa 21:7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. However, David spares Jonathan (Saul's grandson), because he had sworn an oath with Jonathan before the Lord. (1 Samuel 18:3).
2Sa 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
2Sa 21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. The seven were executed by the men of Gibeon.
2Sa 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
2Sa 21:11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
2Sa 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
2Sa 21:13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
2Sa 21:14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land. The sacrifice was made, the people of Gibeon were satisfied and the Lord stopped the famine.
2Sa 21:15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. David becoming old, weak, and exhausted is still fighting against the Philistines.
2Sa 21:16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. Oh No! David is at war with the Philistines and he gets cornered by Ishbibenob (descendant of the giants and son of Goliath). This giant guy wanted revenge for David killing his father. "Remember, the bigger they are, the harder they fall." This guy was just about to kill David!
2Sa 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. Abishai (son of Zeruiah), shows up just in time and kills the Philistine. David's men decide maybe David should not go into battle any longer. He's getting up their in age and his strength and reflexes are not what they used to be.
2Sa 21:18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. Another battle, another victory. Sibbecai killed Saph, another descendant of the giants.
2Sa 21:19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. During another battle at Gob, Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. "The big guys are going down!"
2Sa 21:20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. Here comes a giant freek!
2Sa 21:21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. He tries to taunt Israel, but Jonathan (son of David's brother), shuts him up and kills him.
2Sa 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. David and his warriors eliminated the "land of the giants."
2 Samuel 22
2Sa 22:1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: Grateful that the Lord rescued him form the enemies of Saul. Keep in mind that this Psalm was probably written at the beginning of David's reign, after the death of Saul and does not chronologically follow the previous chapter. The Psalm is very close to Psalm 18.
2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The lord is our rock of salvation.
2Sa 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. The Lord is our shield when we put on the Gospel armor.
2Sa 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Call on the Lord when in times of trouble.
2Sa 22:5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; Fear came over me.
2Sa 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; Death was right at the door.
2Sa 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. In my distress, I called to the Lord, and He heard me.
2Sa 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. When God gets angry He shakes the earth. It happened before and it will happen again.
2Sa 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. Our God is a consuming fire!
2Sa 22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. He opens the heavens and comes down beneath the storm clouds.
2Sa 22:11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. Those vehicles of heavens armies.
2Sa 22:12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. Stealth approach as He arrives in dense rain clouds.
2Sa 22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. Again, our Lord is a consuming fire.
2Sa 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. Mighty thunder from the heavens above.
2Sa 22:15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. Takes out the enemy as they are confused by flashes of lightening.
2Sa 22:16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. The blast of His breath creates a might storm.
2Sa 22:17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; Away from the people trying to kill David.
2Sa 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. Rescued from the most powerful enemies.
2Sa 22:19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. Attacked him when he was distressed, but the Lord stood by Him.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. Kept him in a place of safety at all times.
2Sa 22:21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. God always rewards the righteous.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. David always tried his best to keep the ways of the Lord.
2Sa 22:23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. Always trying to keep the Lord commandments and decrees.
2Sa 22:24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. The Lord has seen my innocence.
2Sa 22:25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. Keep in mind that David wrote this before his affair with Bathsheba, and the murder of Uriah the Hittite.
2Sa 22:26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. God loves the faithful and those with integrity.
2Sa 22:27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. To the pure at heart, God shows Himself pure, but to the wicked heart, He will show Himself as hostile. (You reap what you sow). That's why Christ would tell us to treat others like we want to be treated.
2Sa 22:28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. God loves those who humble themselves, and He will humiliate the proud. (Watch out for those who have their head in the clouds). "All puffed up and think they are so great." (James 4:6-7).
2Sa 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. The Lord is out light, and the light of the world.
2Sa 22:30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. No problem to big when God is on your side. (Psalm 18:29, Philippians 4:13).
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. Only God's way is perfect and pure! (Psalm 12:6, 18:30). He is the shield for all who look to Him for protection. (Psalm 30:5).
2Sa 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is that solid Rock that we rely on.
2Sa 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. All strength comes from God to make your way more perfect. (2 Corinthians 12:9).
2Sa 22:34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. Make you sure in all your ways when you consult Him first. (Habakkuk 3:19).
2Sa 22:35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Teaches me how to fight when necessary. (Psalm 18:33-34). Quit listening to wimps who say it is not Christian to war or defend yourself. (Psalm 144:1).
2Sa 22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. That shield of faith to save us from the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16).
2Sa 22:37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. We can walk safely among all the high places we fear and keep from slipping. (No need to fear anything or anyone when Christ is on your side).
2Sa 22:38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. Don't worry about your enemies or those who try to discredit you. God will take care of them! (Psalm 21:8-9).
2Sa 22:39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. Again, remember that God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and the proud and wicked will be ashes under His feet. (Malachi 4:1).
2Sa 22:40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. Gird yourself up against the enemy and the Lord will subdue them.
2Sa 22:41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. God will deliver the enemy right under your feet and cut the them off right at the neck.
2Sa 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. They cry for help but no one will come to their rescue, not even the Lord. (Micah 3:4). Many will cry to the Lord in the end times (false teachers and hypocrites), but He will blow them off. (Matthew 7:22).
2Sa 22:43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
2Sa 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. David is saying that God gave him the victory over people who didn't even know him, but now they serve him.
2Sa 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers: Foreign nations.
2Sa 22:46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. They lose their courage before the Lord.
2Sa 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. Yes... "The Lord Lives." He is our Rock of salvation, "the living God of truth." (Psalm 89:26).
2Sa 22:48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, Don't mess with God's children! (Psalm 18:48).
2Sa 22:49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Listen to God and He will keep you from the reach of your enemies. (Be wiser than the serpent).
2Sa 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. Always thank the Heavenly Father for all He has done in your life and the protection He has given you through your days. (Psalm 18:49).
2Sa 22:51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. The Lord has given great victories to David and has shown mercy to His anointed and to his descendants forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, Psalm 18:50). Their will be another King to take David's place in the near future. The throne of His Kingdom shall have no end. The Kingdoms of our Lord, "Jesus Christ." (Luke 1:31-33, Revelation 11:15).
2 Samuel 23
2Sa 23:1 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, The last words of David and message to us about what is important to please God by the psalmist of Israel.
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. Word from the Lord.
2Sa 23:3 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. The God and Rock of Israel spoke to David.
2Sa 23:4 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. God is like the morning sunrise and light to the world.
2Sa 23:5 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. David realizes that God did not chose his family, but David alone to whom the covenant was made.
2Sa 23:6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: The thorns will be taken care of.
2Sa 23:7 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. Again, God is a consuming fire who can totally destroy, or can warm the hearts of the righteous. (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2:8).
2Sa 23:8 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. Names of the mightiest warriors of David. (Men who did amazing things).
2Sa 23:9 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: Men who stood with David when others fled.
2Sa 23:10 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. Hung to the end of the battle.
2Sa 23:11 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.
2Sa 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. Shammah held his ground in the middle of a field and drove back the Philistines, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
2Sa 23:13 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.
2Sa 23:14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
2Sa 23:15 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!
2Sa 23:16 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.
2Sa 23:17 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. Great example of faithfulness and how we should serve others.
2Sa 23:18 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. One of the most famous men was Abishai, who killed 300 of the enemy with his sword.
2Sa 23:19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
2Sa 23:20 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: Here we have a guy named Benaiah who not only killed two champions of Moab, but another time he chased down a lion and killed it.
2Sa 23:21 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.
2Sa 23:22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
2Sa 23:23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
2Sa 23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Here we are listing other members of the thirty below.
2Sa 23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
2Sa 23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
2Sa 23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
2Sa 23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
2Sa 23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
2Sa 23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
2Sa 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
2Sa 23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
2Sa 23:33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
2Sa 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
2Sa 23:35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
2Sa 23:36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
2Sa 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
2Sa 23:38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
2Sa 23:39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. Thirty seven men in all.
2 Samuel 24
2Sa 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. Once again, God was angry with Israel. This verse, when read without reference to any other part of the word of God, is very difficult to understand, and has been used by those who desire to undermine the justice of God, to shew that he sought occasion to punish - that he incited David to sin; and when he had so incited him, gave to him the dreadful alternative of choosing one of three scourges by which his people were to be cut off. On the face of the passage these thoughts naturally arise, because "the Lord" is the antecedent to the pronoun "he," - He moved David. But to those who "search the Scriptures," this exceedingly difficult passage receives a wonderful elucidation. By referring to (1 Chronicles 21:1), the reader will there find that Satan was the mover, and that the Lord most righteously punished David for the display of pride he had manifested. Oh! that Christians, who sometimes have their minds harassed with doubts, would remember the promise, that what they know not now they shall know hereafter; and if no other instance of elucidation than this passage occurred to them to remove their doubts, let this be a means of stirring them up to dig deeper than ever into the inexhaustible mines of the Inspired Word. (James 1:13-14). It appears David is now building a huge army out of pride, and God does not like it. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7), written by David himself.
2Sa 24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. The census will be taken and would appear that pride, ambition, and a desire of conquest, induced David to this measure, making it displeasing to God. (Proverbs 29:23).
2Sa 24:3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? Joab can't figure out why David wants to count the people.
2Sa 24:4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. David insists, so Joab and the commanders count the people.
2Sa 24:5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
2Sa 24:6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
2Sa 24:7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
2Sa 24:8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
2Sa 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. The census was over and they returned home to report.
2Sa 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. Now David's conscience bothered him for what he had done and he fesses up to the Lord for the foolish thing he has done.
2Sa 24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
2Sa 24:12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. David's not in the clear yet. He needs to pay for what he had done, and will be given three choices for punishment.
2Sa 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. Hmmm, three years of famine, three months of fleeing from the enemy, or three days of plague. What would you choose?
2Sa 24:14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. David didn't want to deal with the enemy again (mans mercy), so he leaves it in the hands of the Lord.
2Sa 24:15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. The Lord sent the three day plague and 70,000 people died throughout the nation.
2Sa 24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. But, the angel of the Lord was about to destroy Jerusalem, and the Lord said STOP! Enough!
2Sa 24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. David pleads with the Lord and takes all the blame himself. (Mark of a great leader to take responsibility for your own actions).
2Sa 24:18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2Sa 24:19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. What did David see when the angel of the Lord appeared? And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having drawn a sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. (1 Chronicles 21:16).
2Sa 24:20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
2Sa 24:21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. I need to build an altar to the Lord so the plague will stop. (The plague may have gone beyond three days), David wants it to stop.
2Sa 24:22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. Araunah supplies David with everything to build the altar and for the sacrifice.
2Sa 24:23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
2Sa 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David insists on paying his own way.
2Sa 24:25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. David builds the altar, makes his sacrifice to the Lord, and the plague on Israel was stopped. (1 Chronicles 21:26-27).
Keep The Faith,Barton