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2 Samuel 23:39
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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all - To these the author of Ch1 11:41 adds Zabad son of Ahlai. Ch1 11:42 - Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him. Ch1 11:43 - Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Ch1 11:44 - Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, Ch1 11:45 - Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Ch1 11:46 - Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Ch1 11:47 - Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite. The 4th and 5th verses are very obscure; L. De Dieu gives them a good meaning, if not the true one: - "The perpetuity of his kingdom David amplifies by a comparison to three natural things, which are very grateful to men, but not constant and stable. For the sun arises and goes down again; the morning may be clear, but clouds afterwards arise; and the tender grass springs up, but afterwards withers. Not so, said he, is my kingdom before God; it is flourishing like all these, but perpetual, for he has made an everlasting covenant with me, though some afflictions have befallen me; and he has not made all my salvation and desire to grow." De Dieu repeats כ ke, the note of similitude, thrice; and the following is his version: - "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake unto me, (or concerning me): The just man ruleth among men; he ruleth in the fear of God. And, as the sun ariseth with a shining light; as the morning is without clouds by reason of its splendor; as, from rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth; truly so is not my house with God: because he hath made an everlasting covenant with me; disposed in all things, and well kept and preserved in that order. Although he doth not make all my deliverance and desire to grow, i.e., though some adversities happen to me and my family; yet, that always remains, which, in the covenant of God made with me, is in all things orderly, disposed, and preserved." See Bishop Patrick on the place. Once more I must beg the reader to refer to the First Dissertation of Dr. Kennicott, on the present state of the printed Hebrew text; in which there is not only great light cast on this subject, several corruptions in the Hebrew text being demonstrated, but also many valuable criticisms on different texts in the sacred writings. There are two Dissertations, 2 vols. 8 vo.; and both very valuable.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
23:39 The very last name mentioned is Uriah the Hittite. There is an earlier reference to his father-in-law, Eliam, father of Bathsheba (23:34; see 11:3). By contrast, the Chronicler, who never mentioned David’s sins against Bathsheba and Uriah, placed Uriah’s name inconspicuously in the middle of the list of David’s mighty men (1 Chr 11:10-47). This author not only described the sins (2 Sam 11:1-27) but puts emphasis on Uriah’s name by placing it at the end of this list. Uriah was no ordinary conscript but a loyal member of David’s elite guard, which makes David’s treachery against him all the worse. • There were thirty-seven in all: Only thirty-six names are mentioned, assuming that “Shammah . . . from Harar” (23:11) is different from “Shammah from Harod” (23:25), and that “Benaiah son of Jehoiada” (23:20) is different from “Benaiah from Pirathon” (23:30). Perhaps the thirty-seventh warrior was Joab, who is mentioned only peripherally (23:18, 37) and is absent from the list of names. Many commentators say that he is excluded because he was David’s chief military leader and did not need to be included. The omission could also represent David’s long and troubled association with Joab, who was eventually executed when Solomon carried out David’s deathbed command (1 Kgs 2:5-6, 28-34).
2 Samuel 23:39
David’s Mighty Men
38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all - To these the author of Ch1 11:41 adds Zabad son of Ahlai. Ch1 11:42 - Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him. Ch1 11:43 - Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Ch1 11:44 - Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, Ch1 11:45 - Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Ch1 11:46 - Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Ch1 11:47 - Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite. The 4th and 5th verses are very obscure; L. De Dieu gives them a good meaning, if not the true one: - "The perpetuity of his kingdom David amplifies by a comparison to three natural things, which are very grateful to men, but not constant and stable. For the sun arises and goes down again; the morning may be clear, but clouds afterwards arise; and the tender grass springs up, but afterwards withers. Not so, said he, is my kingdom before God; it is flourishing like all these, but perpetual, for he has made an everlasting covenant with me, though some afflictions have befallen me; and he has not made all my salvation and desire to grow." De Dieu repeats כ ke, the note of similitude, thrice; and the following is his version: - "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake unto me, (or concerning me): The just man ruleth among men; he ruleth in the fear of God. And, as the sun ariseth with a shining light; as the morning is without clouds by reason of its splendor; as, from rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth; truly so is not my house with God: because he hath made an everlasting covenant with me; disposed in all things, and well kept and preserved in that order. Although he doth not make all my deliverance and desire to grow, i.e., though some adversities happen to me and my family; yet, that always remains, which, in the covenant of God made with me, is in all things orderly, disposed, and preserved." See Bishop Patrick on the place. Once more I must beg the reader to refer to the First Dissertation of Dr. Kennicott, on the present state of the printed Hebrew text; in which there is not only great light cast on this subject, several corruptions in the Hebrew text being demonstrated, but also many valuable criticisms on different texts in the sacred writings. There are two Dissertations, 2 vols. 8 vo.; and both very valuable.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
23:39 The very last name mentioned is Uriah the Hittite. There is an earlier reference to his father-in-law, Eliam, father of Bathsheba (23:34; see 11:3). By contrast, the Chronicler, who never mentioned David’s sins against Bathsheba and Uriah, placed Uriah’s name inconspicuously in the middle of the list of David’s mighty men (1 Chr 11:10-47). This author not only described the sins (2 Sam 11:1-27) but puts emphasis on Uriah’s name by placing it at the end of this list. Uriah was no ordinary conscript but a loyal member of David’s elite guard, which makes David’s treachery against him all the worse. • There were thirty-seven in all: Only thirty-six names are mentioned, assuming that “Shammah . . . from Harar” (23:11) is different from “Shammah from Harod” (23:25), and that “Benaiah son of Jehoiada” (23:20) is different from “Benaiah from Pirathon” (23:30). Perhaps the thirty-seventh warrior was Joab, who is mentioned only peripherally (23:18, 37) and is absent from the list of names. Many commentators say that he is excluded because he was David’s chief military leader and did not need to be included. The omission could also represent David’s long and troubled association with Joab, who was eventually executed when Solomon carried out David’s deathbed command (1 Kgs 2:5-6, 28-34).