2 Samuel 23 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 23 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Second Samuel 23 is part of the chiastic structure—a mirrored arrangement of themes—found in 2 Samuel 21—24. In the outermost levels, both Saul and David sinned against God, and their people paid the price (2 Samuel 21:1–14; 24). In the second and fourth levels, God protected the king and Israel by equipping men to be mighty warriors (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 23:8–39). In the center, God did so because He had chosen to bless David and his descendants (2 Samuel 22:1—23:7).

The chapter begins with David's last psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7). He introduces his words by insisting the Holy Spirit has given him an oracle; this message is from God. The psalm then transitions into its own reflection pattern:

A. 3b–4: The righteous king
B 5: God's covenant
A' 6–7: The worthless men

The psalm begins with David asserting that he is a good king who blesses the nation because he rules in the fear of God. The center of the chiasm, the most important message, is the Davidic Covenant: God has chosen to give David and his descendants an everlasting covenant. David ends by warning about the dangers of evil men. Sadly, that warning went largely unheard; his own son and heir dove into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1–8).

The next section is a description of David's greatest warriors and commanders.

Josheb-basshebeth, also called Jashobeam, is the greatest of "the three." He killed hundreds of men at one time and led the division that served the first month of the year (2 Samuel 23:8; 1 Chronicles 11:11; 27:2–3). Eleazar, whose division served during the second month, is next. Abandoned by his troops, God empowered him to save Israel and a field of barley (2 Samuel 23:9–10; 1 Chronicles 11:12–13). Shammah may have been a Gentile. God used him to defend a plot of lentils (2 Samuel 22:11–12).

The writer then tells of the depth of loyalty David's men felt for him. This went beyond his role as king, extending to David as a man and leader. David and his men were in the stronghold in the cave of Adullam when he mentioned he'd like a drink of water from Bethlehem. Three of his men broke through a Philistine camp and returned with David's water. But David couldn't drink it. The men had risked their lives: it was as precious as their blood. And to enjoy a taste of victory before the battle would be arrogant. Instead, David poured it out in worship to God (2 Samuel 5:22–25; 23:13–17; 1 Chronicles 11:15–19).

Abishai and Benaiah are next. Abishai is David's nephew and Joab's brother. He regularly commanded Joab's secondary force, and his division killed 18,000 Edomites (1 Chronicles 18:12). Besides killing 300 men throughout his career, he also defended David against a giant Philistine (2 Samuel 21:15–17). Benaiah is less well-known, but his loyalty is unmatched. He not only killed a lion and a giant Egyptian, but he remained faithful to David and Solomon when David's son Adonijah tried to take the throne (1 Kings 1:38–40). Under Solomon's command, he had Adonijah killed and executed Joab, himself (2 Samuel 23:18–23; 1 Kings 2:25, 34; 1 Chronicles 11:20–25).

The chapter ends with a long list of members of a special class of David's warriors. These are described using a Hebrew term literally meaning "thirty." In practice, the term can include more or fewer people. Most of the men were from the tribe of Judah. Starting the list is Joab and Abishai's brother Asahel, who was reluctantly killed by Saul's general Abner (2 Samuel 2:18–23). At the end is Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. The Chronicles list contains several more names (2 Samuel 23:20–37; 1 Chronicles 11:26–47).

Distinctly missing from the chapter is Joab. Joab was David's long-time military commander who, it seems, rarely lost a battle. He was one of the few people who could confront David when he felt David was making unwise choices (2 Samuel 14:18–20, 33; 18:5, 14; 19:1–7). Unlike Beneniah, however, Joab supported Adonijah's bid to be king (1 Kings 1:5–7). The choice was logical: David's first and third oldest, Amnon and Absalom, were dead (2 Samuel 13:28–29; 18:14–15). His second-oldest, Abigail's son, is missing from history. Adonijah was the fourth (2 Samuel 3:2–4). But God had chosen Solomon, and David agreed (1 Chronicles 28:5–6). It's possible the authors of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles removed Joab from the list of David's mighty men because of this betrayal.

Second Samuel 23:1–7 is in the center of the 2 Samuel 21—24 chiasm: a mirrored grouping of themes. As the center, it gives the essential message: David's success is because of God's protection and blessing. After the introduction that asserts David is a Spirit-led prophet (2 Samuel 23:1–3a), the psalm is also a chiasm: A. 2 Samuel 23:3b–4: Good kings bring blessing. B. 2 Samuel 23:5: God is the source of all blessing. A'. 2 Samuel 23:6–7: Worthless men should be destroyed.

Second Samuel 23:8 (1 Chronicles 11:11) begins the roll call of the warriors God used to protect David (2 Samuel 22:18). Josheb-basshebeth, or Jashobeam, is not mentioned outside military lists. He's David's greatest warrior: the greatest of the three and the chief of all David's commanders. Joab is not mentioned. Josheb-basshebeth was a descendant of Judah's son Perez. His division of 24,000 men, or 24 units, served in the first month of the year (1 Chronicles 27:2–3). First Chronicles says he killed 300 men; numerical differences are common between the Samuels and Kings and the Chronicles.

Second Samuel 23:9–10 (1 Chronicles 11:12–14) says Eleazar was David's second greatest warrior. He was from Bethlehem and his father's division, served during the second month of the year (1 Chronicles 27:4). His famed battle may have been in defense of a crop of barley. Elhanan, one of "the thirty," may have been his brother (2 Samuel 23:24). He is not Aaron's son (Exodus 6:23).

Second Samuel 23:11–12 indicates that Shammah was David's third most powerful warrior. "Hararite" may be a Gentile designation. He was not David's brother, the Shammahs listed among "the thirty," or Reuel's son (1 Samuel 17:13; 2 Samuel 25:17, 33; 1 Chronicles 1:32). He isn't mentioned in 1 Chronicles 11.

Second Samuel 23:13–17 (1 Chronicles 11:15–19) interrupts the rollcall of David's mighty men with a story. David and his men were trapped in their stronghold in a cave in Adullam (1 Samuel 22) with a band of Philistines between them and Bethlehem (2 Samuel 5:22–25). David mentioned he wanted water from his hometown. Three unnamed warriors snuck through the Philistines and brought him that water. David poured it out as an offering to God. He considered it a symbol of the blood of the men who risked their lives and too holy to drink.

Second Samuel 23:18–19 (1 Chronicles 11:20–21) moves on from David's three greatest warriors to two of his greatest commanders. Joab isn't mentioned, but his brother Abishai, David's nephew, is. Abishai was chief of "the thirty," a band of warriors that numbered about thirty at any given time. The 300 men probably reflect his lifetime kill number, although his division once slaughtered 18,000 Edomites (1 Chronicles 18:12). He also defended David against a giant Philistine (2 Samuel 21:15–17) and earned the respect of "the three." It seems he led the primarily Jewish guard while Benaiah led the Gentiles (2 Samuel 8:18).

Second Samuel 23:20–23 (1 Chronicles 11:22–25) introduces Benaiah, one of David's greatest commanders. Benaiah led several military units throughout his career: the division that served during the third month, the band of warriors called "the thirty," David's personal Philistine guard, and Solomon's army (2 Samuel 8:18; 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Chronicles 27:5–6). Personally, he killed two Moabite heroes, a giant Egyptian, and a lion. He remained so loyal to David and Solomon that he followed Solomon's orders and executed Joab (1 Kings 2:28–35).

Second Samuel 23:24–39 (1 Chronicles 11:26–47) lists several of the men who were at one time members of David's military unit called "the thirty." First Chronicles mentions more; the book was written much later when rolls may have been more complete. All but twelve of the men were from Judah. Three were from Benjamin, two from Ephraim, and two from Manasseh. Three were Gentiles. The first mentioned is Joab and Abishai's brother, Asahel. The last is Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. The list is part of the chiasm of 2 Samuel 21—24. Saul and David both sinned against God (2 Samuel 21:1–14; 24). Even so, God protected and blessed David and Israel (2 Samuel 22:1—23:7) in large part through David's mighty men (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 23:8–39).

Chapter Summary:

Second Samuel 23 has two distinct sections. David has already written a psalm honoring God for his deliverance and blessing (2 Samuel 22). Second Samuel 23:1–7 is a shorter psalm that identifies David as a prophet and compares good kings, God, and bad men. Second Samuel 23:8–39 lists many of the men God used to protect David, make him king, and keep Israel safe. The roll call is repeated, with some variations, in 1 Chronicles 11:10–47. The book of 1 and 2 Samuel ends with David's decision to count his troops; a sin that God punishes with a pestilence that kills 70,000 men (2 Samuel 24).

Chapter Context:

Second Samuel 23 gives David's last psalm and a roll call of his warriors. The psalm is part of the center of a reflection structure seen in 2 Samuel 21—24. The mirror of themes, called a "chiasm," emphasizes that God alone is responsible for David's success and safety. Second Samuel 21:15–22 and 23:8–39 list some of the warriors God used to protect David and Israel. Second Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 show that God's blessings are despite the kings' failures, not because they deserved God's favor. The book of 1 Kings begins the transfer of power from David to his son Solomon.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

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