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, d thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

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.

19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of

d Ch. 18. 3- 1 Kings 11. 36. & 15. 4. Ps. 132. 17.- Heb. candle, or, lamp. g1 Chron. 20. 4.--h 1 Chron. 11. 29.-i Or, Sippai-k Or, Rapha-1 Or, Jair.

There is no mention of this war in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xx. 4, &c.

David waxed faint] This circumstance is nowhere else mentioned.

Verse 16. Being girded with a new sword] As the word sword is not in the original, we may apply the term new to his armour in general: he had got new arms, a new coat of mail, or something that defended him well, and rendered him very formidable.

Verse 17. That thou quench not the light of Israel] David is here considered as the lamp by which all Israel was guided; and, without whom, all the nation must be involved in darkness. The lamp is the emblem of direction and support. Light is used in this sense by Homer:Ουδε τι Πατροκλῳ γενομην φαος, ουδ' ετάροισι Τοις άλλοις, οι δη πολεες δαμεν Έκτορι διῳ. Iliad, lib. xviii. ver. 102. "I have neither been a LIGHT to Patroclus, nor to his companions, who have easlain by the noble Hector." Verse 18. A battle his Gob] Instead of Gob, several editions, and about fried of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have Nob; but Gezer is the name in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xx. 4.

Verse 19. Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim-slew Goliath the Gittite] Here is a most manifest corruption of the text, or gross mistake of the transcriber; David, not Elhanan, slew Goliath. In 1 Chron. xx. 5. the parallel place, it stands thus-Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spearstaff was like a weaver's beam. This is plain; and our translators have borrowed some words from Chronicles to make both texts agree. The corruption may be easily accounted for, by considering that N oregim, which signifies weavers, has slipt out of one line into the other; and that Beth ha lechmi, the Beth-lehemite, is corrupted from eth lachmi; then the reading will be the same as in Chronicles. Dr. Kennicott has made this appear very plain in his first Dissertation on the Hebrew Text, pag. 78. &c.

Verse 20. On every hand six fingers] This is not a solitary instance: Tavernier informs us, that the eldest son of the emperor of Java (who reigned in 1648) had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot. And Maupertuis, in his seventeenth letter, says, that he met with two families near Berlin, where sexdigitism was equally transmitted on both sides of father and mother. I saw once a young girl in the county of Londonderry, in Ireland, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot; but her stature had nothing gigantic in it. The daughters of Caius Horatius, of patrician dignity, were called sedigita, because they had six fingers on each hand. Volcatius, a poet, was called sedigitus, for the same reason. See Pliny's Hist. Nat. lib. xi. cap. 43.

THERE are evidently many places in this chapter in which the text has suffered much from the ignorance or carelessness of transcribers; and, indeed, I suspect the whole has suffered so materially as to distort, if not misrepresent, the principal facts. It seems as if a Gibeonite has had someting to do with the copies that are come down to us; or that the fourteen first verses have been inserted from a less authentic document than the rest of the book. I shall notice some of the most unaccountable, and apparently exceptionable, particulars:

1. The famine, ver. 1. is not spoken of any where else; nor at all referred to in the books of Kings or Chronicles; and, being of three years' duration, it was too remarkable to be omitted in the history of David.

2. The circumstance of Saul's attempt to exterminate the Gibeonites, is nowhere else mentioned; and, had it taken place, it is not likely that it would have been passed over in the history of Saul's transgressions. Indeed, it

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. 21 And when he P defied Israel, Jonathan the Shimeah, the brother of David, slew

son of

him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Or, reproached. 1 Sam.

in See 1 Chron. 20.5 ---n 1 Chron. 20. 6.-0 Or, Rapha-Chron. 20. 6. 17. 10, 25, 26-q 1 Sam. 16. 9, Shammah-r

would have been such a breach of the good faith by which the whole nation was bound to this people, that an attempt of the kind could scarely have failed to raise an insurrection through all Israel.

3. The wish of David, that the Gibeonites, little better than a heathenish people, should bless the inheritance of the Lord, is unconstitutional and unlikely.

4. That God should leave the choice of the atonement to such a people, or indeed to any people, seems contrary to his established laws, and particular providence.

5. That he should require seven innocent men to be hung up in place of their offending father, in whose iniquity they most likely never had a share, seems inconsistent with his justice and mercy.

6. In ver. 8. there is mention made of five sons of Michal, which she bore (¬¬ yaledah) unto Adriel. Now, 1. Michal was never the wife of Adriel, but of David and Phaltiel. 2. She never appears to have had any children, see 2 Sam. vi. 23; this I have been obliged to correct in the text, by putting Merab in the place of Michal. 7. The seven sons of Saul, mentioned here, are represented as a sacrifice required by God, to make an atonement for the sin of Saul. Does God, in any case, require human blood for sacrifice? And is it not such a sacrifice that is represented here? Dr. Delaney, and others, imagine that these seven sons were principal agents in the execution of their father's purpose; but of this there is no proof. Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, certainly had no hand in this projected massacre; he was ever lame, and could not be so employed; and yet he would have been one of the seven, had it not been for the covenant made before with his father: But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan-because of the Lord's oath that was between them, ver. 7.

8. The circumstance of Rizpah's watching the bodies of those victims, upon a rock, and probably in the open air, both day and night, from March to October, or even for a much less period, is, as it is here related, very extraordinary and improbable.

9. The hanging the bodies so long was against an express law of God, which ordained, that those who were hanged on a tree should be taken down before sunset, and buried the same day, lest the land should be defiled, Deut. xxi. 22, 23. Therefore-1. God did not command a breach of his own law. 2. David was too exact an observer of that law to require it. 3. The people could not have endured it; for, in that sultry season, the land would indeed have been defiled by the putrefaction of the dead bodies: and this would, in all likelihood, have added pestilence to famine.

10. The story of collecting and burying the bones of Saul and Jonathan, is not very likely; considering that the men of Jabesh-gilead had burned their bodies, and buried the remaining bones under a tree at Jabesh, 1 Sam. xxxi. 12, 13. yet still it is possible.

11. Josephus takes as much of this story as he thinks proper; but says not one word about Rizpah, and her long watching over her slaughtered sons.

12. Even the facts in this chapter, which are mentioned in other places, see 1 Chron. xx. 4, &c. are greatly distorted and corrupted; for we have already seen that Elhanan is made here to kill Goliath the Gittite, whom it is well known David slew: and it is only by means of the parallel place above that we can restore this to historical truth.

That there have been attempts to remove some of these objections I know; and, I know also, that these attempts have been, in general, without success.

Till I get farther light on the subject, I am led to conclude that the whole chapter is not now what it would be coming from the pen of an inspired writer; and that this part of the Jewish records has suffered much from rahbinical glosses, alterations, and additions. The law, the

8 Exod. 15. 1. Judg. 5. 1.- Psa. 18, title & Psa. 34. 19-u Deut. 32. 4. Psa. 18. 2, &c. & 31. 3. & 71. I & 91. 2 & 144. 2-v Heb. 2. 13-w Gen. 15. 1.--x Luke 1. 69. y Prov. 18. 10-2 Pan. 9. 9. & 14. 6. & 59. 16. & 71. 7. Jer. 16. 19-a Or, pange. b Heb. Benal-c Ot, cords. -d Psa. 116. 3. Ps. 116. 4. & 120. 1. Jonah 22 f Exod. 3. 7. P. 31. 6, 15, 17.-g Judg. 5. 4. Psa. 77. 18. & 97. 4.- Job 26. 11. prophets, and the hagiographa, including Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, &c. have been ever considered as possessing the highest title to divine inspiration; and, therefore, have been most carefully preserved and transcribed: but the historical books, especially Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, have not ranked so high, have been less carefully preserved, and have been the subjects of frequent alteration and corruption. Yet still the great foundation of God standeth sure, and is sufficiently attested by his own broad seal of consistency, truth, and holiness.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXII.

Verse 1. David spake unto the Lord the words of this cong] This is the same in substance, and almost in words, with Psalm xviii.; and, therefore, the exposition of it must be reserved till it occurs in its course in this book, with the exception of a very few observations, and Dr. Kennicott's general view of the subject.

Verse 5. When the waves of death compassed me] Though, in a primary sense, many of these things belong to David; yet, generally, and fully, they belong to the Messiah alone.

Verse 11. He rode upon a cherub, and did fly;-he was seen upon the wings of the wind.] In the original of this sublime passage, sense and sound are astonishingly well connected: I shall insert the Hebrew, represent it in English letters for the sake of the unlearned reader, and have only to observe, he must read from the right to the left.

ruach canphey âl vaiyera; vaiyaoph keruv al vaiyirkav wind the of wings the pon seen was he and fly; did and cherub a upon rode le The clap of the wing, the agitation and rush through the air, are expressed here in a very extraordinary manner. Other beauties of this kind will be noted in the exposition of the Psalm referred to above.

I now subjoin Dr. Kennicott's remarks on this chapter: "The very sublime poetry contained in this chapter is universally admired; and yet it cannot be perfectly understood, (till it is known,) wнO is the speaker; who the person, thus triumphant over mighty enemies; whose sufferings occasioned such a dreadful convulsion of nature; and who, upon his deliverance, inflicted such vengeance on his own people, and also became thus a king over the heathen. Should we be told that this person was David, it will be very difficult to show how this description can possibly agree with that character: but, if it did in fact agree, yet would it contradict St. Paul, who quotes part of it, as predicting the conversion of the Gentiles, under Christ the Messiah, Rom. xv. 9. Heb. ii. 13; and see Peirce's Commentary, page 50. Now, if the person represented as speaking through this divine ode, be David only, the Messiah is excluded: and, if it be the Messiah only, then David is excluded. In consequence of the dif.ficulties resulting from each of these suppositions, the general idea has been that it relates both to David and to the Messiah, as a prophecy of a double sense: first, as spoken by David of himself; and yet to be understood, in a secondary sense, of the Messiah. But, it must be remarked

8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9 There went up a smoke i out of his nostrils,

and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and m darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; and he was seen "upon the wings of the wind. 12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, P dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him were 9 coals of fire kindled.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

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.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

W

i Heb. byk Paa. 97. 3. Hab. 3. 5. Heb. 12 29-1 Psa. 144. 5. Isai 64. 1-m Exod 20. 21. 1 Kings 8. 12. Pea 97. 2-n Psa. 104. 3-0 Ver. 10. P 97. 2-p Her binding of waters. Ver. 9.-r Judg. 5. 20. 1Sam 2 10 & 7. 10. Psa 29 3. Isai. 30. 30. Deut. 32. 23. Ps. 7. 13. & 77, 17, & 144. 6. Hab. 3. 11.- Exod. 15. & Pa 106. 9. Nah. 1. 4. Matt. 8. 26.-u Or, anger. P. 74. 1. P. 144. 7. Or, great

here, that, if spoken only of David, it is not a prediction of any thing future, but a thanksgiving for favours past; and, therefore, is no prophecy at all. And farther, it could not be a prophecy descriptive of David unless the particulars agreed to David; which the evidently do not. If, then, David be here necessarily uded from the single enti sense, he must be excluded a bit sacred writer, to rethe double sense; because nothing can be intended, by late to two persons, unless it be TRUE of both: but, it not being the case here as to David, we must conclude that this song relates only to the Messiah; and on this subject an excellent dissertation, by the late Mr. Peirce, is subjoined to his comment on the Epistle to the Hebrews. It may be necessary to add here two remarks; the 24th verse now ends with, I have kept myself from mine iniquity: which words, it is objected, are not proper, if applied to the Messiah. But this difficulty is removed, in part, by the context, which represents the speaker as perfectly innocent and righteous; and this exactly agrees with the proof arising from the Syriac and the Arabie versions, (and also the Chaldee paraphrase,) that this word was anciently yo ab iniquitatibus; consequently, this is one of the many instances where the final mem is improperly omitted by the Jewish transcribers. See my General Dis sertation, page 12. Lastly, the difficulty arising from the title, which ascribes the psalm to David, and which seems to make him the speaker in it, may be removed; either by supposing that the title here, (like those now prefixed to several psalms,) is of no sufficient authority; or rather, by considering this title as only meant to describe the time when David composed this prophetic hymn; that when delivered from all his other enemies, as well as from the hand of Saul, he then consecrated his leisure, by composing this sublime prophecy concerning MESSIAH, his Son; whom he represents here as speaking, (just as in Psa. xxii. xl. and other places,) and as describing-1. His triumph over death and hell-2. The manifestation of Omnipotence in his favour; earth and heaven trembling at God's awful presence-3. The speaker's innocence thus divinely attested-4. The vengeance he was to take on his own people, the Jews, in the destruction of Jerusalemand, 5. The adoption of the heathen, over whom he was to be the head and ruler.

"Another instance of a title, denoting only the time of a prophecy, occurs in the very next chapter; where a prophecy concerning the Messiah is entitled, The LAST words of David: i. e. a hymn which he composed a little before his death, after all his other prophecies. And, perhaps, this ode in chap. xxii. which immediately precedes that in chap. xxiii. was composed but a little while before: namely, when all his wars were orer. Let it be added, that Josephus, immediately before he speaks of David's mighty men, (which follow in this same chapter of Samuel,) considers the two hymns in chap. xxi. and xxiii. as both written after his wars were over-Jam Davides, bellis et periculis perfunctus, pacemque deinceps profundam agitans, odas in Deum hymnosque composuit, Tom. i. p. 401."

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted

in me.

a

21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

с

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

e

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eyesight.

26 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the "haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 For by thee I have Prun through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

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.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

33 God is my "strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

f

h

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou * subdued under me.

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 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. 44 P 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.

q

45 Strangers shall submit " themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock: and exalted be the God of the rock of my sal

vation.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded

x Ver. 1.--y Psa. 31. & 115 5-1 Ch. 15. 26. Psa. 22. 8-a Ver. 25. 1 Sam. 26 23 1 Kings 8. 32. Psa 7. 8-b Pea. 24. 4-c Gen. 18. 19. Ps. 119. 3. & 128. 1. Prov. 8. 32-d Dent. 7. 12 Pa. 119. 30, 102 →e Gen. 6. 9. & 17. 1. Job 1. 1- Heb. to him-g Ver. 21.-h Heb. before his eyes.—i Matt. 5. 7-k Lev. 26. 23, 24, 27, 23. 1 Or, wrestle, Pa. 18 26-m Exod. 3. 7, 8. Pra. 72. 12, 13-n Job 40. 11, 12. Isai 2 11, 12, 17. & 5. 15. Dan. 4. 37. Or, candle. Job 29. 3. Psa. 27. 1.-p Or, broken a troop.-q Dent. 32 4. Dan. 4. 37. Rev. 15. 3.-r Ps. 12 6. & 119. 140. Prov. 30. 5.- O, refined 1 Sam. 2. 2 Isai. 45. 5, 6-u Exod. 15 2. Psa. 27. 1. & 23. 7, 8. & 31. 4. Isai. 12 2-y Heb. riddeth, or, looseth.-w Heb. 13. 21-x Deut. 18. 13. Job 22. 3. Psa 101, 2, 6. & 119. 1-y Heb. equalleth-1 Ch. 2 18 Hab. 3. 19-a Dent. 32 13 Isa: 33. 16. & 55. 14-b Ps. 144. 1.- Heb. for the ward Heb. multiplied me.-e Prov. 4. 12-f Heb. ankles.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXIII.

Verse 1. These be the last words of David.] I suppose the last poetical composition is here intended. He might have spoken many words after these in prose, but none in verse. Other meanings are given; this I prefer.

The words of this song contain a glorious prediction of the Messiah's kingdom and conquests, in highly poetic language.

The sweet pealmist of Israel] This character not only belonged to him as the finest poet in Israel, but as the finest and most divine poet of the whole Christian world. The sweet psalmist of Israel has been the sweet psalmist of every part of the habitable world, where religion and piety have been held in reverence.

Verse 2. The Spirit of the LORD spake by me] Hence the matter of his writing came by direct and immediate inspiration.

His word was in my tongue.] Hence the words of this writing were as directly inspired as the matter.

Verse 3. The Rock of Israel] The Fountain whence Israel was derived.

He that ruleth orer men must be just] More literally,

5 Although my house be not so with God, mm yet

g Mal. 4. 3-h Psa. 19. 32, 39.-i Psa. 44. 5.-k Heb. caused to bow.-1 Gen. 49. 8. Exod. 23. 27. Josh. 10. 21-m Job 27. 9. Prov. 1. 23. Isai. 1. 15. Mic. 3. 4-n 2 Kinga 13. 7. Ps. 35. 5. Dan. 2. 25.-o Isai. 10. 6. Mic. 7. 10. Zech. 10. 5.-p Ch. 3. 1. & 5. I. & 19, 9, 14. & 20. 1, 2, 22-q Deut. 23. 13. Ch. 8. 1-14. Psa. 28-r Isai. 55. 5. Heb. Sins of the stranger.-t Or, yield feigned obedience-u Heb. hie: See Dent. 33. 29. Psa. 66. 3. & S1. 15.- Mic. 7. 17-w Pa. 89. 26.x Heb giveth avenge ment for me. 1 Sam. 25. 39. Ch. 18. 19. 31.-y Pea. 144. 2-7 Psa 110. 1.--a Rom. 15. 9.b Pa. 144. 10.-c Psa. 89. 20.-d Ch. 7. 12, 13. Psa 89, 29. Ch. 7, 8, 9. Pea. 78. 70, 71. & 89. 27.- 1 Sam. 16. 12, 13. Pra. 89. 20-gg 2 Pet 1. 21-hh Deut. 32 4, 31. Chap. 22. 2, 32-ii Or, Be thou ruler, &c. Pea. 110. 2-kk Exod. 19. 21. 2 Chron. 19. 7, 9-11 Judg. 5. 31. Psa, 89. 36. Prov. 4. 18. Hos. 6. 5. See Psa. 110. 3. mm Ch. 7. 15, 16. Psa. 89. 28. Isai. 55. 3.

PITS AND SO moshel ba adam tsadik: He that ruleth in man is the Just One; or, the Just One is the ruler among men.

Ruling in the fear of God.] It is by God's fear that Jesus Christ rules the hearts of all his followers: and he who has not the fear of God before his eyes. can never be a Christian.

Verse 4. He shall be as the light of the morning] This verse is very obscure, for it does not appear from it who the person is of whom the prophet speaks. As the Messiah seems to be the whole subject of these last words of David, he is probably the person here intended. One of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. supplies the word Yehovah: and he, therefore, translates, As the light of the morning ariseth Jehovah; see below. He shall be the Sun of Righteousness; bring salvation in his rays; and, shining, illuminating the children of men, with increasing splendour, as long as the sun and moon endure.

As the tender grass] The effects of this shining, and of the rays of his grace, shall be like the shining of the sun upon the young grass or corn, after a plentiful shower of rain.

8 These be the names of the mighty B. C. 1055 men whom David had: The TachAn. Exod. a. monite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: Phe lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

436-476.

r

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:

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.

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.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground,

n Heb. filled-o Or, Josheb-bassebet the Tachionite, head of the three-p See 1 Chron. II. 11. & 27. 2-q Heb. slain-r 1 Chron. 11. 12. & 27. 4.—8 1 Chron. 11. 27.-t See 1 Chron. 11. 13, 14.--u Or, for foraging-v 1 Chron. II. 15.

Verse 5. Although my house be not so with God] Instead of ɔ ken, so, read jḥ kun, ESTABLISHED; and let the whole verse be considered as an interrogation, including a positive assertion; and the sense will be at once clear and consistent. "For, is not my house, (family,) established with God; because he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all, and preserved? For this (he) is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it (or him) not to spring up." All is sure relative to my spiritual successor: though he do not as yet appear, the covenant is firm; and it will spring forth in due time. See Kennicott's observations at the end of the chapter. Verse 6. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns] There is no word in the text for sons, it is simply Belial, the good-for-nothing man; and may here referfirst, to Saul; and, secondly, to the enemies of our Lord. As thorns thrust away] A metaphor from hedging; the workman thrusts the thorns aside either with his bill or hand, protected by his impenetrable mitten, or glove, till, getting a fair blow at the roots, he cuts them all down. The man is fenced with iron, and the handle of his bill is like the staff of a spear. This is a perfectly natural and intelligible image.

Verse 8. These be the names of the mighty men] This chapter should be collated with the parallel place, 1 Chron. xi. and see Kennicoll's first Dissertation on the printed Hebrew text, page 64-471.

The Tachmonite that sat in the seat] Literally, and properly, Jashobeam the Hach monite. See 1 Chron. xi. 10. The same was Adino the Eznile] This is a corruption for he lifted up his spear. See 1 Chron. xi. 10.

Eight hundred, whom he slew at one time] THREE hundred is the reading in Chronicles, and seems to be the true one. The word 55 chalal, which we translate slain, should probably be translated soldiers, as in the Septuagint orpariras he withstood three hundred SOLDIERS at one time. See the note on David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1. and Kennicott's first Dissertation, p. 101. Dr. Kennicott observes, "This one verse contains three great corruptions in the Hebrew text-1. The proper name of the hero Jashobeam is turned into two common words, rendered, that sat in the seat. 2. The words, he lifted up his spear, nun na may wɔn hu orer et chanito, are turned into two proper names wholly inadmissible here: hu Adino Hacteni, he was Adino the Eznite: it being nearly as absurd to say that Jashobeam the Hachmonite was the same with Adino the Eznite, as that David the Beth-lehemite was the same with Elijah the Tishbite. 3. The number eight hundred was probably at first three hundred; as in 1 Chron. xi. 11. See Kennicott, ubi supr.

and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory.

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.

14 And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, 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.

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.

b

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.

19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of 4 Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion-like men of Moab:

w Or, the three captains over the thirty-x 1 Sain. 22. 1.—y Ch. 5. 19—1 1 Sam. 22. 4, 5-a Lev. 17. 10. 1 Chron. 11. 20-c Heb. alain-1 Josh 15 21 →e Hets great of acts.-f Exod. 15. 15. 1 Chron. 11. 22-g Heb. lions of God

Verse 9. When they defied the Philistines that were there gathered] This is supposed to refer to the war in which David slew Goliath.

Verse 11. A piece of ground full of lentiles] In 1 Chron. xi. 13. it is a parcel of ground full of barley. There is probably a mistake of Dy adashim, lentiles, for e shcorim, barley; or vice versa. Some think there were both lentiles and barley in the field, and that a marauding party of the Philistines came to destroy, or carry them off; and these worthies defeated the whole, and saved the produce of the field. This is not unlikely.

Verse 13. The three of the thirty] The word abo shalashim, which we translate thirty, probably signifies an office, or particular description of men. Of these shalashim, we have here thirty-seren; and it can scarcely be said, with propriety, that we have thirty-seven out of thirty: and besides, in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xi. there are sixteen added! The captains over Pharaoh's chariots are termed □who shalashim, Exod. xiv. 7.

The Philistines pilched in the valley of Rephaim.] This is the same war which is spoken of chap. v. 17, &c. Verse 15. The water of the well of Beth-lchem.] This was David's city, and he knew the excellence of the water which was there; and being near the place, and parched with thirst, it was natural for him to wish for a draught of water out of that well. These three heroes having heard it, though they received no command from David, brake through a company of the Philistines, and brought away some of the water. When brought to David, he refused to drink it; for, as the men had got it at the hazard of their lives, he considered it as their blood, and gave thereby a noble instance of self-denial. There is no evidence that David had requested them to bring it; they had gone for it of their own accord, and without the knowledge of David.

Verse 16. Poured it out unto the LORD.] To make libations, both of water and wine, was a frequent custom among the heathens. We have an almost similar account in Arrian's Life of Alexander :-When his army was greatly oppressed with heat and thirst, a soldier brought him a cup of water: he ordered it to be carried back, saying, I cannot bear to drink alone, while so many are in want and this cup is too small to be divided among the whole.'

Tunc poculo pleno sicut oblatum est reddito: Non solus, inquit, bibere sustineo, nec tam exiguum dividere omnibus possum. ARRIAN, lib. vi.

The example was noble in both cases; but David added piety to bravery. He poured it out unto the Lord.

Verse 20. Tico lion-like men of Moab] Some think that two real lions are meant; some, that they were two savage gigantic men; others, that two fortresses are