1 Crônicas 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 11
NJB (LXX versing) David Made King Over All Israel David Made King Over All Israel The Accession of David David Becomes King of Israel and Judah David is Anointed King of Israel 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 11:1-3 Jerusalem, Capital City The City of David The Capture of Jerusalem The Capture of Jerusalem 11:4-9 11:4-9 11:4-9 11:4-9 11:4-9 David's Mighty Men The Mighty Men of David List of David's Mighty Warriors David's Famous Soldiers Champions 11:10-11 11:10-11 11:10-11 11:10 11:10-11 11:11-14 11:12-14 11:12-14 11:12-14 11:12-14 11:15-19 11:15-19 11:15-19 11:15-19 11:15-19 11:20-21 11:20-21 11:20-21 11:20-21 11:20-21 11:22-25 11:22-25 11:22-25 11:22-25 11:22-25 11:26-47 11:26-47 11:26-47 11:26-47 (26-47) 11:26-47 (26-47) Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter begins the account of David becoming king over "all Israel." This becomes a key theme. God will restore "all Israel" (i.e., post-exilic and eschatological). The majority of this chapter deals with the exploits of David's mighty men of valor (i.e., his private mercenary army, cf. 2 Samuel 23).
1 Crônicas 11:1-3
11:1-9 This information comes from 2 Samuel 5:1-10. 11:1 This is also recorded in 2 Samuel 5. The "all Israel" is a key phrase. David had become king of Judah but not Israel (i.e., the northern tribes). Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth, had been made king of Israel by Abner (cf. 2 Samuel 2). 11:2 "you were the one who led out and brought in Israel" This is an idiom for military leadership. ▣ "shepherd" This VERB (BDB 944, KB 1258, Qal IMPERFECT is used of YHWH. It was an ANE title of kingship. The opening line of Ps. 23:1 is literally "YHWH is the one shepherding me." The only VERBAL is the Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE (BDB 944, KB 1258). The concept of YHWH as Shepherd was a royal title in the ANE (i.e., Hammurabi). In the OT it is used in the sense of a description ‒ Ps. 78:52; Ezek. 34:11-13 a covenant title ‒ Ps. 80:1 a metaphor ‒ Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10 the Messiah as Shepherd ‒ John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25 It is such powerful imagery because of the close and constant presence of the shepherd with the sheep the sheep's need of an ever-present caretaker and protector ▣ "prince" This NOUN (BDB 617) is a royal title used of the kings of Israel. Saul ‒ 1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1 David ‒ 1 Sam. 13:14; 25:30; 2 Sam. 5:2; 6:21; 7:8; 1 Chr. 17:7; 2 Chr. 6:5 Solomon ‒ 1 Chr. 29:22 Messianic ‒ Isa. 55:4; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24-25 ▣ "My people Israel" YHWH is the true Shepherd and King. These are His covenant people. 11:3 "elders" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDER. ▣ "to the king at Hebron" TeThe Chronicler does not mention David being king over only part of Judah for a period (cf 1 Chr. 3:4). ▣ "covenant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT. ▣ "anointed" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE. ▣ ""according to the word of the Lord through Samuel" This is literally "by the hand of Samuel." "Hand" is used idiomatically. This refers specifically to 1 Samuel 16. God spoke to His people in several ways. historic events visions, dreams theophanies Urim and Thummim prophets, cf. 1 Chr. 11:3,10 written records of His revelation (i.e., the Bible) SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (it's uniqueness and inspiration)
1 Crônicas 11:4-9
11:4 "Jebus" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM. ▣ "Jebusites" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE. ▣ "Zion" See Special Topic above. Jerusalem was built on seven hills; one of them, on which David built his palace, was Zion. It became a designation for the entire city. Here an editor added "(that is, the city of David)." 11:7 "the stronghold" There seems to be a distinction between the city of Jebus the stronghold within the city, which was captured many years after the city itself (cf. Jos. 15:63; Jdgs. 1:21; 2 Sam. 5:7) 11:8 "the Millo" This (BDB 571) may refer to the repair of the terraces by "filling in" the dirt (cf. 2 Sam.5:9; 1 Kgs. 9:15,24; 11:27; 2 Chr. 32:5). The Millo may have supported the foundations of David's palace on the hill called "Zion." ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV "repaired" TEV, NJB "restored" "rebuilt" "reconstructed" This is the common term for "life" (BDB 310, KB 309, Piel IMPERFECT). It usually refers to humans or animals. Only here it relates to the repair of fortifications of Jerusalem and in Neh. 4:2 to the rebuilding of a protective outer wall of Jerusalem. 11:9 "David became greater and greater" This is a Hebrew idiom. "David continued to continue to become powerful" (BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERFECT plus the Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE CONJUNCTION of the same root, which denotes emphasis). David's greatness expanded because YHWH was with him. ▣ "the Lord of hosts" David's greatness was because the Lord of hosts was with him (cf. 1 Chr. 12:18). SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS
1 Crônicas 11:10-11
11:10-41 This information comes from 2 Sam. 23:8-39. 11:10 "these are the heads of the mighty men" These mercenary warriors of David are structured into the three, 1 Chr. 11:12,18,20,24,25,42; related to 1 Chr. 11:17-19 the thirty, 1 Chr. 11:11,15,20,25,42 the second rank of the three, 1 Chr. 11:21 the chief of the thirty, 1 Chr. 11:11,20 They came from several tribes to reinforce the "all Israel" theme. The exploits of these men are told by Josephus in Antiq. 7.3.1,2 and 7.12.4. 11:11 "Jashobeam" He has often been identified as "Josheb-basshebeth" of 2 Sam. 23:8, but this is uncertain. The only connection is that the next person listed is also listed in 2 Sam. 23:9 (1 Chr. 11:12). If it is the same person, the name and numbers are different from 2 Samuel.
1 Crônicas 11:12-14
11:12 "Dodo" In 1 Chr. 27:4 it is "Dodai," but "Dodo" in 2 Sam. 23:9. 11:13 "at Pasdammim" This (BDB 67) is a location in Judah, sixteen miles southwest of Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam. 17:1, "Ephes-dammin"). ▣ "barley" 2 Samuel 23:11 has "lentils." 11:14 "saved" In the OT the VERB (BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) means physical deliverance. SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT Term)
1 Crônicas 11:15-19
11:15 "the cave of Adullam" This account is recorded in 1 Sam. 22:1; 2 Sam. 23:13-17. ▣ "Rephaim" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS (GIANTS). 11:17 "craving" This VERB (BDB 16, KB 20, Hithpael IMPERFECT with waw) usually denotes a bad desire (i.e., lust, power, fame), but here and in 2 Sam. 23:15, it is neutral. Still, this off-the-cuff remark could have had negative consequences (cf. 1 Chr. 11:18). 11:18 "poured it out to the Lord" This was a spontaneous offering. David also offered a sacrifice in 2 Sam. 24:25 to stop a plague. This is surprising because Saul is condemned for offering a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel (cf. 1 Sam. 13:8-14). The only difference seems to be the motive. Saul was impatient David was spontaneous
1 Crônicas 11:20-21
11:20 "Abshai" In 2 Sam. 23:18 this is "Abishai." This was the brother of David's military commander, Joab (cf. 1 Chr. 11:6). The MT has "chief of three" (cf. 1 Chr. 11:21); NASB has "thirty," following the LXX. ▣ "and he had a name" The MT has "and not a name," but the Masoretic scholars (Qere) read it as "he" and not "not." This is followed by the LXX and Vulgate. 11:21 There is some confusion about the phrase in the MT, "among the two." The NASB sees it as "in the second rank," meaning he was very well honored but not part of the elite "three" (1 Chr. 11:17-19).
1 Crônicas 11:22-25
11:22 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "two sons of Ariel" "two lion-like heroes" "two great warriors" "two formidable" REB, JB "two champions" "two Ariel" "the two mighty men" The LXX of 2 Sam. 23:20 is followed by NASB. The MT is more like NKJV. There is a play on "Ariel" (BDB 72) and "lion" (BDB 71). In the ANE killing a lion was a great act of courage (cf. Samson, Jdgs. 14:5-7; David, 1 Sam. 17:34-37; Benaiah, 2 Sam. 23:20; and here). This greatly enhanced a person's reputation. 11:23 "a man of great stature five cubits tall" A cubit is about 18", so this refers to a person about 7'5". This might refer to "the valley of Rephaim (giants)" in 1 Chr. 11:15. This Egyptian is described in similar terms to Goliath, the Philistine giant whom David killed (cf. 1 Samuel 17). SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT ▣ "a spear like a weaver's beam" This is a common idiom for an unusually large spear (i.e., Goliath, 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 21:19; Elhanan, Goliath's brother, 1 Chr. 20:5). 11:25 NASB, NKJV "his guard" NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA "his body-guard" "his household" "his paternal family" Rotherham "audience-chamber" "the chiefs of the army" This NOUN (BDB 1036, KB 649) can mean bodyguard obligated by an oath
1 Crônicas 11:26-47
11:26 "Asahel the brother of Joel" The account of Abner killing Asahel and starting a family feud between Joab and Abner, recorded in 2 Samuel 2-3, is completely ignored. 11:27 "Shammoth the Harorite" This man goes by several designations. Shammah. . .a Hararite, 2 Sam. 23:11,33 Shammah the Harodite, 2 Sam. 23:25 There have been several theories about "Hararite." a location in the south of Judah (Amarna Letters) a location in the Negev (Albright) from a Hebrew word for mountain, "har," therefore, mountain dwellers (Gesenius) ▣ "Pelonite"In 2 Sam. 23:26 he is called "Paltite." 11:29 "Sibbecai" In 2 Sam. 23:27 he is called "Mebunnai." ▣ "Ilai" In 2 Sam. 23:28 he is called "Zalmon." 11:32 "Hurai" In 2 Sam. 23:30 he is called "Hiddai." ▣ "Abiel" In 2 Sam. 23:31 he is called "Abialbon." 11:34 "Hashem" In 2 Sam. 23:32 he is called "Jashen" (also LXX). 11:35 "Sacar" In 2 Sam. 23:35 he is called "Sharar." 11:37 "Naarai" In 2 Sam. 23:35 he is called "Paarai the Arbite." 11:41 "Uriah the Hittite" This is the last name in the list of 2 Sam. 23:39. This was Bathsheba's Hurrian husband and faithful military follower of David. David took his wife and had him killed (2 Samuel 11). The origin of the remaining names is uncertain. Surely over David's long reign some of these elite soldiers died and were replaced. 11:44 "Jeiel" This is the Qere, the Kethiv is "Jeuel."