23:1 Now these [be] the a 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,
(a) Which he spoke after he had written the psalms.
23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in
my b tongue.
(b) Meaning, he spoke nothing but by the motion of God's
Spirit.
23:4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the
sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the
tender c grass [springing] out of the earth by clear
shining after rain.
(c) Which grows quickly, and fades soon.
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 d grow.
(d) But that my kingdom may continue for ever according to
his promise.
23:8 These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The
Tachmonite that sat in the e 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.
(e) As one of the king's counsel.
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 f gone away:
(f) Meaning, fled from the battle.
23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was
weary, and his g hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD
wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned
after him only to spoil.
(g) By a cramp which came from weariness and fighting.
23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it,
and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a h great
victory.
(h) Which has no respect for many or few, when he will
show his power.
23:15 And David i longed, and said, Oh that one would give me
drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by
the gate!
(i) Being overcome with weariness and thirst.
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 k
poured it out unto the LORD.
(k) Bridling his affection, and also desiring God not to
be offended for that rash enterprise.
23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian
had a l 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.
(l) Which was as big as a weavers beam, (1Ch 11:23).
23:23 He was more honourable than the m thirty, but he
attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over
his guard.
(m) He was more valiant than the thirty that follow and
not so valiant as the six before.
23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, n Mebunnai the Hushathite,
(n) Some of these had two names, (1Ch 11:29) and also
many more are mentioned there.
23:39 Uriah the Hittite: o thirty and seven in all.
(o) These came to David, and helped restore him to his
kingdom.
