Verse 1. Now. This list is entirely of a political nature. It seems to have been made before David had obtained the throne of Israel, (verse 7.) though perhaps the monthly division did not comprise 24,000, before that time. This regulation was very excellent, and enabled the king to have an army of 300,000 men, at a short notice. It was not attended with any material inconvenience to the people, as none were on service above a month.—Hands. Commanders in chief.—Captains. Twenty-four in number, with 240 centurions under them.—Officers. Hebrew shoterim. Septuagint “scribes,” whose employment is not well ascertained. They perhaps acted as commissaries, or kept an account of the king’s troops, and reviewed them. Calmet.—Septuagint “and scribes serving the people, and the king’s orders respecting the divisions, both coming in and going out, monthly, throughout the year. One division comprised 24,000 men.
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Verse 2. Jesboam. Hebrew “Jashobham,” as Calmet. 11:11. He was the first after Joab, ( Bible.) and a descendant of Pharez, like David, and waiting upon the king in the month of Nisan, which almost agrees with our March ( Menochius.) and April. Bible.—Zabdiel, the Hachmonite, may therefore denote his country; (Kennicott) or Zabdiel might be his ancestor, though the same man has frequently different names. We find several companions of this general in the sequel.
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Verse 4. Dudia, of Dodi, the father of Eleazar. Calmet. 11:12. Calmet.—After him, his substitute. Tirinus.—Hebrew “and Macelloth, chief also of his course, consisting likewise of 24,000.” Bible.
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Verse 5. Priest. This we read no where else, so that some understand, “a chief officer at court,” 2 Kennicott. 8:18. Calmet.—But he might be ( Bible.) of the tribe of Levi. Menochius.—His exploits are mentioned. Calmet. 11:21.
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Verse 6. Company, in his absence, ( Bible.) as lieutenant. Salien.
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Verse 7. After him. He acted under his father, and succeeded ( Menochius.) to Asahel’s post, after Abner had slain him. 2 Kennicott. 2:23 and 23:24. Calmet.
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Verse 8. Samaoth. Perhaps Samma, or Sammoth of Arodi, or Arari; places with which we are not acquainted, unless they denote some of his progenitors. Jazer is well known. Calmet.—Calmet. 26:31.
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Verse 9. Hari. Mentioned as one of David’s brave men. Calmet. 11:28.
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Verse 10. Phallonite, or of Phalti. 2 Kennicott. 23:26.
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Verse 11. Zarahi, or of Zara, the son of Thamar. Calmet. 11:29. Sobochai slew the giant Saph, 2 Kennicott. 21:17.
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Verse 12. Jemini, or Benjamin. Calmet.—The first syllable is neglected. Menochius.
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Verse 13. Marai, or Marahai, sprung from Zara. Calmet.
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Verse 14. Ephraim. Pharathon was in this tribe. Menochius.
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Verse 15. Holdai, called Heled, the son of Baana. Calmet. 11:30 and 2 Kennicott. 23:29.—Gothoniel. So the Septuagint write Othoniel, ( Bible.) so famous in the book of Judges, 1:13 and 3:9.
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Verse 16. Chiefs, by their birth-right. The former were chosen for merit. Tirinus.—The tribes of Aser and of Gad are omitted, either because the list was not in the hands of the author, or it was overlooked by transcribers. Calmet.—Rubenites, with whom Em. Sa joins the Gadites. Menochius.
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Verse 18. Eliu. Probably the same with Eliab, the eldest son of Isai, (1 Kennicott. 16:7. Calmet.) or the youngest but David, (Calmet. 2:15) whose name is preserved by the Syriac, and so forth
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Verse 23. Heaven. It would have seemed, therefore, as if David distrusted the divine promise, ( Bible.) and attempted what was impossible (Grot.) or useless. Calmet.—He had before offended, and hence would now only number those who were wanted. Worthington.
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Verse 24. Number, those above 20; but he acted with reluctance, ( Tirinus.) and the wrath of heaven prevented the entire completion of the king’s order. Calmet. 21:6 and 2 Kennicott. 24:9.—David. It would hence appear that the list was perfected, but not delivered to the king. The commissioners retained some of the lists; and, perhaps from these, Esdras has inserted what relates to Benjamin, (Calmet. 7:6) as the account was not given in Calmet. 21:6. Calmet.—This list may, however, have been made at another time; as we are informed that Benjamin and Levi were not numbered. Bible.—The Book of Kings, where we find it, is therefore a different work. D.
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Verse 25. Treasures of gold, and so forth as those of provisions had other officers. Calmet.—Were in. Hebrew and Septuagint add, “the fields, in the cities,” and so forth Bible.—This must be understood of corn; wine is mentioned afterwards. Nothing could give us a higher opinion of David’s wisdom than these details.
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Verse 26. Ground, for the king. This was done at the expense of the nation, and by the people, no less than the vintage. 2 Kennicott. 8:12. The companions of Daniel were thus appointed to superintend the workmen of Nabuchodonosor. Daniel 2:49. Xenophon (Cyrop. viii.) styles such, εργων επιστατας, “men set over the works.” Bible.
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Verse 27. Cellars. Hebrew “over the increase of the vineyards, for the wine cellars.” Prot. Wine was formerly kept in cisterns, in the vineyards, till it was taken into large earthen vessels, and placed in cellars.
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Verse 29. Saron, a fertile region at the food of the mountains of Galaad; also a vale near the Mediterranean, ( Calmet.) in Ephraim, extending as far as Joppe. Adric. Menochius.
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Verse 30. Ismahelite. People of that nation deal much in camels. Calmet.—Ubil had embraced the Jewish religion, or perhaps he was originally an Israelite, but had acquired the title of Ismahelite by some exploit, or by residing long in the country. Menochius.
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Verse 32. Man. Hebrew “a writer.” He was a good politician and lawyer. Grot.—Sons, as tutors. D. Calmet.—Jahiel was perhaps the brother of Jesbaam. Calmet. 11:11. Menochius.
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Verse 33. Friend. Chusai rendered the most signal service to the king, 2 Kennicott. 16:23 and 17:1. Calmet.
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Verse 34. After, inferior, (Salien) as Achitophel’s advice was esteemed like an oracle, ( Calmet.) or Joiada, a chief priest, and Abiathar, the pontiff, succeeded to his place, after he had hung himself. Tirinus. D.