May 14th
1 Chronicles,
10
B
The end of Saul
Saul’s
death
1: Now the Philistines fought against Israel;
and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in
mount Gilboa. 2: And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his
sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the
sons of Saul. 3: And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit
him, and he was wounded of the archers. 4: Then said Saul to his armourbearer,
Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come
and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul
took a sword, and fell upon it. 5: And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was
dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. 6: So Saul died, and his three
sons, and all his house died together. 7: And when all the men of Israel that
were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead,
then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in
them. 8: And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip
the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9: And
when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into
the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and
to the people. 10: And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and
fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11: And when all Jabesh-gilead heard
all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12: They arose, all the valiant men,
and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to
Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13: So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD,
even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking
counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; 14: And inquired
not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the
son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles,
11
B
The reign of David
David
crowned King
1: Then all Israel gathered themselves to
David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2: And
moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out
and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed
my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel, and thou shalt
be ruler over my people Israel. 3: Therefore came all the elders of Israel to
the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the
LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the
LORD by Samuel.
David
captures Zion
4: And David and all Israel went to
Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the
land. 5: And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come
hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
6: And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and
captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. 7: And David
dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8: And he
built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the
rest of the city. 9: So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts
was with him.
David’s
mighty men
10: These also are the chief of the mighty
men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with
all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning
Israel. 11: And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam,
and Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three
hundred slain by him at one time. 12: And after him was Eleazar the son of
Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. 13: He was with David at
Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where
was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the
Philistines. 14: And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and
delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great
deliverance. 15: Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to
David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in
the valley of Rephaim. 16: And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines'
garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17: And David longed, and said, Oh that one
would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
18: And the three 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: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19: And
said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood
of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of
their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did
these three mightiest. 20: And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the
three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a
name among the three. 21: Of the three, he was more honourable than the two;
for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three. 22:
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done
many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion
in a pit in a snowy day. 23: And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature,
five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam;
and 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. 24: These things did Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. 25: Behold, he
was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David
set him over his guard. 26: Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the
brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27: Shammoth the
Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28: Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer
the Antothite, 29: Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30: Maharai the
Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31: Ithai the son of
Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the
Pirathonite, 32: Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33:
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34: The sons of Hashem the
Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, 35: Ahiam the son of Sacar
the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36: Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the
Pelonite, 37: Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38: Joel the brother
of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39: Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the
Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40: Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite, 41: Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42: Adina the
son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43: Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44: Uzzia the
Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45: Jediael the
son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46: Eliel the Mahavite, and
Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47: Eliel,
and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
1 Chronicles,
12
David’s
personal army
1: Now these are they that came to David to
Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and
they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. 2: They were armed with
bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and
shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin. 3: The chief
was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and
Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite, 4: And
Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and
Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite, 5: Eluzai,
and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6:
Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites, 7:
And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8: And of the Gadites
there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of
might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler,
whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon
the mountains; 9: Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10:
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11: Attai the sixth, Eliel the
seventh, 12: Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13: Jeremiah the tenth,
Machbanai the eleventh. 14: These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the
host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
15: These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had
overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both
toward the east, and toward the west. 16: And there came of the children of
Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. 17: And David went out to meet them,
and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me,
mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine
enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look
thereon, and rebuke it. 18: Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of
the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of
Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God
helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. 19:
And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines
against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the
Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master
Saul to the jeopardy of our heads. 20: As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him
of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and
Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh. 21: And
they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men
of valour, and were captains in the host. 22: For at that time day by day there
came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. 23:
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and
came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the
word of the LORD. 24: The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six
thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. 25: Of the children of
Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. 26:
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. 27: And Jehoiada was the
leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28: And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and
two captains. 29: And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three
thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house
of Saul. 30: And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred,
mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers. 31: And of
the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to
come and make David king. 32: And of the children of Issachar, which were men
that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads
of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 33:
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments
of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
34: And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear
thirty and seven thousand. 35: And of the Danites expert in war twenty and
eight thousand and six hundred. 36: And of Asher, such as went forth to battle,
expert in war, forty thousand. 37: And on the other side of Jordan, of the
Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner
of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. 38: All
these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to
make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one
heart to make David king. 39: And there they were with David three days, eating
and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. 40: Moreover they that
were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on
asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs,
and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for
there was joy in Israel.
Now that the genealogies are over the writer
sets out to describe the life of David but first he deals with the death of the
previous king Saul. But once Saul is dead David is crowned king and he captures
the old city of Zion. Then we have described David’s chosen men and then his
vast army. Let’s get back to Saul. Saul was shot in battle by the Philistine
archers. Saul turned to his amour bearer to kill him to prevent him from being
taken by the Philistines but he was afraid to touch him as he was king. So Saul
drew his sword and fell on it. His amour bearer thinking that he was dead he
ran away. (However Saul was not quite dead and a passing enemy killed him and
took his crown and sword back to David.) In the battle Jonathan, Abinadab, and
Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul died. Saul’s men fled to the hills and the
Philistines came and lived in their cities. When the Philistines found Saul
they beheaded him and stripped him and took his armour to their temple and they
set up his head in the temple of Dagon. When the men of Jabesh-gilead heard of
what had happened to Saul they broke through and took his body and that of his
sons and buried them under the Oak in Jabesh. And then they fasted in mourning
for seven days. Saul died because he enquired of the witch of Endor. Then all
Israel gathered to David in Hebron and crowned him king. Then David set out to
capture the city of Zion which is Jerusalem. David’s power increased over the
countryside. Then we have the list of David’s mighty men.
Jashobeam the chief of the captains: he
killed 300 with a spear on one day.
Eleazar - one of the three mighties. He
fought with David over a small ground of barley. It was a great fight.
Three of the thirty captains went down to the
rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and they went and broke through the
philistine army just to get a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. It was
just a dream but they risked their lives to give him his dream.
Abishai
He was chief of the three – he used his spear
to kill 300.
Benaiah
He killed the two lion like men of Moab
He killed a lion in a pit in the snow.
He killed an Egyptian giant 5 cubits high. He
took the spear out of his hand and killed him with it.
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the Pelonite,
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abi-ezer the Antothite,
Sibbecai the Hushathite,
Ilai the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that
pertained to the children of Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite,
Eliphal the son of Ur,
Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hezro the Carmelite,
Naarai the son of Ezbai,
Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of
Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a
captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Hanan the son of Maachah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and
Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
Jediael the son of Shimri, and
Joha his brother, the Tizite,
Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai,
Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,
Ithmah the Moabite,
Eliel,
Obed,
Jasiel the Mesobaite.
Then we have the description of David’s Army.
They were all men of incredible courage. They had bows and could throw stones
both arms left and right. It’s a long list but notice the descriptions. The had
faces like lions (fearless) they used shield and buckler. They were swift on
the mountains like roes. Some of them were empowered by the Holy Spirit to
fight. They could keep rank. In other words they fought as a united army. Each
supporting his neighbour. They were united in purpose and devoted to David.
When we see the exploits of these men then we can only wonder at the physical
prowess and godliness and strength of David. Who commanded such a formidable
force. His secret was his pure heart toward the Lord and his total devotion to
his men.
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