1 These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: 2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, 4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ 5 “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. 6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. 7 Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”
So in these “final words”, we would imagine this is the deathbed scene, but it is not. In fact, David is still alive in 1 Kings 1 and has more to say to Solomon about what it means to be a king. This is more of a window into David’s soul as an older man.
1. The spirit of the Lord spoke through me: David was fully aware of the intimate relationship he had with God. This is spoken to in his early life (1 Samuel 17:37) and into his reign as king (2 Samuel 7). 2. When one rules over people in righteousness: from the very beginning of his reign, David chose not to rule in violence but with benevolence. Of course, this didn’t always work out perfectly, but David’s heart was aimed at pleasing God. He understood the concept brought forth in 1 Samuel 12: If the king follows God and the people follow the king, there will be a blessing on the land. 3. If my house were not right with God: David understands that it isn’t about being perfect before God, but striving to follow God, and especially depend on God, when things get tough. And when one falls, it is proper to reorient back to God. This is the basis for his understanding of where he stands with God. If he wasn’t a man after God’s own heart, then God wouldn’t have made the covenant with him. 4. But evil men are all to be cast…: David understands God’s provision and protection to those who trust in Him.
David’s Mighty Warriors 8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. 11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
David’s mighty men were the great “elite” warriors in David’s brigade. They were part of the men who hid out with David in the caves of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2) when Saul was attempting to chase David down. These were men who fought with David and were with David when he wasn’t king. In fact, they were with David at his lowest point. This spurred a great loyalty in them for David, and that loyalty is played out in this chapter. The men aren’t mighty because they are superhuman, but they are loyal to both the king and God.
Josheb-Basshebeth: Killed 800 enemy warriors in one encounter. Eleazar: Struck down a flurry of Philistines after the Israelite soldiers had run away. Shammah: He stood his ground, after the Israelites fled, and struck down the Philistines.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
As an example of one of the exploits of the mighty men, while they were in that cave in Adullam, David pined for a drink of water from the well at Bethlehem. Because of their loyalty to David, three of the warrior made an arduous and dangerous journey to Bethlehem for that very thing. But when they give it to David, he pours it out before the Lord. Why? Because of their sacrifice for him, he returns the sacrifice to them, showing his reciprocal loyalty to them.
18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
Abishai was the brother of Joab ( 1Samuel 26:6-9, 2Samuel 3:30). His claim to fame was that he killed 300 men in a battle and was the commander of the three.
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Another great warrior who, it seems, killed a giant Egyptian.
24 Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite 39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
Most of these names are not mentioned anywhere else in scripture but here. But there are two noteworthy names in this group. Verse 34: Eliam the sone of Ahithophel - this was Bathsheba’s father. Verse 39: Uriah the Hittite: This was Bathsheba’s husband.