Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary1 Chronicles 11

To David unto Hebron. Verses 1–9 of ch. 11 are parallel to 2 Sam. 5:1–10. The record passes rapidly over David’s reign at Hebron (1 Chron. 3:4), coming immediately to his glorious reign at Jerusalem. The tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron on the occasion of Ish-bosheth’s death (2 Sam. 4:5–12; 5:1).

By Samuel. See 1 Sam. 15:28; 16:1. God Himself directed Samuel to anoint David king to rule His people in place of Saul.

Jerusalem, which is Jebus. See on Judges 19:10.

Not come hither. The inhabitants thought the city so strong that they jeered at David, boasting that even the lame and the blind could defend it (see on 2 Sam. 5:6).

Joab. He already held a position of responsibility in the army when Ish-bosheth was still on the throne (2 Sam. 2:13; 3:23).

Went first up. Jerusalem was presumably captured by an ascent up the water shaft, referred to as “the gutter” (see on 2 Sam. 5:8).

The castle. That is, the stronghold, or fort.

Millo. The exact nature of this part of the fortifications of Jerusalem is not known, but it seems to have been a particularly strong place of defense, which played an important role in the fortifications of the city (see on 2 Sam. 5:9; 1 Kings 9:15; 11:27). Rival Kingdoms of David and Ish-bosheth

David’s Empire and Tributary Nations

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (1 Ch 6:1). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

David extended his sway until nations from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates paid tribute. Solomon, who erected the Temple, increased the kingdom’s prestige. For the difference between the extent of this map and that of The Empire of David and Solomon, see explanations of the Euphrates boundary (on 2 Sam. 8:3; 1 Kings 4:21).

Rival Kingdoms of Judah and Israel

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Ge 1:1). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

At Solomon’s death the northern 10 tribes seceded. The kingdom of Israel lasted 200 years, Judah some 350.

Lord of hosts. On the meaning of this expression, see Vol. I, p. 173.

The mighty men. Verses 10–47 deal with a list of the mighty men in David’s kingdom. The passage is parallel to 2 Sam. 23:8–39.

Three hundred. See on 2 Sam. 23:8.

To battle. A more complete account of the incident appears in 2 Sam. 23:9–12; that is, if the writer is describing the same event. Parcel of ground. If the parcel of ground here mentioned is that of 2 Sam. 23:11, it does not pertain to Pas-dammim, where David engaged in battle with the Philistines, but to a place not mentioned in this verse, namely, a plot of ground where Shammah had an encounter with the Philistines (see on 2 Sam. 23:11). The incompleteness of the narrative explains the absence of Shammah’s name from the list. It would appear that the encounter in question resulted from Shammah’s vigorous defense of a field from which the Philistines were endeavoring to carry away the crop.

They. The pronoun is in the singular in 2 Sam. 23:12. According to the description there the people had fled and Shammah stood alone defending the ground against the Philistines. However, he may have been attended by an armorbearer.

Three of the thirty. For the exploit of these men, see on 2 Sam. 23:13–17.

Abishai. Verses 20–25 relate the exploits of Abishai and Benaiah. Concerning this incident, see on 2 Sam. 23:18–23.

The valiant men. Verses 26–47, listing the valiant men of the armies, are parallel to 2 Sam. 23:24–39, though there are differences between the two lists (see on 2 Sam. 23:24–39), such as variations in spelling (see on 1 Chron. 1:42). Also 16 names are included here that do not occur in the second book of Samuel.

Uriah the Hittite. This name closes the list as found in Samuel (2 Sam. 23:39). The narrative concerning Uriah (2 Sam. 11) does not occur in the record as given in the book of Chronicles.

Adina. The 16 names listed in vs. 42–47 are not found elsewhere. These valiant men probably belonged to a later period of David’s reign than those listed in 2 Sam. 23.