Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 20:23
Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
23. Joab ] Retaining his post in spite of David’s resolution to depose him.
the Cherethites ] So the Qr and the Sept. and Vulg.: but the Kthbh has the Cari, a word found in 2Ki 11:4 ; 2Ki 11:19 (E. V. wrongly captains), and like Cherethites variously explained to mean executioners, the body-guard acting in that capacity, or Carians, foreign mercenaries employed as a body-guard.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
23 26. The officers of David’s court
A similar list has already been given in ch. 2Sa 8:16-18. There the account of the general administration of the kingdom appropriately follows the summary record of the wars by which that kingdom was established; and the repetition of it here, after David’s restoration to the throne, is equally appropriate. Some differences between the lists are explained by their belonging to different periods.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Now Joab … – This is by no means an unmeaning repetition. Joab had been dismissed to make room for Amasa, and was now, as the result of his successful expedition against Sheba, and the death of Amasa, reinstated in his command. Moreover, this was a fresh beginning of Davids reign, and therefore a statement of his chief officers is as proper as in 2Sa 8:16, when he had just established himself on the throne of Israel. Compare 1Ki 4:2-6.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. Joab was over all the host] He had murdered Amasa, and seized on the supreme command: and such was his power at present, and the service which he had rendered to the state by quelling the rebellion of Sheba, that David was obliged to continue him; and dared not to call him to account for his murders without endangering the safety of the state by a civil war.
Benaiah – over the Cherethites] Benaiah was over the archers and slingers. 2Sa 8:18.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Joab was over all the host of Israel: the good success of this and of the former expedition, under the conduct of Joab, had so fixed his interest in the army, and others of Davids fastest friends, that the king could not without danger to the public weal displace him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. Now Joab was over all the hostof IsraelDavid, whatever his private wishes, found that hepossessed not the power of removing Joab; so winking at the murder ofAmasa, he re-established that officer in his former post ofcommander-in-chief. The enumeration of David’s cabinet is here givento show that the government was re-established in its wonted course.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel,…. Established in the post in which he formerly was; either having been never displaced, which though David thought to do, he was not able to effect it, because of his power and influence with the people; or if he had displaced him, which by some things in this chapter seemed to be the case, yet Amasa being dead, and the rebellion crushed by Joab, which still made him more haughty, and increased his popularity, David saw it most advisable to replace him; and because mention is made of him, as established in his office as general over the whole army, an account is given of the rest of David’s officers; and the rather, as it was a sort of beginning his reign anew, after quelling the above rebellions:
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites, and over the Pelethites; was continued in his post, see 2Sa 8:18.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
David’s Ministers of State. – The second section of the history of David’s reign closes, like the first (2Sa 8:16.), with a list of the leading ministers of state. The author evidently found the two lists in his sources, and included them both in his work, for the simple reason that they belonged to different periods, as the difference in the names of some of the officers clearly shows, and that they supplemented on another. The list before us belongs to a later period of David’s reign than the one in 2Sa 8:16-18. In addition to the office-bearers mentioned in 2 Samuel 8, we find here Adoram over the tribute, and Ira the Kairite a confidential counsellor ( cohen : see at 2Sa 8:18), in the place of the sons of David noticed in 2Sa 8:18. The others are the same in both lists. The Chethib is to be read (cf. 2Ki 11:4, 2Ki 11:19), from , perfodit , and is synonymous with (see at 2Sa 8:18). Adoram is the same person as Adoniram, who is mentioned in 1Ki 4:6 and 1Ki 5:14 as overseer over the tributary service in the time of Solomon; as we may see from the fact, that the latter is also called Adoram in 1Ki 12:18, and Hadoram in 2Ch 10:18. Hadoram is apparently only a contracted form of the name, and not merely a copyist’s mistake for Adoniram. But when we find that, according to the passage cited, the same man filled this office under three kings, we must bear in mind that he did not enter upon it till the close of David’s reign, as he is not mentioned in 2Sa 8:16., and that his name only occurs in connection with Rehoboam’s ascent of the throne; so that there is no ground for assuming that he filled the office for any length of time under that monarch. does not mean vectigal, i.e., tribute or tributary service, but tributary labourers. The derivation of the word is uncertain, and has been disputed. The appointment of a special prefect over the tributary labourers can hardly have taken place before the closing years of David’s reign, when the king organized the internal administration of the kingdom more firmly than before. On the tributary labourers, see at 1Ki 5:13. Ira the Jairite is never mentioned again. There is no ground for altering Jairi (the Jairite) into Jithri (the Jithrite), as Thenius proposes, since the rendering given in the Syriac (“from Jathir”) is merely an inference from 2Sa 23:38; and the assumption upon which this conclusion is founded, viz., that Ira, the hero mentioned in 2Sa 23:38, is the same person as Ira the royal cohen , is altogether unfounded.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| David’s Court. | B. C. 1023. |
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: 24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: 25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
Here is an account of the state of David’s court after his restoration. Joab retained the office of general, being too great to be displaced. Benaiah, as before, was captain of the guards. Here is one new office erected, which we had not (ch. viii. 16-18), that of treasurer, or one over the tribute, for it was not till towards the latter end of his time that David began to raise taxes. Adoram was long in this office, but it cost him his life at last, 1 Kings xii. 18.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
David’s Officials, vs. 23-26
The Scriptures are wholly silent about David’s reaction toward Joab when he returned from his defeat of Sheba with the blood of Amasa on his hands. Other passages, however, show how despicable he considered the deed to be. It seemed that he could not get rid of Joab as hard as he tried. He must have had no other recourse than to continue him as captain of the host. Benaiah also continued as captain of the special forces. Adoram must have been a very young man at the time, for he continued over the tribute through the forty years of Solomon’s reign and was stoned to death by the dissident followers of Jeroboam after Rehoboam’s accession (1Ki 12:1).
Jehoshaphat was over the records, and he also continued into the reign of Solomon. The scribe, or secretary, was Sheva (his name is variously written Seraiah, Shisha, and Shavsha in other passages). Zadok of the house of Eleazar and Abiathar of the house of Ithamar continued as the chief priests. Ira and Jairite was David’s minister, or priest, in his personal affairs.
Learn from these things 1) Acting vindictively against one who has wronged you is liable to beget vindictiveness in return; 2) entrusting a business to one who is not of proven capability will produce embarrassment; 3) right or wrong, the heroes usually have their own way in a matter until they answer to God; 4) people would escape many heartaches by putting their trouble makers out of the way.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
DAVID’S OFFICIALS, 2Sa 20:23-26.
This list differs from that given in 2Sa 8:16-18, only in the addition of the names of Adoram and Ira the Jairite, and belongs to a later period of David’s reign. Our author seems to have had before him the records of Jehoshaphat, the king’s recorder, and finding therein these two lists, he inserted them both at the proper places in his own narrative to show how few changes the king made among his officials in a reign of forty years.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 20:23. Now Joab was over all the host of Israel Joab, having successfully put an end to the rebellion of Sheba, returned to Jerusalem to the king, and returned with such a weight of popularity, as effectually to shield his atrocious murder of Amasa from all attempts of inquiry or chastisement. “The crime,” as Florus expresses it, “was within the glory:” and not only so, but reinstated him likewise in the supreme command over the army. Thus did it seem good to the divine wisdom to permit Joab’s unruly and impetuous ambition, at one time separate from all sense of duty, and at another joined to it, to punish the guilt of four notorious rebels in succession, Abner, Absalom, Amasa, and Sheba, with dreadful deaths; two of them, indeed, treacherous and sudden; but all, in the retributions of Providence, judicial and just. Dr. Delaney thinks, that David published at this time the 133rd Psalm, entirely to compose all contests and disagreements among the tribes.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(23) Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: (24) And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: (25) And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: (26) And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
Observe, Joab retains his post. David did not, or perhaps could not dismiss him. Some alteration had taken place in David’s officers since the establishment. 2Sa 8:16-18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 20:23 Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
Ver. 23. Now Joab was over all the host. ] He would be so; neither was it in David’s power to put him by; so great a sway bare he in the army, who were all for General Joab. Neither, indeed, could David well spare him, so necessary was his service.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Benaiah. Compare 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 23:20. 1Ki 1:8; 1Ki 2:34.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Now Joab: 2Sa 8:16-18, 1Ch 18:15-17
and Benaiah: 2Sa 20:7
Reciprocal: 2Sa 2:13 – Joab 2Sa 8:18 – the Cherethites 2Sa 15:18 – Cherethites 2Sa 23:20 – Benaiah 2Sa 23:23 – over his guard 2Sa 24:2 – Joab 1Ki 1:7 – Joab 1Ki 4:2 – the princes 1Ch 11:6 – Joab 1Ch 11:22 – Benaiah 1Ch 11:25 – David 1Ch 18:17 – Benaiah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 20:23-24. Joab was over all the host The king continued him in the chief command of the army, because the good success of this, and of the former expedition under his conduct, had so fixed his interest with the soldiers, and others of Davids fastest friends, that he could not be displaced without danger. Adoram was over the tribute That is, he was the treasurer or receiver of the kings revenue. Jehoshaphat was recorder See on 2Sa 8:16.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
David’s administrators 20:23-26
"With Joab’s return to the king in Jerusalem, the grand symphony known as the Court History of David reaches its conclusion for all practical purposes (at least as far as the books of Samuel are concerned . . .). The last four verses of chapter 20 constitute a suitable formal coda, serving the same function for the Court History that the last four verses of chapter 8 do for the narrative of David’s powerful reign . . ." [Note: Youngblood, p. 1048.]
This list of David’s chiefs of state concludes a major section of Samuel (2 Samuel 9-20, "David’s troubles") just as a former list closed another major section (2 Samuel 2-8, "David’s triumphs"). Probably this list reflects David’s administration toward the end of his reign. The former list evidently describes David’s cabinet at an earlier time.
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2 Samuel 8:15-18 |
2 Samuel 20:23-26 |
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Joab: army |
Joab: army |
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Benaiah: Cherethites and Pelethites |
Benaiah: Cherethites and Pelethites |
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Adoram: forced labor |
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Jehoshaphat: recorder |
Jehoshaphat: recorder |
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Seraiah: secretary |
Sheva: secretary |
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Zadok and Ahimelech: priests |
Zadok and Abiathar: priests |
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David’s sons: chief ministers (priests) |
Ira: priest |
The "forced labor" force, the corvée, was an age-old institution (cf. Deu 20:10-11; 2Sa 8:2; 2Sa 8:6; 2Sa 8:14). It consisted of prisoners of war who worked on such public construction projects as highways, temples, and palaces. Adoram (Adoniram) later became a prominent figure in the apostasy of the Northern Kingdom (1Ki 12:18-19). Ira may have been a royal adviser in the same sense as David’s sons had been previously. The Hebrew word kohen ("priest," 2Sa 20:26) seems to have this meaning elsewhere (e.g., 2Sa 8:18). [Note: Cf. Goldman, pp. 236, 319.]
This long section of David’s troubles contains selected events that show that even the Lord’s anointed was not above a principle by which God deals with all people. Obedience to the revealed will of God brings blessing to the individual and makes him or her a channel of blessing to others. However, disobedience brings divine judgment in the form of curtailed blessing (fertility). Here we also see the serious effects of arrogance before God.
". . . the narrator has invited the reader to pay particular attention to the social and psychological aftermath of adultery, as well as to the obvious fulfilment [sic] of God’s judgment as pronounced by the prophet Nathan (2Sa 12:10-12)." [Note: Baldwin, p. 282.]
Another major lesson is that rebellion against the Lord’s Anointed cannot succeed. The parallels between David and Jesus Christ in these chapters stand out. Jesus, as David, suffered rejection at the hands of "His own," left His capital in apparent disgrace, but will return to rule and reign.
Seven sub-conflicts appear within this sixth major conflict section in Samuel. Mephibosheth and Jonathan’s line conflicts with David’s faithfulness (ch. 9). The Ammonite coalition conflicts with David (2Sa 10:1 to 2Sa 11:1). David’s unfaithfulness to the covenant conflicts with Yahweh’s faithfulness (2Sa 11:2 to 2Sa 12:25). Ammon conflicts with David (2Sa 12:26-31). Amnon conflicts with Absalom (chs. 13-14). Absalom conflicts with David (ch. 15-18), and Sheba conflicts with David (chs. 19-20).
God’s basic commitment to David resulted in his anointing, which guaranteed much blessing. David’s basic commitment to God, his heart for God, resulted in his never losing a battle with a foreign nation, as far as the text records. David’s occasional violation of the covenant resulted in some other losses (2Sa 11:2 to 2Sa 12:25; ch. 25).
Similarly God’s election of the believer results in much blessing for him or her. The believer’s commitment to God as lord of his or her life results in a life characterized mainly by victory and success. The believer’s occasional violation of God’s revealed will results in some defeat for him or her. Even an elect believer, such as Saul, can experience a tragic life if he or she does not commit himself or herself to following God faithfully (Rom 12:1-2).