Cornelius a Lapide
Table of Contents
Synopsis of the Chapter
The last words of David are recounted and, verse 8, his heroes, namely his three mightiest soldiers and their heroic deeds, and in verse 24, his other thirty warriors are enumerated. Compare this chapter with 1 Chronicles 11, where the same catalogue of David's Mighty Men is composed in a different order and method.
Vulgate Text: 2 Kings 23:1-39
1. Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said: The man to whom it was appointed concerning the Anointed of the God of Jacob spoke, the illustrious psalmist of Israel: 2. The Spirit of the Lord has spoken through me, and His word through my tongue. 3. The God of Israel said to me, the Mighty One of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God. 4. As the light of the dawn, when the sun rises, shining in the morning without clouds, and as the grass sprouts from the earth after rains. 5. Nor is my house so great before God that He should make an everlasting covenant with me, firm in all things and secured. For He is all my salvation and all my desire; nor is there anything from it that does not sprout. 6. But transgressors shall all be plucked up like thorns, which are not taken up with hands. 7. And if anyone wishes to touch them, he will arm himself with iron and the shaft of a lance, and set on fire they will be burned to nothing. 8. These are the names of David's mighty men. He who sits in the chair, the wisest prince among the three — he is like the most tender worm of wood — who killed eight hundred at one charge. 9. After him, Eleazar the son of his uncle, an Ahohite, among the three mighty men who were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they gathered there for battle. 10. And when the men of Israel had retreated, he stood firm and struck down the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stiffened on the sword; and the Lord wrought a great salvation on that day. 11. And after him, Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite; and the Philistines were gathered in a raiding party, for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people had fled before the Philistines, 12. he stood in the middle of the field and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great salvation. 13. Also three of the thirty chiefs went down and came at harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam; and the camp of the Philistines was pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14. And David was then in a stronghold; and a garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15. And David longed, and said: O that someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern that is in Bethlehem, by the gate! 16. Therefore the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the cistern of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David; but he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord, 17. saying: May the Lord be merciful to me, that I should not do this! Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives? He would not therefore drink it. These things the three mighty men did. 18. And Abishai also, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three; he raised his spear against three hundred and killed them. 19. And among the three he was the noblest, and was their chief, but he did not attain to the first three. 20. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a most valiant man, of great deeds, from Kabzeel; he struck down two lions of Moab, and he went down and struck a lion in the middle of a cistern in the days of snow. 21. He also killed an Egyptian man worthy of being seen, having a spear in his hand; he wrested the spear from the Egyptian by force, and killed him with his own spear. 22. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he had a name among the three mighty men, 23. the noblest among the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three; and David made him his personal counselor. 24. Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty: Elhanan the son of his uncle from Bethlehem, 25. Shammah from Harod, Elika from Harod, 26. Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27. Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28. Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29. Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30. Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brook Gaash, 31. Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth from Bahurim, 32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite. The sons of Jashen: Jonathan, 33. Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34. Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35. Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36. Igal the son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite. 39. Uriah the Hittite. All thirty-seven.
Verse 1: The Last Words of David
1. NOW THESE ARE THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID — because through this song he ascended to God in heaven, as St. Jerome says in his Traditions: "after the Psalter and other meters, he is said to have composed this meter." The Chaldean adds that they are called "last" because they contain a prophecy about Christ, who was to be born in the last and final age of the world, according to that saying of St. John, Epistle I, chapter 2, verse 18: "Little children, it is the last hour."
THE MAN SAID TO WHOM IT WAS APPOINTED CONCERNING THE CHRIST OF THE GOD OF JACOB. — First, you may plainly explain this of Christ, that is to say: David said, to whom the promise was made concerning the Messiah, or the "Christ" to be born from him, who is the "Christ of God," the true God whom the Patriarch "Jacob" worshipped, because He was anointed by God as the supreme king and high priest of the world.
THE EXCELLENT PSALMIST OF ISRAEL. — "Excellent" in Hebrew is נעים naim, that is, beautiful, splendid, sweet, pleasing. For such are the Psalms that David composed and ordered to be sung by the Levites in Israel; whence the same are sung in the Christian Church through all ages, places, and temples, and they are the exultation of the Church and the faithful.
Verse 2: The Spirit of the Lord Spoke Through Me
2. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH ME, AND HIS WORD THROUGH MY TONGUE — that is to say: God has spoken through me, and through my tongue, as through an organ and instrument, He dictated the Psalms, according to that saying: "My tongue is the pen of a scribe writing swiftly," Psalm 44, that is to say: Not from myself or from my own talent and understanding, but by the breath of the divine power, I learned and taught to sing to God, and to praise God with hymns and psalms.
Verse 3: A Just Ruler in the Fear of God
3. GOD SAID, ETC., A JUST RULER IN THE FEAR OF GOD. — God is the "ruler" of those who fear God, or of those whom He finds established "in the fear of God"; for He rules and governs them so providently, kindly, and lovingly that He seems almost forgetful of the rest. The Chaldean translates: He said that He would establish a king for me; He is the Messiah, who is to arise and rule in the fear of God.
Verse 4: As the Light of the Dawn
4. AS THE LIGHT OF THE DAWN, WHEN THE SUN RISES, IN THE MORNING WITHOUT CLOUDS IT SHINES. — Just as the light of the dawn shines — understand — so shall my kingdom (David's) shine, and my house and that of other just men, and it shall be splendid, fruitful, and glorious like the sun.
AND AS THE GRASS SPRINGS FROM THE EARTH BY RAINS — so shall my house and posterity spring up and be fruitful. From which it is clear that literally David here speaks of himself and his lineage; but allegorically and principally of Christ to be born from his lineage; for the birth of Christ was from the heavenly grace of the Holy Spirit, and by His watering the Blessed Virgin conceived and bore Christ, according to that saying: "The power of the Most High shall overshadow you."
Verse 5: The Everlasting Covenant
5. NOR IS MY HOUSE SO GREAT BEFORE GOD THAT HE SHOULD ENTER INTO AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH ME — that is to say: I and my house are not so great, nor of such merit, that God would enter into a covenant with me on that account. Therefore God entered into this covenant with me out of His pure mercy, grace, and generosity, by which He willed to choose me alone from the whole world to serve the generation of Christ.
Verse 6: Transgressors Uprooted Like Thorns
6. BUT TRANSGRESSORS SHALL ALL BE UPROOTED LIKE THORNS. — By God, either in this life, or on the day of judgment, when He shall cast them from the earth into the abyss of hell.
7. WHICH ARE NOT TAKEN UP BY HANDS. — He signifies that the wicked, like thorns, are incapable of gentle correction, and their contact is prickly; and therefore one must deal with them not gently but firmly, so that they may be cut down with iron or burned with fire. So God shall cut down the houses of the wicked and set them ablaze with the fire of hell; but He shall prosper and perpetuate my house and that of other just men.
Verse 8: The Names of David's Mighty Men
THESE ARE THE NAMES OF DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN. — Here is woven the catalog of David's mighty soldiers or heroes: first, for the completeness of the history; second, that this praise might be given to their valor. Allegorically, so that these mighty men of David might represent the Apostles of Christ and apostolic men, through whose heroic deeds He Himself subjected the whole world to His faith. Tropologically, so that by their example the faithful might be encouraged to fight bravely against the flesh, the world, and demons. "For the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent seize it," Matthew 11.
HE WHO SITS IN THE CHAIR, THE WISEST PRINCE AMONG THE THREE. — This one sitting is not David, but Josheb-basshebeth (Jesbaam), the first of David's mighty men, as is clearly evident from 1 Chronicles 11:11. Jesbaam is praised here for three excellent gifts: first, for wisdom; second, for humility and meekness, by which he regarded himself as a worm of wood; third, for strength, in that he slew 800. Jesbaam was easy, mild, and kind to friends, like a little worm, but the same man was terrible to enemies like a lion.
Allegorically, Hear Rupert, book 2, chapter 38: "In Christ was the spirit of humility like the most tender worm of wood, under whose guidance He allowed Himself to be crushed: for dying once He despoiled the underworld, and now sitting in the chair He is to judge all, the living and the dead."
Verse 9: Eleazar the Son of Dodo
The first of the mighty men was Jesbaam, the second Eleazar, the third Shammah. And this was the first trio of mighty men.
10. HE STRUCK THE PHILISTINES UNTIL HIS HAND FAILED AND GREW STIFF WITH THE SWORD. — "Grew stiff" from numbness and spasm, says Vatablus. For we experience that from excessive labor and fatigue the hands contract and become numb, so that they cannot be opened: the numbness therefore bound Eleazar's hand to the sword so that it could not be removed from it.
Verse 11: Shammah and the Field of Lentils
11. AND AFTER HIM SHAMMAH. — This is the third in the first trio of mighty men. FOR THERE WAS A FIELD FULL OF LENTILS THERE — which the Philistines wanted to set on fire or plunder, but when the others had fled, Shammah defended it. So says Abulensis.
Verse 13: The Three Chiefs and the Cistern of Bethlehem
15. O IF SOMEONE WOULD GIVE ME A DRINK OF WATER FROM THE CISTERN THAT IS IN BETHLEHEM. — Josephus says: "David said to his men: O what good water we have in my homeland, especially in the cistern near the gate! O if someone would bring it to me!" But the desire of David, as a wise king, was directed more toward Bethlehem itself than toward its water; namely, he wished his homeland to be wrested from the hands of the Philistines and restored to himself and Israel.
BUT HE WOULD NOT DRINK IT: HE POURED IT OUT AS A LIBATION TO THE LORD — lest by drinking the water he should seem to drink and consume the sweat and blood of his heroes, by which it had been obtained. As St. Gregory says, book 9 of the Register, epistle 39: "It was permissible for him to drink, if he had wished; but because he remembered that he had done unlawful things, he laudably abstained even from lawful things." And as Eucherius says: "He conquered nature, so that while thirsting he did not drink, and he provided from himself an example by which the whole army might learn to endure thirst."
Allegorically, St. Ambrose says: "David was thirsting not for water from the pool that is in Bethlehem, but in spirit he foresaw Christ to be born from the Virgin. He wished therefore to drink not the water of a river, but the draught of spiritual grace." Wherefore Methodius, in his oration on the Presentation, addresses the Mother of God thus: "You are that cistern of Bethlehem, which David desired as a restorative of life, from which the cup of immortality flowed forth for all!"
Verse 18: The Second Trio — Abishai, Benaiah, Jonathan
18. ABISHAI ALSO, THE BROTHER OF JOAB, THE SON OF ZERUIAH, WAS CHIEF AMONG THREE MIGHTY MEN — of the second rank and order. For in the first order and trio, the first three mightiest were Jesbaam, Eleazar, and Shammah. Abishai, Benaiah, and Jonathan constituted the second trio of mighty men.
BUT HE DID NOT ATTAIN TO THE FIRST THREE. — Abishai was not from the first trio of mighty men, but from the second, and in it he was the first. David is not numbered here, because he was king; nor Joab, because he was the commander.
Verse 20: Benaiah and the Lions of Moab
20. HE (Benaiah) STRUCK DOWN TWO LIONS OF MOAB — for the lions of Moab are stronger and fiercer than those of India. In the Hebrew these lions are called Ariel, that is, lions of God, that is, great, vast, and fierce; for whatever belongs to God is great.
AND HE STRUCK A LION IN THE MIDDLE OF A CISTERN IN THE DAYS OF SNOW. — Josephus narrates: "When it was snowing, a lion had fallen into a certain pit; Benaiah, who by chance was making a journey, ran toward the roaring of the beast, and having descended into the pit, killed the resisting animal with a blow of the staff he was carrying."
Verse 24: The Thirty Mighty Men
24. ASAHEL THE BROTHER OF JOAB AMONG THE THIRTY. — Besides the two trios of mighty men already listed, here he adds a third group, but ten times larger, containing the other thirty mighty men. The "thirty" are precisely thirty-two, as is evident to anyone counting; but Scripture assigns round numbers.
34. ELIAM THE SON OF AHITHOPHEL. — This "Eliam" was the father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and afterwards of David, as the Hebrews report.
Verse 39: Uriah the Hittite — All Thirty-Seven
39. URIAH THE HITTITE. — Hear Rupert, book 2, chapter 39: "Uriah the Hittite was placed last of the thirty mighty men, namely because of what follows: and the fury of the Lord continued to be angry against Israel."
ALL THIRTY-SEVEN. — For there are thirty-two mighty men, then five mightiest in the first two trios already listed, and when these are added they make thirty-seven in total. Allegorically, these mighty men of David represent the heroes of Christ, who fight bravely not only for themselves but also for defending and saving others. The "house of the mighty" therefore is the Church of Christ, both militant and triumphant.