Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

We have here the last will and testament of king David, or a codicil annexed to it, after he had settled the crown upon Solomon and his treasures upon the temple which was to be built. The last words of great and good men are thought worthy to be in a special manner remarked and remembered. David would have those taken notice of, and added either to his Psalms (as they are here to that in the foregoing chapter) or to the chronicles of his reign. Those words especially in 2 Sam. 23:5; though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:6

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away ,.... Not like the tender grass that springs up, and flourishes after rain, and the sunshine upon that; but like thorns, useless, hurtful, and pernicious, and fit only for burning: this is true of wicked men in general, that cast off the yoke of the Lord, and become unprofitable, as Belial signifies; and of wicked governors in particular, who, instead of being helpful, are harmful to a commonwealth; and instead of being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 23:6

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns - There is no word in the text for sons; it is simply Belial, the good-for-nothing man, and may here refer - first to Saul, and secondly to the enemies of our Lord. As thorns thrust away - A metaphor taken from hedging; the workman thrusts the thorns aside either with his bill or hand, protected by his impenetrable mitten or glove, till, getting a fair blow at the roots, he cuts them all down. The man is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

The fruitful lessons of David's last words. The facts are: 1 . There is a statement that these are the last words of David, who is spoken of in a fourfold respect. 2 . It is affirmed that the utterance which follows is expressly by the Spirit of God. 3 . The true ruler is described as one who is just and one fearing God; and the effects of his government are compared to the light of a bright morning, and the tender grass after rain. 4 . David affirms that his house is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

( Matthew 1:1 ) The son of Jesse, and the Son of David. The relation of David to Jesus, regarded in the light of prophecy and history, was one of: 1 . Hereditary connection; inasmuch as he not only belonged to the tribe of Judah ( Genesis 49:10 ; Hebrews 7:14 ; Revelation 5:5 ) and the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite ( Isaiah 11:1 ), but was ancestor of Jesus ( Matthew 1:16 ; Luke 3:23 ); who was thus legal heir to "the throne of his father David," and was born in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

The righteous Ruler. David, in his last days, like Jacob and Moses, received the spirit of prophecy, and was thus enabled to predict the coming of the perfect King, sprung from himself; the blessings of his reign, and his triumph over his enemies. These "last words" of his are, indeed, regarded by some as primarily a description of what a ruler of men should be, and as only secondarily, if at all, relating to the Christ. Our Authorized Version favours this interpretation by introducing in ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:3-7

An oracle concerning the King Messiah. 1 . The hope of salvation, and more especially of the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon earth, was, in some measure, fulfilled in the reign of David, the Lord's messiah. In his character as theocratic ruler he was a type (prefigurement or anticipatory outline) of Christ ( 1 Samuel 2:10 ). "The type is prophecy in deed." 2 . Under Divine inspiration, he formed an ideal of a theocratic ruler, in connection with his own personality... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:6-7

The sons of Belial; Hebrew, belial ; not a proper name, but a word signifying "worthlessness," and especially vicious worthlessness (see note on 1 Samuel 1:16 ). It is from this worthlessness that opposition arises to the just king, and he recognizes it as that which thwarts his efforts. The words may be rendered ― "But the ungodly are as thorns, to be all of them thrust away; For they may not be taken hold of with the hand. And the man that would touch them Must arm himself with... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 23:6-7

2 Samuel 23:6-7. But the sons of Belial Having in the foregoing verses described the nature and stability of that kingdom which God had, by a sure covenant, settled upon him and his seed; and especially upon the Messiah, who was to be one of his posterity; he now describes the nature and miserable condition of all the enemies of this holy and blessed kingdom. Shall be all as thorns Which men do not use to handle, but thrust them away. And so will God thrust away from himself, and from his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 23:1-7

Two psalms (22:1-23:7)The first of these two psalms was written by David to celebrate his victories over his enemies. Later it was put to music for use in the temple services and appears in the book of Psalms as Psalms 18:0.David began the psalm by praising God who constantly answered his prayers and saved him from death (22:1-7). God displayed his mighty power in earthquakes, wind, rain, lightning, thunder and darkness (8-16), and sometimes he used these forces to save David from his enemies... read more

Group of Brands