Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

1CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 11

1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel. 3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

Everyone knew that Samuel had anointed David to be the next king. And everyone knew the reason was because God had appointed him to be the ruler of Israel.
So everyone came to Hebron (all the elders of all the tribes), and there they anointed David to be king and submitted themselves to his leadership.
Everyone SHOULD know that Jesus is the King of all ages. And we all should come before Him submitting to His leadership.

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. 6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. 7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.

Joshua had led the nation into Canaan, and the nation was supposed to CONQUER that land and all its cities.
However, they did not. For over 400 years the nation of Israel fought for existence and never obtained domination of land. There were still many places they had not taken total control. Jersualem was one of those places.
David set about completing the task as God had outlined it - CONQUER the land. He set his sights first on Jerusalem. It was a greatly fortified city with an army of renown.
God helped David to conquer that city. God used Joab, a man of fierce allegiance to David, for the job.
Jerusalem was conquered. Then David set about completing the task and bringing the whole land under total control of the Israelite nation.
Churches today need to set GOALS. Get busy visiting in the immediate area around the church first. Do it for God and expect God to fulfill all His promises. Those who will be saved will be saved.
Then churches need to "launch out." Set goals for reaching the surrounding area. Again, we must do it for God, and expect Him to complete the task.
Here was a man who sinned. Here was a man who failed. Here was a man fraught with troubles constantly.
Yet here was a man who FAITHED GOD! David committed his life to accomplishing God's goals for this nation. And God blessed that commitment. David, the Bible says, "..waxed greater and greater.." (verse 9).

10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. 12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance. 15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! 18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest. 20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three. 21 Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day. 23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. 25 Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.

David appointed leaders. He did not do all the work himself. He appointed men of loyalty and devotion. Then he let them do their jobs.
Each of these men proved their devotion and their abilities and their accomplishments are listed. They are called, "...mighty men.." (verse 10).
I believe God has called His people and endowed them with specific characteristics and abilities. Everyone in the church should have a job to do, and as we grow in Christ some can "graduate" into larger work.
Eleazar determined he would not run (verse 14). I believe this is indicative of our Christian walk today. Eleazar determined to "stand his ground" and fight for God. God delivered him.
Often, Christians meet with opposition when they try to walk for God. God will deliver us if we will stand firm in dedication and obedience.
Oh! That Christians would stand their ground against evil today and not shrink from the confrontation!
Three of these men were so fiercely loyal to David they risked their lives just to fulfill his whim of wanting a drink of water (verses 15-18). That well was surrounded by Philistines!
David realized he was a sinful man and did not deserve such loyalty. When they brought the water to him, he poured it out as a drink offering to God. Thus he gave God the glory for the loyalty and dedication of these men.
When we have a friend, it is not because of the good we do. It is because God has BLESSED us!
Jesus is such a Friend! And He deserves every ounce of our loyalty and dedication.

26 Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-ezer the Antothite, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Here are listed other men who were valiant in the work of God under the leadership of David.
In order for the church to go forward today, we need more people who are willing to serve without concern for who gets the acclaim as long as God gets the GLORY!
And we need more leaders who are committed to giving God the glory for all that is accomplished.
Just as these men are recorded for their work, God is recording our work today.

Please continue in Bible Study with us.