The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

CHAP. V. from beginning to Ver. 11. And I CHRON. XI. all.

[World 2957] [David 8] DAVID anointed King over all Israel at Hebron, and from thence brought by all Israel to Jerusalem, to settle him there, and to make that the Royal City. He reigned in all 40 years; in Hebron seven years and an half, and at Jerusalem 32 years and an half: And this latter was exactly the time of our Saviours life upon earth.

Joab after Davids curse upon him for Abners murder, is yet made Comman∣der in chief for his taking of Jerusalem.

The prosperity of David at Jerusalem, and his building of it, is presently set down after the Story of the taking of the City; as beginning from that time, and continuing, and going along with the times of the following Stories, and so to be carried in mind.

Then doth the Book of Chronicles give account of Davids Worthies: Which Catalogue is also mentioned by this Book of Samuel, but with this difference of place, that in the Chronicles it is set in the beginning of Davids Reign, and in Samuel in the latter end: And both very properly and much like to the pla∣cing of our Saviours Genealogy in Matthew and Luke, the one giving it at his Birth, and the other at his Baptism, and both upon singular reason. And so here the Book of Chronicles reckons up these men as those that helped David to his settlement in the Kingdom, and therefore it mentions them in the beginning of his reign, and the Book of Samuel reckons them up at the latter end of his reign, as those that had stuck to him all the time of his reign, and helped to keep him in that settlement.

In both the Books there is first reckoned a Triumvirate, or three gallant men that were of a rank by themselves, and none were equal with them, or like unto them: And these were

• 1. Joab, whose chief Captain-ship is related presently before, upon the sack∣ing of Jerusalem.
• 2. Adino the Eznite by name, called also Jashobeam by Office, that is, one that sat on the seat among the people as Judge: the immediate Son of Zabdiel, 1 Chron. 27. 2. but called a Hachmonite or the Son of Hachmoni for his former ancestry. He lift up his spear against eight hundred men at one time, and slew three hundred* 1.1 of them. His name differs but one letter from Jeroboams, the one promoted Davids Kingdom, and the other opposed it.
• 3. Eliazar the Son of Dodo the Ahohite, 1 Chron. 27. 4. of Bethlehem.

After these first three brave men, both the Books reckon a second Triumvi∣rate or three gallant men more, of an inferiour rank to the former three, but of a superiour to all others. These were

• 1. Abishai the brother of Joab, and nephew of David: he was the chief of this Triumvirate, but his story is handled in the second place, because of the likeness of the stories of Eleazar and Shamma, the one defending a field of Bar∣ley, and the other a field of Lentiles; and for this likeness their stories are laid together.
• 2. Shammah, The Book of Chronicles neither uttereth his name, nor menti∣oneth his defending a field of Lentiles against the Philistims: but it includeth that story in the story of the three mens breaking through the quarters of the Philistims to the Well of Bethlehem: for he was one of the three, and this act of his in defending the Lentiles was in that expedition, and therefore the Book of Samuel hath given a note that that expedition was in harvest: and the act was done in the valley of Rephaim.
• 3. Benaiah a Priest, 1 Chron. 27. 5.

After these two brave ranks of three and three, there were thirty gallant Captains and Comanders more, but yet that attained not to the dignity of ei∣ther of these ranks.

The Book of Chronicles reckons many more names then the Book of Samuel, for it reckoneth some other valiant Commanders that helped forward Davids settlement, but were not of the highest and eminentest places after.

Notes

• * 1.1

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