Page 667 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_06_MacArthur_Bible_June.qxd 8/8/03 15:52 Page 648

JUNE 28
River, and Shophach the commander of Had- 7 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of
adezer’s army went before them. When it was Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
17
told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed 8 These were born to the giant in Gath, and
over the Jordan and came upon them, and set they fell by the hand of David and by the hand
up in battle array against them. So when David of his servants.
had set up in battle array against the Syrians,
18
they fought with him. Then the Syrians fled
before Israel; and David killed seven thousand
charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers of 20:4–8 See 2 Samuel 21:15–22.The chronicler
the Syrians, and killed Shophach the com- chose not to write of some of the darker days
19
mander of the army. And when the servants in David’s reign,especially the revolt of David’s
of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by son Absalom, for the same reason the iniquity
Israel, they made peace with David and of the king with Bathsheba was left out.This sec-
became his servants. So the Syrians were not tion describes the defeat of 4 Philistine giants at
willing to help the people of Ammon anymore. the hands of David and his men.Though these
It happened in the spring of the year, at events cannot be located chronologically with
20 the time kings go out to battle, that any certainty,the narratives of victory provide a
Joab led out the armed forces and ravaged the fitting preface to David’s song of praise, which
country of the people of Ammon, and came magnifies God’s deliverance (2 Sam.22:1–51).
and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Je-
rusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and over- 20:4 the giant.The Hebrew term is rapha. This
2
threw it. Then David took their king’s crown was not the name of an individual, but a term
from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of used collectively for the Rephaim who inhabit-
gold, and there were precious stones in it. And ed the land of Canaan and were noted for their
inordinate size (Gen. 15:19–21; Num. 13:33;
it was set on David’s head. Also he brought Deut. 2:11; 3:11,13). The term “Rephaim” was
out the spoil of the city in great abundance. used of the people called the “Anakim” (Deut.
3 And he brought out the people who were in it, 2:10,11,20,21), distinguished for their size and
and put them to work with saws, with iron strength. According to Joshua 11:21,22, the
picks, and with axes. So David did to all the “Anakim” were driven from the hill country of
cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and Israel and Judah, but remained in the Philistine
all the people returned to Jerusalem. cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Though the
Philistines had succumbed to the power of Israel’s
army, the appearance of some great champion
revived their courage and invited their hope for
20:1–3 The chronicler was not inspired by God victory against the Israelite invaders.
to mention David’s sin with Bathsheba and sub-
sequent sins recorded in 2 Samuel 11:2–12:23.
The adultery and murder occurred at this Psalm 78:26–33
time, while David stayed in Jerusalem instead 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the
of going to battle.The story was likely omitted heavens;
because the book was written to focus on And by His power He brought in the
God’s permanent interest in His people, Israel, south wind.
and the perpetuity of David’s kingdom. 27 He also rained meat on them like the
dust,
Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;
4 Now it happened afterward that war broke 28 And He let them fall in the midst of
out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time their camp,
Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who All around their dwellings.
was one of the sons of the giant. And they were 29 So they ate and were well filled,
subdued. For He gave them their own desire.
5 Again there was war with the Philistines, 30 They were not deprived of their
and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the craving;
brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of But while their food was still in their
whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. mouths,
6 Yet again there was war at Gath, where 31 The wrath of God came against them,
there was a man of great stature, with twenty- And slew the stoutest of them,
four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six And struck down the choice men
on each foot; and he also was born to the giant. of Israel.

648