(21) Of the three, he was more honourable than the two.--The Hebrew text here varies from Samuel, which has "Above (or out of) the three, was he not honoured? n The reading of Chronicles seems to be an exegetical alteration of this, and should probably be rendered, "Above the three of the second rank he was honoured," i.e., he was the most honoured member of the second triad. So the Vulg., et inter tres secun-dos inclitus. The LXX. has ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ("Of the three, renowned above the two"). But the Hebrew expression, which means literally, "in the two," seems plainly to indicate a second group of three. Otherwise, we might translate: "Of the three he was honoured among the two," that is, above the other two members of his triad. Both here and in 1 Chronicles 11:20 the Syriac reads thirty instead of three: "Above the thirty he was honoured, and he became chief over them and warlike; the thirty he used to make" (1 Chronicles 11:21). The Arabic is more correct: "And he was mightier than the two, and chief over them twain, and he came not to the three."
Howbeit he attained not . . .--Literally, but to the three he came not, i.e., the first triad of warriors (1 Chronicles 11:11-14).
11:10-47 An account is given of David's worthies, the great men who served him. Yet David reckoned his success, not as from the mighty men that were with him, but from the mighty God, whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they strengthened themselves and their own interest, for his advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support of the kingdom of the Son of David; and those that are faithful to Him, shall find their names registered much more to their honour, than these are in the records of fame.
And inquired not of the Lord,.... For though he did inquire in some sense in an external, careless, and hypocritical manner, yet not done seriously, sincerely, and heartily, nor with constancy; it was accounted as if he inquired not at all, 1 Samuel 28:6 the Targum adds another reason of his death, because he killed the priests of Nob; but that is not in the text:
therefore he slew him; or suffered him to be slain:
and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse; translated the kingdom of Israel out of Saul's family, upon his death, into Jesse's, even unto David; for the sake of which observation this short account is given of the last end of Saul.
Howbeit he attained not . . .--Literally, but to the three he came not, i.e., the first triad of warriors (1 Chronicles 11:11-14).
therefore he slew him; or suffered him to be slain:
and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse; translated the kingdom of Israel out of Saul's family, upon his death, into Jesse's, even unto David; for the sake of which observation this short account is given of the last end of Saul.