(36) Hepher the Mecherathite.--Wanting in the present text of Samuel. Mecherah is unknown as a place, and a comparison with Samuel (1Chronicles 11:34) suggests "Hepher the Maachathite," i.e., of Abelbeth-Maachah, or perhaps the Syrian state of Maachah (2Samuel 10:8).

Ahijah the Pelonite.--Instead of this Samuel has "Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite." For Ahithophel, see 2Samuel 15:31.

The Pelonite--i.e., so-and-so, may indicate either that Ahithophel's name had become obscure in the chronicler's MS., or that he was unwilling to mention the traitor. Ahijah (Jah is a brother) and Eliam (God is a kinsman) might be names of one person.

Verse 36. - Hepher the Mecherathite. Although this name is not found in the parallel passage, it is tolerably plain that the niche for it is left before the words (ver. 34), "the son of the Maachathite," which last word answers to our Mecherathite. Ahijah the Pelonite. This name cannot be identified with the "Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite," which answers to it in the parallel.

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.