The Empty Place

Now we come to a vacant place in the list. Only two men are mentioned in this second group of three, leaving an empty place. We are told in the last verse that the number of men was thirty-seven, but when you count them you will see that there are only thirty-six. The only way to reach thirty-seven is to count this empty place. Consequently, there are two groups of three (vv. 8-23), and then thirty-one others (vv. 24-39).

And leaving this place vacant was not an accident. We should not think that David did not know how to count, or that the Spirit of God made a mistake. The point here is that someone lost his place and reward. David had marked him for an honorable mention in the second group, but for some reason it was not given to him. We do not know who he was. Some say it was Joab, and others suggest Jonathan, but I do not think that is the important thing here. I believe it was left vacant to exercise our consciences. It emphasizes the possibility of losing our reward. The Lord said to the church in Philadelphia, "Hold fast what you have, so that no one may take your crown" (Rev. 3:11). This shows that it is quite possible for us to lose our reward. Setting aside the truth in some way could very well mean the loss of our reward. The apostle John says, "Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward" (2 John 8).