THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. THIS book is wholly occupied with the history of the reign of David, embracing a period of forty years. It commences with his accession to the sovereignty of Judah, and exhibits his growing strength, until his authority is established over all Israel. It relates the capture of Jerusalem, which he constituted the capital of his kingdom, both for civil and sacred purposes; his subjugation of the whole of the promised land, and of the adjacent nations, on the east and south, which had so greatly molested the Israelites; thus extending his sway to the utmost boundaries of the land promised to Abraham; and his zealous and successful efforts to promote the prosperity of his people, to provide for the worship of God, and to effect the reformation of religion. In connection with these events are impartially recorded his grievous aberrations from the path of duty, and the painful chastisements, both domestic and public, with which he was visited in consequence. In the history of David begins the fulfilment of Jacob's prediction respecting the pre-eminence of the tribe of Judah (Gen. xlix. 8). The elevation of the shepherd of Bethlehem to the throne is followed by the greatness of his family and of the tribe; and the men of Judah appear as the foremost on all important occasions. This accomplishment of the first part of the ancient prophecies respecting the favoured tribe, could not but engage the 1 | attention of the pious Israelites to other portions which remained yet to be fulfilled, respecting Him to whom the gathering of the people' was to be. The contents of this book may be arranged under two general divisions : I. THE TRIUMPHS OF DAVID; comprising David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (ch. i.); his election as king, first over Judah, and then over all Israel (ii. -iv.); his capture of Jerusalem, and victories over the Philistines (v.); the bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem (vi.); his desire to build a temple, God's covenant of mercy with him, and his prayer and thanksgiving (vii.); the subjugation of the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Ammonites, etc. (viii.—x.)_ II. THE TROUBLES OF DAVID, with their cause; his repentance, and subsequent history; including David's sin in respect to Uriah, and Nathan's reproof (xi, xii.); Amnon's sin, and murder by Absalom (xiii.); Absalom's rebellion, ending in his defeat and death (xiv.---xix.); rebellion of Sheba, and its suppression (xx.); avengement of the Gibeonites (xxi. 1-14); battles with the Philistines (xxi. 15-22); David's psalm of thanksgiving, and last words (xxii., xxiii. 1-7); his chief military officers (xxiii. 8-39); his offence in numbering the people, with its punishment; his prayer and sacrifice (xxiv.) Tidings of Saul's death brought to David; his lamentation for Saul and Jonathan. NOW it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, 3 when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the 4 camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 1 Sam. 30. 17-26. b ch. 4. 10. Jos. 7. 6; 1 Sam. 4. 12. d1 Sam. 31. 1. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that 6 Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said,1 As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; 7 and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked 8 behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And 9 he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me; for anguish is 10 come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: Judg. 9. 54. and I took the crown2 that was upon his head, and the bracelet3 that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the 12 men that were with him: and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 1 This Amalekite probably followed the camp in order to plunder the slain after the battle (1 Sam. xxxi. 8); and finding the body and crown of Saul, was induced, by the hope of winning David's favour, to declare falsely that he had given the fatal wound. ver. 3; ch. 3. 31; 13. 31. A1 Sam. 31. 13. 2 It is most likely that this 'crown' was a cap surrounded with a broad fillet of gold, intended to serve also as a helmet. 3 In the East, bracelets or armlets, when worn by men, are generally royal insignia. 13 i Num. 12. & 1 Sam. 31. 4 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And 14 he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to 'stretch forth thine hand to destroy the 15 LORD's anointed? And " David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, 16 and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, ch. 4. 10, 12 Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed. 17 0 1 Sam. 24. 6; 26.9; P. 105. 15. Gr. 9, 5, 6: 1 Sam. 26. 9; 1 Ki 2 32, 33, 37. ⚫ ver. 10; Lk. 19. 22 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his 18 son: (also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, 1 Sam. 31. & it is written in the book of Jasher.)? 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places : 27 Thy love to me was wonderful,-passing the love of women. 2 How are the mighty fallen,--and the weapons of war perished! David reigns over Judah, and Ish-bosheth over Israel; battle at Gibeon between 9 Jos. 10. 13. Lam. 2. 1. ' vers. 25, 27. Deu. 32. 26, 27; Judg. 16 23,24; 1 Sam. 31. 9; Mic. L. 10. "see Ex. 15, 20; Judg. 11. 34; 1 Sam. 18 6; 1 Chr. 10. 1, & 1 Sam. 31. 4; Is. 21.5. 1 Sam. 31. 1. so Judg. 5. 23; Job 33,4; Jer. 20. 14. a1 Sam. 10. 1. 1 Sam. 14.7-14; 18. 4; 31. 2-5 Deu. 28. d ch. 23. 20; Judg. 14. 18. vers. 19, 27. 1 Sam. 18. 1-4; 19. 2; 20. 17, 41; 23 16 E ver. 19. A Judg. 1. 1; 1 Sam. 23. 2, 4, 9; 30. 7, 8 1 Sam. 30. 31; 1 Ki 2 il AND it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto 'Hebron. ver. 1 h. $ 1.3: 2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 3 and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. And 'his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of 4 Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 1 Sam. 25. 42, 43; 11 Sam. 27. 2,3; 30 1; cb. 5 5: Ge. 49. 8-10 And they told David, saying, That "the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that "1 Sam. 31. 11–13. 5 buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and 1 The words 'the use of' are not in the original; and 'The Bow' appears, from the context, to be the title of the following elegy; derived, perhaps, according to Oriental custom, either from the occurrence of the word 'bow' in ver. 22, or from the facts related in 1 Sam. xxxi. 3. Comp. Hos. i. 5. 2 See note on Josh. x. 13. 3 The Hebrew word signifies also an antelope, or gazelle -an animal greatly admired for its gracefulness and agility. It is repeatedly referred to as a model of that swiftness of foot which was so valuable an acquirement in a warrior. See ver. 23; ch. ii. 18; 1 Chron. xii. 8. This passage may therefore be translated, 'Gazelle of Israel, slain upon thine own mountains;' and probably refers exclusively to Jonathan. See ver. 25. 4 Alluding to the triumphal songs which were sung by the women. See 1 Sam. xviii. 7. 5 These words may also be rendered, 'The shield of the mighty ones is polluted (i. e. with dust and blood), the shield of Saul is not anointed with oil.' See Isa. xxi. 5. This would then be a poetic intimation that Saul, in the hurry of despair, had neglected the usual preparations for the battle. 6 This may allude either to a general increase of wealth through the country during the reign of Saul, or, more probably, to booty taken in war. See Judg. v. 28--30. 7 David does not take a single step towards the attainment of the promised kingdom, without Divine direction; inquiring first whether he should await an invitation to fill the vacant throne, and then how far he should go in attracting to himself the notice of the people. Hebron, whither God directed him to proceed, was peculiarly fitted for his purpose, on account of its patriarchal associations, its Levitical sacredness, and its central position in the tribe of Judah. 8 This was one of the largest towns on the cast of the Jordan; and it was therefore important to secure the adherence of its inhabitants to David's cause. Ru. 2. 20; 3. 10: 1 15 said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness 6 unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because; 7 ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son 9 of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, 10 and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed 11 David. And 'the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 9 ch. 10. 2. 1 Sam. 14. 50. tch. 5. 5; 1 Ki. 2 11. Jos. 18. 25. Jer. 41. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, 13 went out from Mahanaim to "Gibeon. And Joab3 the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of 14 the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play Pro. 10. 23; 26. 18, 19. 15 before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and 16 twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim [i. e. the field of strong men], 17 which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18 2 1 Chr. 12. 8. P. 18. 33; Cant. 2. 17; 8 14 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: Chr. 2. 16. 19 and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following 20 Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he 21 answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour 22 [or, spoil. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab 23 thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib,8 that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood 24 still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. Judg. 14. 19. d ch. 3. 27; 4.6; 20.10. ch. 11. 25; Jer. 2.30; Hos. 11. 6. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and 26 became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people 27 return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one ver. 14; Pro. 17. 14 28 from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed 30, over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people 31 together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three 1 Some have inferred, from ch. iii. 1, that Ish-bosheth reigned longer than two years; but others think that there were considerable intervals before and after his short reign, during which the national affairs were in an unsettled state. 2 As Gibeon was near the frontier of Judah, Abner's movement was naturally regarded by David as aggressive. 3 This distinguished commander of David's forces was son of David's sister Zeruiah. Hence he and his brothers, Abishai and Asahel, are designated by their mother's rather than their father's name. 4 The men on both sides were probably unwilling to fight, feeling that they were fellow-countrymen; and David's men had probably received instructions to act entirely on the defensive, in accordance with his wise policy. See ver. 27. 5 This challenge to a trial of strength seems to have been designed by Abner to bring on a general engagement. 6 Ancient warriors valued highly, as a trophy, the armour of an enemy slain by their own hand. 7 The lower end had a spike, which was used for fixing the spear in the ground (1 Sam. xxvi. 7). 8 That is, in the abdomen.' Asahel's swiftness, upon which he presumed so much, hastened his death. 9 Joab throws the blame of the battle on Abner, whose proposal (see vers. 13, 14) had led to the slaughter. 32 hundred and threescore men died. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. 3 k David's growing power, and his family; Abner comes over to him, but is killed by Joab. NOW there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker 2 and weaker. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-borne parallel passage, 3 was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah 4 daughter of Talmai king 'of Geshur; and the fourth, Adonijah the son of 5 Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 1 Chr. 3. 1-4 41 Sam. 25. 43 27. 8. " eh. 21. 8-10 • ch. 16. 21. 23. 18; 1 Sam. 24. 14. And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the 7 house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was "Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's con8 cubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the ch. 8; 16. 9: Den. house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault concerning 9 this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath 10 sworn to David, even so I do to him; to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, 11 Dan even to Beer-sheba. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because 'he feared him. 12 R. 1. 17: 1 Ki 19. 2. 1 Sam. 15 28; 16 1, 12; 28 17; 1 Chr. 12. 23. from⚫ch. 17. 11: Judg. 20. 1; 1 K. 4. 25. ver. 39. 1 Sam. 18. 25, 27. 1 Sam. 25. 44, Phaiří, a ch. 19. 16 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, 13 to bring about all Israel unto thee. And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, "Thou shalt not see my face," so Ge. 43. 3. except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my 1 Sam. 18. 20-28. 14 face. And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the 15 Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from 16 Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for 18 David in times past to be king over you: now then do it: for the LORD hath ver. 9. spoken of David, saying. By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand or the Satires, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 19 And Abner also spake in the Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak 1 Sam. 10. 20, 21; in the ears of David in Hebron strat seemed good to Israel, and that seemed 20 good to the whole house of Benjamin. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with 21 him a feast. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather vers. 10, 12 all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent 1 KL. 11. 37. Abner away; and he went in peace. 22 d 1 Chr. 12. 29. And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; 23 for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner 24 came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto 25 thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy Sam. 29. 6; la. W. going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, 27 which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And 1 Rather, 'put forth his strength;' 'did his utmost.' 2 According to the usages of the East, the wives and concubines of a deceased sovereign became the property of his successor; so that the act imputed to Abner might be interpreted as a design upon the crown. 3 Michal had not been legally divorced, but forcibly separated from her husband, as Phaltiel might have 28. known. David probably demanded her restoration now partly on political grounds; hereby reminding the people of his connection with Saul's family. 4 Saul having been of this tribe, the Benjamites were specially devoted to his family. 5 Probably a troop of border-marauders, who had taken advantage of the civil discords of the country. 28 when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly [or, peaceably], and smote him' there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless 29 before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: *let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one 'that hath an issue, or that is "a leper, or that leaneth on a 30 staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother " Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king 32 David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people 33 wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool2 dieth? 34 Thy hands were not bound,3 -nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before wicked men, 35 3333333 -so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, 'So do God 36 to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, "till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king 38 to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not 39 that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this 1 Sam. 14. 50. day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. Ish-bosheth is slain; his murderers are punished by David. a 4 AND when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were 2 feeble, and all the Israelites were 'troubled. And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: 3 (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: and the Beerothites fled to d Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) C y ch. 19. 7. see eb. 19. 13; 1 KI. 2. 5, 6, 33, 34; Ps. 28. 4; 62. 12; 2 Tim. 4. 14. a Ezra 4 4: Ne. 6. 9; Is. 13. 7; 35. 3; Jer. 6. 24. b Mt. 2. 3. Jos. 18. 25. Ne. 11. 33. ch. 9. 3. 4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame5 of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his 1 Sam. 29. 1, 11. nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was & Mephibosheth. 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah 7 his brother escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took 8 his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and *the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 9 8 or, Merib-baal,1 Chr. 8. 34; 9. 40. A ch. 2. 23. ch. 2. 29; Ge. 13, 10; 19. 17; Deu. 1. 1. 1 Sam. 19. 2-11; 20. 1; 23 15; 25, 29. * ch. 18. 19, 31; 22. 48. Ge. 48. 16: 1 Kl. 1. 29; Ps. 31. 7. ch. 1. 2-15. And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, 'who hath redeemed my 10 soul out of all adversity, when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in 11 Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: how much more," when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house" 1 Ki. 2. 32. 1 The justice of God appears in the death of Abner, who had, from personal and ambitious motives, knowingly opposed His declared will (see ver. 9), and had deserted Ish-bosheth only through pique or revenge. 2 Rather, as a vile person,' or 'criminal.' 3 The hands and feet of malefactors were bound. By these expressions David meant that Abner had not been condemned in the regular course of justice. 4 This place originally belonged to the Gibeonites; and they had been allowed to remain there after this district, at the partition of the country, was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. See Josh. ix. 17, 18; xviii. 25. 5 Which, according to Eastern notions, would exclude Mephibosheth from succeeding to the throne. This bodily defect probably emboldened the murderers of his uncle; for he, as the next heir, was the avenger of blood. 6 For the use of the soldiers, who were maintained at the king's charge. The Greek version is, 'Now, behold! the door-keeper of his house had been cleaning wheat; and, being drowsy, had fallen asleep. So Rechab and Baanah, the brothers, escaped notice, and went into the house,' etc. |