SAMUEL CHAPTER 21 A three years famine, declared by God to be for the Gibeonites sake, ceaseth by their hanging seven of Saul's sons, 2 SAMUEL 21:1. Rizpah preserveth the dead bodies, 2 SAMUEL 21:10,11. David burieth the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as also of them that were hung up, in his father's... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL SOUGHT TO SLAY THEM, i. e. he sought occasions and pretences how he might cut them off with some colour of law or justice, diligently searching out and aggravating their faults, and punishing them worse than they deserved; oppressing them with excessive labours, and openly killing some of them,... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE GIBEONITES; to some of the chief of them, who were to impart it to the rest. WHAT SHALL I DO FOR YOU? what satisfaction do you expect or require for the injuries formerly done to you? THAT YE MAY BLESS THE INHERITANCE OF THE LORD; that by your acknowledgment of satisfaction received, the gu... [ Continue Reading ]
ANY MAN IN ISRAEL; except Saul's family, as it here follows. WHAT YOU SHALL SAY, to wit, in any reason, and as far as God's law will permit.... [ Continue Reading ]
That we should be either killed, or banished from the land of Israel; which is as bad as death to us, because here, and here only, God is truly worshipped and enjoyed. Whereby it seems divers of them were hearty proselytes, and godly persons; and therefore God is more severe in punishing the injurie... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE LORD; to vindicate his honour, which was injured by Saul's violation of the oath and covenant of God, and to appease his wrath. IN GIBEAH OF SAUL; Saul's country, 1 SAMUEL 10:26, 1 SAMUEL 11:4, for their greater shame. WHOM THE LORD DID CHOOSE; this is added to aggravate Saul's offence, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING SPARED MEPHIBOSHETH; for the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, without designing the persons, it was at David's choice whom to spare. Or, he prevailed with the Gibeonites that they did not demand him; and with the Lord, that he might not be one of those who were devoted to destruction... [ Continue Reading ]
RIZPAH; Saul's concubine, 2 SAMUEL 21:11 2 SAMUEL 3:7. THE FIVE SONS OF MICHAL, or, of Michal's sister, to wit, Merab; for Michal had no children, 2 SAMUEL 6:23, nor was she married to this Adriel, but to _Phalti_, or _Phaltiel, the son of Laish_, 1 SAMUEL 25:44 2 SAMUEL 3:15; and Merab her sister w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DELIVERED THEM INTO THE HANDS OF THE GIBEONITES. QUEST. How could David do this, when he had sworn that he would not cut off Saul's seed, 1 SAMUEL 24:21,22 ? ANSW. Because he had special warrant and direction from God about it, who, as all confess, can dispense with men's oaths and with his own l... [ Continue Reading ]
SPREAD IT FOR HER, as a tent to dwell in; being informed that their bodies were not to be taken away speedily, as the course of the law was in other and ordinary cases, DEUTERONOMY 21:23, but were to continue there until God was entreated, and did remove the present judgment. And God was herein plea... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS TOLD DAVID; who heard it with so much approbation, that he thought fit to imitate her piety, being by her example provoked to do what hitherto he had neglected, to bestow an honourable interment upon the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and, with them, upon those that were now put to death, that... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having first burnt off the flesh which remained upon them when they were taken down. Compare 1 SAMUEL 31:10, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
ZELAH; a place in Benjamin, mentioned JOSHUA 18:28. AFTER THAT; after those things were done which were before related, i.e. after they were hanged up; for by that God was pacified, and not by their burial. So the relative belongs to the remoter antecedent. Or if this relate to what was last mention... [ Continue Reading ]
These wars, though here related, were transacted long before this time: of which SEE POOLE ON "2 SAMUEL 21:1". For it is no way probable, either that the Philistines, being so fully and perfectly subdued by David, 2 SAMUEL 8:1, should in his days be in a capacity of waging war with the Israelites; o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GIANT; so called by way of eminency. Or, _of Rapha_, a giant so called. THE WEIGHT OF WHOSE SPEAR WEIGHED THREE HUNDRED SHEKELS: see 1 SAMUEL 17:5. WITH A NEW SWORD, or rather, _with a new girdle_ or belt; for, first, This was the usual habit of soldiers, 1 SAMUEL 18:4 2 SAMUEL 18:11 1 KINGS 2:5... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest thou be slain, and thereby thy people be ruined. Good kings are in Scripture justly called the light of their people, as 1 KINGS 11:36, 1 KINGS 15:4 PSALMS 132:17, because the beauty and glory, the conduct and direction, the comfort, and safety, and welfare of a people depend upon them, and com... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS; after the battle last mentioned. AT GOB, or, _in Gezer_, as it is 1 CHRONICLES 20:4; whereby it seems _Gob_ and _Gezer_ were neighbouring places, and the battle fought in the confines of both. SIBBECHAI THE HUSHATHITE; one of David's worthies, 1 CHRONICLES 11:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
ELHANAN. THE BROTHER OF GOLIATH THE GITTITE: the relative word _brother_ is not in the Hebrew text, but is fitly supplied out of the parallel place, 1 CHRONICLES 20:5, where it is expressed. And such defects of relatives are not unusual in Scripture. Thus the word _wife_ is understood, MATTHEW 1:6 1... [ Continue Reading ]
IN GATH, i. e. in the territory of the city of Gath; which circumstance intimates that this, and consequently the other battles here described, were fought before David had taken Gath out of the hands of the Philistines, which he did 2 SAMUEL 8:1, compared with 1 CHRONICLES 18:1, and therefore not i... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL BY THE HAND OF DAVID; either because they were slain by his conduct, and counsel, or concurrence; for he contributed by his hand to the death of one of them, whilst maintaining a fight with him, he gave Abishai the easier opportunity of killing him, 2 SAMUEL 21:16,17; or because what is done by... [ Continue Reading ]