And it came to pass after this, that David enquired 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. _And it came to pass after this._] And after that many worthies out of... [ Continue Reading ]
So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. Ver. 2. _And his two wives also._] To take such part as himself, to share with him in his prosperity as they had done in his misery. The Lord Christ likewise will shortly remove his s... [ Continue Reading ]
And his men that [were] with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. Ver. 3. _And his men that were with him did David bring up._] Those that came to him, 1Sa 22:2 and continued with him in all his troubles. He cashiereth them not for all their... [ Continue Reading ]
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, [That] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they] that buried Saul. Ver. 4. _And the men of Judah came._] Together with those others that had resorted to him to Ziklag from the other tribes,... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Saul, and have buried him. Ver. 5. _That ye have showed this kindness unto your lord._] Whose not only subjects ye were - as others... [ Continue Reading ]
And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Ver. 6. _And now the Lord show kindness and truth unto you._] God's mercy and his truth go commonly coupled in holy Scripture. His mercy moveth him to promise, his truth to... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _And be ye valiant._] Heb., Be ye sons of valour: and if ye like to be my liege-people - as the tribe of Judah now are - I will be your... [ Continue Reading ]
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; Ver. 8. _But Abner the son of Ner._] An ambitionist and an atheist; for he went against God's express command, and the light of his own conscience, 2Sa 3:9 to bring about his own des... [ Continue Reading ]
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ver. 9. _And over all Israel._] Except the tribe of Judah, and some few others. 1Ch 12:1-40 This was an ill precedent, and as it were a preparative to that great schism... [ Continue Reading ]
Ishbosheth Saul's son [was] forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. Ver. 10. _And reigned two years,_] _sc., _ Peaceably and quietly, before war fell out betwixt him and David. So Saul is said to have reigned two years, 1Sa 1... [ Continue Reading ]
And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. Ver. 11. _Seven years and six months._] So long the Lord kept him off the full sovereignty, for the further trial and exercise of his faith and patience. Look we for the like, and bear up.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. Ver. 12. _Went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon._] The same with Gibeah of Saul; hither he came with his host, to chastise Judah for their revolt from the house of Saul.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab 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 the pool. Ver. 13. _And then sat down._] David and his men were loath to fight, unless it were in thei... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Ver. 14. _Let the young men now arise, and play before us,_] _i.e., _ _Spectaculi causa pugnent,_ let them hack and hew one another, to make us sport; as the sword players did among the Romans, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. Ver. 15. _And twelve of the servants of David._] So the Romans and Albans tried it out by three of a side - viz., the Horatii and the Curiatii; but this... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Helkathhazzurim, which [is] in Gibeon. Ver. 16. _And they caught every one his fellow._] With such eagerness and fury met these gallants, that e... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David._ Ver. 17. _And there was a very sore battle._] _Ecce hic duellum transit in acre bellum totale._ "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" Jam 3:5 It is far easier to st... [ Continue Reading ]
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild roe. Ver. 18. _Light of foot as a wild roe._] Josephus saith he could make as much speed as a horse. Achilles was ποδας ωκυς, swift of foot; so was Jonathan. 2Sa 1:23 Harold, son o... [ Continue Reading ]
And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Ver. 19. _And Asahel pursued after Abner._] Too great a prize for him, who was _impar conyressus Achilli:_ but he trusted too much to his own abilities-as being no less valiant of his... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, [Art] thou Asahel? And he answered, I [am]. Ver. 20. _Art thou Asahel?_] Abner had no mind to meddle with any son of Zeruiah, David's sister: he therefore first turneth querist to this currist, - Luther's words, - and then twice adviseth him to retreat from p... [ Continue Reading ]
_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. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him._ Ver. 21. _Lay thee hold on one of the young men._] Meddle with thy match, and contend not with him t... [ Continue Reading ]
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 thy brother? Ver. 22. _Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground?_] As I shall be forced to do, if thou desist not. If a man must kill or be ki... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth [rib], 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 s... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 24. _Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner._] Notwithstanding the loss of their brother Asahel; which could not but... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Ver. 25. _And became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill._] They were not so routed but that they could rally: and getting the hill, they stood upon their guard. _Cun... [ Continue Reading ]
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 return from following their brethren? Ver. 26. _Shalt the sword devour for ever?_] The Hebrews ascribe a mouth to t... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. Ver. 27. _Unless thou hadst spoken,_] _q.d., _ Thou mayest thank thyself for the hurt that is done: for thou first madest the challenge. _Aequum est ut f... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more._ Ver. 28. _So Joab blew a trumpet._] After that Abner had first excused unto him the killing of his brother Asahel, as saith Josephus.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. Ver. 29. _And went through all Bithron,_] _i.e., _ Through the separate or divided country: sundered from Canaan by the river Jordan, as Junius rendereth i... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel._ Ver. 30. There lacked of David's servants, &c.] War is the slaughter house of mankind, and the hell of this present world, saith one: _Mars Alpha mal... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 32. _And buried him in the sepulchre of his father._] This they did, likely, after that they had first been with David... [ Continue Reading ]