And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. Ver. 1. _And there happened to be there._] As all pla... [ Continue Reading ]
So every man of Israel went up from after David, [and] followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. Ver. 2. _So every man of Israel._] So fickle and inconstant is that _neutrum modo, mas modo, vulgus,_ the common people. Our Saviour fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. Ver. 3. _And David came to his house... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. Ver. 4. _Within three days._] This task was long; the time short; but the necessity was pressing. _Semper nocuit differre._... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Amasa went to assemble [the men of] Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him._ Ver. 5. _But he tarried longer._] Either through his own remissness, or the people's unwillingness to be commanded by this new general.... [ Continue Reading ]
And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than [did] Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. Ver. 6. _Do us more harm than did Absalom._] David's endless troubles kept his body still in action, hi... [ Continue Reading ]
And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. Ver. 7. Joab's men.] Those that had lately been commanded by him: but he was now _Officiperda,_ which yet held not long,... [ Continue Reading ]
When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. Ver. 8. _And as he went forth, it fell ou... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab said to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. Ver. 9. _Art thou in health, my brother?_] Of all kinds of revenge that is most execrable and deadly, which, like a serpent in the green grass, lies lurking in the flatteries... [ Continue Reading ]
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. Ver. 10. _So he smote him therewith in th... [ Continue Reading ]
And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab. Ver. 11. And one of Joab's men stood by him.] This soldier was left there by Joab to justify the fact, and to advise them to march on, notwithstanding it. One interpreter saith... [ Continue Reading ]
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. Ver. 12. _And Amasa wallowed in blood._] Beating him... [ Continue Reading ]
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. Ver. 13. _All the people went on after Joab._] So fast affected they were to him, notwithstanding these foul miscarriages and David's displeasure to boot.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. Ver. 14. _And he went through all the tribes of Israel._] First Sheba did, and then Joab at the heels of him, as our forces were at the heels of... [ Continue Reading ]
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. Ver. 15. _And they came and besieged him._] Who now probably repented him of his bold and treach... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. Ver. 16. _Then cried a wise woman out of the city._] There are wise women, then, as well as men: souls have no sexes. It was a foolish speech of him - “ Mισω σοφην γαναικα... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, [Art] thou Joab? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Ver. 17. _And he answered, I do hear._] He slighted her not, though a weak woman. If he had, she might fitly have sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter]. Ver. 18. _They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,_] _q.d., _ You need not take scorn to take my counsel, since I was born and bred at Abel, the common oracle... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? Ver. 19. _I am one of them, &c._] See on 2 Samuel 20:18 . _ Thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel,_] _i.e., _... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy._ Ver. 20. _Far be it, far be it from me._] He utterly disclaimeth and disavoweth all such bloodthirstiness as wherewith she chargeth him. He affected not the title of Poliorcetes or city-destroyer: but r... [ Continue Reading ]
The matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, [even] against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. Ver. 21. _Del... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast [it] out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king._ Ver. 22. _Then the woman went to all... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: Ver. 23. _Now Joab was over all the host._] He would be so; neither was it in David's power to put him by; so great a sway bare he in the army, who were all for General Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
And Adoram [was] over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder: Ver. 24. _And Adoram was over the tribute._] All was as before, 2Sa 8:15-18 David being fully reestablished; save that this Adoram _praeerat pecuniae recipiendae,_ was treasurer for the tribute, which came in from... [ Continue Reading ]
And Sheva [was] scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar [were] the priests: Ver. 25. _And Sheva was scribe._] The same with that Seraiah, 2Sa 8:17 or else some other succeeding him, being now dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. Ver. 26. _Was a chief ruler about David,_] Heb., A prince, or a priest: whence some make him president of the council; others, the king's chaplain or his almoner; others, his peculiar and familiar friend. _a_ a _Amicus intimus et consiliarius... [ Continue Reading ]