Shalt feed — That is, rule them, and take care of them, as a
shepherd doth of his sheep, Psalms 78:70. This expression, he useth to
admonish David, that he was not made a king to advance his own glory,
but for the good of his people; whom he ought to rule with all
tenderness, and to watch over with... [ Continue Reading ]
A league — Whereby David obliged himself to rule them according to
God's laws; and the people promised obedience to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cannot come — They confided in the strength of their fortifications,
which they thought so impregnable, that the blind and the lame were
sufficient to defend them, against the most powerful assailant. And
probably they set a parcel of blind and lame people, invalids or
maimed soldiers, to make their... [ Continue Reading ]
To the gutter — That is, whosoever scaleth the fort, or getteth up
to the top of it, where the gutter was. That are hated — The
Jebusites, and the lame, and the blind, Who had probably themselves
insulted him, and blasphemed God. He shall be — These words are
fitly supplied out of 1 Chronicles 11:6,... [ Continue Reading ]
Millo — Which seems to have been the town — hall or, state —
house, near the wall of the city of Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
King over Israel — That he might be a blessing to them, and they
might be happy under his administration.... [ Continue Reading ]
David took, &c. — This may well be reckoned amongst David's
miscarriages, the multiplication of wives being expresly forbidden to
the king, Deuteronomy 17:17. It seems to have been his policy, that
hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by
alliances with so many considerable... [ Continue Reading ]
The hold — To some fortified place to which his people might
conveniently resort from all places, and where he might intrench his
army, which lay towards the Philistines.... [ Continue Reading ]
Baal — perazim — Whither the Philistines were come from the valley
of Rephraim, 1 Chronicles 14:11. Baal — perazim, signifies the
master of the breaches: So he ascribes all to God. As waters — As
floods or rivers of waters, which break the banks, and overflow a
land, and overturn all that stands in... [ Continue Reading ]
Images — When the ark fell into the hand of the Philistines, it
consumed them: but when these images fell into the hands of Israel,
they could not save themselves from being consumed.... [ Continue Reading ]
And spread themselves — The expression intimates, that they were
very numerous, and made a very formidable appearance. So we read,
Revelation 20:9, of the church's enemies going up on the breadth of
the earth. But the wider they spread themselves, the fairer mark they
are for God's arrows.... [ Continue Reading ]
Go up — Directly against them, as the following words explain it.
Behind — Where they least expect thee; God's purposes and promises
do not exclude men's endeavours.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sound — A noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of
them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt he
assured that I am coming to help thee; and the Philistines shall be
affrighted, and not perceive the noise of thy army, until thou art
upon them. Bestir — Fall upon them... [ Continue Reading ]