2 Samuel 3:1-5. Progress of David's cause. His family 2. _And unto David_, &c. The list of David's sons born in Hebron is given again in 1 Chronicles 3:1-3, apparently in an independent form, but with only one important variation. It appears to interrupt the course of the narrative here, but it is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chileab_ Called in Chron. _Daniel_, the meaning of which name, "God is my judge," suggests that it may have been given him to commemorate God's judgment upon Nabal (1 Samuel 25:39; cp. Genesis 30:6). Some suppose that he bore both names, but the Sept. reading here _Daluiah_(Δαλουΐα), and the identi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Adonijah_ Who made an ill return for his father's indulgence (1 Kings 1:6) by setting up a rival claim to the throne in opposition to Solomon, in which he was supported by Joab and Abiathar (1 Kings 1:5 ff.). He was pardoned at the time, but shortly afterwards put to death for preferring a request... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eglah David's wife_ A Jewish tradition as old as the time of Jerome (_Quaest. Hebr. in libros Regum_) makes Eglah (_heifer_, cp. Judges 14:18) another name for _Michal_, who is supposed to be particularly distinguished both here and in 1 Chronicles 3:3 as _David's wife_, because she was his first a... [ Continue Reading ]
Quarrel between Abner and Ish-bosheth 6. _made himself strong_ Or, SHEWED HIMSELF STRONG. Ish-bosheth was evidently weak and incapable, a mere puppet in the hands of Abner, who had made himself the mainstay of Saul's house, partly from his family connexion, partly with a view to secure the greatest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah_ The heroine of the tragic story related in ch. 2 Samuel 21:8-11. _and_Ish-bosheth _said Ish-bosheth_has fallen out of the Heb. text. The Sept. has _Ish-bosheth the son of Saul_; the Vulg. _Ish-bosheth_. _Wherefore_, &c. An Oriental monarch took possession of his pred... [ Continue Reading ]
_Am I a dog's head_, &c. Render, AM I A DOG'S HEAD BELONGING TO JUDAH? THIS DAY DO I SHEW KINDNESS … AND THOU HAST CHARGED ME! &c. i.e. Am I at once despicable and hostile to your interests? Nay, I am faithful to the house of Saul, otherwise I should long ago have made terms with David by surrenderi... [ Continue Reading ]
_So do God_, &c. An oath characteristic of the books of Samuel and Kings. See note on 1 Samuel 3:17. _as the_Lord _hath sworn to David_ No express divine _oath_promising the kingdom to David is recorded: but Samuel's solemn declaration to Saul (1 Samuel 15:28-29), and his choice and anointing of Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
_from Dan even to Beer-sheba_ Over the whole land of Israel. See note on 1 Samuel 3:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abner's negotiations with David 12. _on his behalf_ The Sept. rendering _immediately_is adopted by some commentators, but is unsupported by the use of the word elsewhere. _Whose is the land_ The meaning may be either (_a_) "Is not the land thine by virtue of God's promise?" or (_b_) "Is not the la... [ Continue Reading ]
_except thou first bring_ As the text stands it can only be rendered _except on condition of thy bringing_. But it looks like a combination of two readings, _except thou bring_(so the LXX.) and _before thou bring_(Vulg.). David's reasons for demanding the restoration of Michal were probably (_a_) g... [ Continue Reading ]
_David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth_ The acceptance of the condition by Abner is implied, but the formal demand was made from Ish-bosheth, who was powerless to resist the will of his master. Thus the restoration of Michal took place openly as a public act of justice; it clearly exhibited the stren... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phaltiel_ Called _Phalti_in 1 Samuel 25:44, where his marriage with Michal is recorded.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bahurim_ A village mentioned again only in connexion with David's flight from Jerusalem as the residence of Shimei (ch. 2 Samuel 16:5), and the place where Jonathan and Ahimaaz hid themselves (ch. 2 Samuel 17:18). It belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and was on the road from Jerusalem over the Mou... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abner had communication_ Better, NOW ABNER HAD HAD COMMUNICATION, previously to the occurrence related in 2 Samuel 3:15. The journey of 2 Samuel 3:16 to escort Michal terminates in the visit to Hebron of 2 Samuel 3:20. _with the elders of Israel_ The authorities of the northern tribes as disti... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will save my people_ The commission which had been given to Saul (1 Samuel 9:16) was transferred to David. Again we have an intimation that prophetic utterances respecting David's divine appointment to the throne were commonly known.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abner also spake_, &c. AND ABNER ALSO HAD SPOKEN, &c. Beside the general communication with the elders of Israel a special and confidential negotiation had been entered into with the tribe of Benjamin, which was the most likely to offer opposition through fear of losing dignity and advantage by... [ Continue Reading ]
_twenty men with him_ They formed the official escort sent by Ish-bosheth to convey Michal back to David, but were in all probability privy to the secret purpose of Abner's visit.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and will gather all Israel_ A meeting of the national assembly or "congregation of Israel" was requisite to accept David as king. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 5:1, and see note on 1 Samuel 10:17. _Abner_ Observe the emphatic way in which Abner's name is repeated in 2 Samuel 3:17, and not merely represented by... [ Continue Reading ]
Abner treacherously murdered by Joab 22. _from_pursuing _a troop_ Lit. _from the troop_, i.e. FROM THE FORAY, or plundering expedition on which they had gone to procure supplies. In the absence of taxes and regular pay, it was the only means of supporting an army. Comp. David's practice at Ziklag ... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Joab_, &c. Probably Abner had intentionally chosen a time for his visit, when he knew that Joab was absent from Hebron.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he is quite gone_ The Sept. reads "and he is gone in peace? Dost thou not know the wickedness of Abner," &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy going out and thy coming in_ All thy movements and undertakings. Cp. Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 121:8; Isaiah 37:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he sent messengers after Abner_ No doubt in David's name, pretending to recall him for a further interview. A message from Joab would have excited Abner's suspicion, while on David's good faith he could place entire reliance. _the well of Sirah_ Rather more than a mile out of Hebron on the old pav... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the gate_ Lit. _into the midst of the gate_, the space between the inner and outer gateways. But the publicity of the city gate was unsuited to a private conference, and the Sept. offers a more probable reading, "took him apart by the side of the gate." _under the fifth rib_ IN THE BELLY. See n... [ Continue Reading ]
The Curse of Blood-guiltiness 28. _I and my kingdom are guiltless_ With a strong asseveration David asserts his entire innocence of any complicity in this murder. Neither upon himself personally nor upon "his kingdom," i.e. the royal house, his descendants and successors, could punishment for sheddi... [ Continue Reading ]
_let it rest_ LET IT FALL. The Heb. word is a forcible one, expressing the energy of David's indignation. It is used in Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 30:23, of the whirlwind of God's wrath falling upon the head of the wicked. _one that hath an issue, or that is a leper_ Pining away miserably with incura... [ Continue Reading ]
_slew … slain_ MURDERED ABNER, BECAUSE HE HAD SLAIN, &c. The words in the Heb. are different, and the first denotes the violent character of the act. The Sept. however gives another reading, "Now Joab and Abishai _were lying in wait for_Abner, because &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
David's lamentation for Abner 31. _gird you with sackcloth_ The practice of wearing garments of the coarse dark hair-cloth used for making sacks as a sign of mourning was very ancient (Genesis 37:34). In cases of extreme grief or humiliation they were worn next the skin, but ordinarily outside the... [ Continue Reading ]
_lamented_ See note on ch. 2 Samuel 1:17. _Died Abner as a fool dieth_ Lit. AS DIES A FOOL SHOULD ABNER DIE? Was this ignoble death, befitting a fool, to be the fate of so brave a warrior?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy hands_, &c. Two explanations of these words seem possible; either (1) Thou hadst not committed any crime to deserve a malefactor's punishment, but wast causelessly murdered by treacherous enemies: or (2) How was it that thou wast slain while thy hands were at liberty to defend thyself, thy feet... [ Continue Reading ]
_to cause David to eat meat_ Fasting was the usual accompaniment of mourning. To shew his grief and his respect for Abner David refused to eat until sunset, the regular time for terminating a fast. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 1:12. _meat_ Lit. BREAD. In Biblical English the word denotes _food_in general, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the people and all Israel_ Not only David's own subjects in Judah, but the people of the northern kingdom, who must have been specially aggrieved by the murder of their hero, recognised the sincerity of David's grief, and acquitted him of all complicity in the act. If, as seems probable (2 Samu... [ Continue Reading ]
To his confidential servants David speaks his whole mind freely. He feels that some apology is needed for leaving the authors of this heinous crime unpunished. As an excuse for doing so he pleads his youth and weakness. Though he had been anointed king, his kingdom was as yet far from being securely... [ Continue Reading ]