_A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021._ A famine, caused by Saul's killing the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21:1. Seven of his family put to death, 2 Samuel 21:4. Care taken of their dead bodies, and of the bones of Saul, 2 Samuel 21:10. Battles with the Philistines, 2 Samuel 21:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then there was a famine_, &c. The things related here, and chap. 24., are, by the best interpreters, conceived to have been done long before Absalom's rebellion. And this opinion is not without sufficient grounds. For, first, this particle, _then_, is here explained, _in the days_, that is, during... [ Continue Reading ]
_In his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah_ When Joshua and the princes made a league with the Gibeonites, the people were greatly offended with them, as appears, Joshua chap. 9. Whatever the pretences of this resentment might be, the true reason seems sufficiently apparent; they were, by thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you?_ Josephus supposes that when God acquainted David what was the occasion of the famine, he likewise declared that it should be removed if he made the satisfaction which the Gibeonites themselves should require. _That ye may bless the inheritan... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will have no silver nor gold of Saul_, &c. Neither silver nor gold was a just equivalent for the loss they had sustained by Saul and his bloody house. _Neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel_ Except of Saul's family, as it here follows. The marginal reading, however, seems preferable,... [ Continue Reading ]
_They answered, The man that consumed us_, &c. They desired no reparation of private damages, or revenge of injuries; all they required was that a public sacrifice should be made to justice, and to the divine vengeance inflicted upon the land. _Let seven of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king spared_, &c. For the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, it was at David's choice whom to spare. _The son of Jonathan_ This is added to distinguish him from the other _Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 21:8_. _Because of the Lord's oath_, &c. This was a just reason for not delivering him up. _The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rizpah took sackcloth_ Or rather, _hair-cloth_, of which tents were commonly made. _And 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 ordinary cases, but were to continue there until God was entreated,... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was told David what Rizpah had done_ And he 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 on the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and, with them, upon those that were... [ Continue Reading ]
_He defended it_ So that the Philistines could neither burn the corn, nor carry it away, nor tread it down. _The Lord wrought a great victory_ By his hand. How great soever the bravery of the instruments is, the praise of the achievement is to be given to God. These fought, but God wrought the victo... [ Continue Reading ]
_He brought up the bones of Saul_, &c. From under the tree where they were buried in Jabesh, 1 Samuel 31:13. _They gathered the bones of them that were hanged_ Having first burned off the flesh which remained upon them: or, perhaps, this was done some time after they were taken down, when nothing bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Philistines had yet war again with Israel_ After, or besides the other wars with the Philistines mentioned in this book, they yet again disturbed David's repose. _David waxed faint_ Being no longer in the vigour of youth, but probably in declining years, though not old in age. _Ishbi-benob, of... [ Continue Reading ]
_That thou quench not the light of Israel_ Lest thou be slain, and thereby thy people lose their glory and happiness, and even be utterly ruined. Good kings are, in Scripture, justly called the light of their people, because the beauty and glory, the conduct and direction, the comfort and safety, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this_ After the battle last mentioned. _There was again a battle at Gob_ Or in _Gezer_, as in 1 Chronicles 20:4, whereby it seems Gob and Gezer were neighbouring places, and the battle was fought in the confines of both. _Sibbechai the Hushathite_ One of David's worthies, 1 Chronicles 11:29;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elhanan, a Beth-lehemite_ Another of David's worthy and valiant commanders. _Slew the brother of Goliath_ The relative word, _brother_, is not in the Hebrew text, but is properly supplied out of the parallel place. 1 Chronicles 20:5, where it is expressed. _The staff of whose spear was like a weave... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was yet a battle in Gath_ That is, in the territory of that city; 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 many years before this, 2 Samuel 8:1, compare... [ Continue Reading ]