XX. The angry altercation between the tribes led, according to the proverb (Proverbs 15:1), to fresh troubles. These foreboded greater disasters than had yet occurred, but were happily arrested in the bud. Although suppressed, they must yet have intensified the tribal jealousies, and have sowed the... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEBA, THE SON OF BICHRI. — The English follows the ancient versions in taking _Bichri_ as a proper name. Most recent commentators consider it as a patronymic, _the Bichrite, i.e.,_ of the family of Becher, the second son of Benjamin. He was, to this extent at least, of the same clan with Saul. He w... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN OF JUDAH CLAVE. — David’s negotiations with Judah had now resulted in an entire reversal of the position of the tribes towards him; Judah, among whom the rebellion originated, and who had been tardy in returning to their allegiance, were now fierce in their loyalty, while Israel, who had only jo... [ Continue Reading ]
LIVING IN WIDOWHOOD. — This was the necessary result, under the system of polygamy, of what had happened. The clause may be understood as “in widowhood of life,” as in our version, or “in widowhood of the living,” _i.e.,_ while their husband was living, as in the Chaldee.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO AMASA. — Thus David begins the fulfilment of his promise of 2 Samuel 19:13. It proved an act of very doubtful expediency at this crisis.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TARRIED LONGER. — No cause is assigned for this, and various conjectures have been made. The simplest explanation may be drawn from the fact that, in 2 Samuel 20:8, Amasa is met on his return at Gibeon. He had therefore gone quite out of the bounds of Judah into Benjamin, and had consumed more ti... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID SAID TO ABISHAI. — David is determined to pass over Joab, and, therefore, when Amasa fails in this crisis, requiring immediate action, he summons Abishai, and puts him in command of such forces as were at hand in Jerusalem, and gives him orders for the rapid pursuit of Sheba. The clause “escap... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB’S MEN. — The body of men who were usually under Joab’s immediate command, and who would readily follow his brother, whom they had been accustomed to see associated with him. On “the Che-rethites and the Pelethites,” see Note on 2 Samuel 8:18. “The mighty men” (see 2 Samuel 23:8) appear to have... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT BEFORE. — Translate, _met._ (Comp. Note on 2 Samuel 19:6.) AS HE WENT FORTH IT FELL OUT. — The object of this verse is to explain how Joab, in consequence of the arrangement of his dress, was able to stab Amasa without his purpose being suspected. He had a girdle bound round his military coat,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIFTH RIB= _Abdomen._ (See Note on 2 Samuel 2:23.) SO JOAB AND ABISHAI. — Joab here comes forward as the commander of the pursuit without previous mention. He may have accompanied Abishai from Jerusalem, or he may have joined him on the route; but, now, having murdered Amasa, he assumes his... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF JOAB’S MAN. — Com. 2 Samuel 20:7. Time was too precious for Joab himself to wait. He must put down the rebellion of Sheba by rapid action, and thereby render himself impregnable in the high office which had been his, and which he had now again usurped. He left one of his trusty men, however,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE STOOD STILL. — These were probably the very people whom Amasa had just been gathering from Judah and Benjamin. Whoever they may have been, they were naturally overcome and paralysed for the moment at the sight of the great leader whom the king had just promoted wallowing in his blood. Joa... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ABEL, AND TO BETH-MAACHAH. — Abel has been identified with the modern Christian village of Abil (called “Abil-el-Kamh,” on account of the excellence of its wheat (north-west of Lake Huleh). It is called “Abel-Beth-maachah,” in 2 Samuel 20:15 (the “of” should be omitted), and is spoken of under... [ Continue Reading ]
(15)ABEL OF BETH-MAACHAH. — Omit the preposition “of.” (See 2 Samuel 20:14.) STOOD IN THE TRENCH. — The “trench” is the space between the wall of the city and the lower outer wall. When the besiegers had succeeded in planting the mounds for their battering engines in this space they had already gai... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK COUNSEL AT ABEL. — The simplest and most obvious explanation is here the true one, viz., that Abel had become proverbial for its wisdom. An ancient Jewish interpretation, which has been incorporated into the Targum, is, however, of sufficient interest to be mentioned: “Remember now that which is... [ Continue Reading ]
FAR BE IT FROM ME. — Joab strongly disclaims the idea of any further harm to any one than the necessary destruction of the rebel Sheba. Joab’s character “is strongly brought out in the transaction. Politic, decided, bold, and unscrupulous, but never needlessly cruel or impulsive, or even revengeful.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOUNT EPHRAIM. — The range of hills so called because much of it lay in the tribe of Ephraim, although extending south into Benjamin.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIS TENT= to his home. (Comp. 2 Samuel 20:1; 2 Samuel 18:17; 1 Kings 12:16, &c.) BENAIAH. — In the four closing verses of this chapter there is again given a short summary of the chief men of David’s reign, as if to form the conclusion of this account of his life. A similar summary has already be... [ Continue Reading ]
ADORAM WAS OVER THE TRIBUTE. — The same office was held by _Adoniram_ in Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14), and by _Adoram_ at the beginning of the reign of his successor (1 Kings 12:18). Αll those may have been the same person, or at least of the same family. “The tribute” should rather b... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEVA. — This officer is called _Seraiah_ in 2 Samuel 8:17. Nearly all the officers mentioned here are the same as in 2 Samuel 8:16, where see the Notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
IRA ALSO THE JAIRITE. — He is not mentioned in the other lists of the king’s officers; _Ira, an Ithrite,_ is found in the list of David’s “thirty and seven” heroes in 2 Samuel 23:38, but there is no ground for identifying the two persons. On the office of “chief ruler,” or _cohen,_ see Note on 2 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]