INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. A S this is a continuation of the preceding history, without any interruption, it can be scarcely called another book. Originally, this and the preceding made but one book; and they have been separated without reason or necessity. For a general account of both, see the Preface to the First Book of Samuel. It is generally allowed that this book comprehends a period of forty years, from about A. M. 2949 to 2989. See the prefixed chronological account. It has been divided into three parts: in the first, we have an account of the happy commencement of David's reign, chap. i-x. In the second, David's unhappy fall, and its miserable consequences, chap. xi-xviii. In the third, his restoration to the divine favour, the re-establishment of his kingdom, and the events which signalized the latter part of his reign, chap. xix-xxiv. 733 THE SECOND BOOK OF SA M UEL. Year from the Creation, 2949.-Year before the Incarnation, 1055-Year before the first Olympiad, 279-Year before the building of Rome, 302-Year of the Julian Period, 3539.--Year of the Dionysian Period, 467.-Cycle of the Sun, 19.-Cycle of the Moon, 11. CHAPTER I. An Amalekite comes to David, and informs him that the Philistines had routed the Israelites; and that Saul and his sons were slain, 1-4. And pretends that he himself had despatched Sanl, finding him ready to fall alive into the hands of the Philistines, and had brought his crown and bracelets to Davil, 5-10. David and his men mourn for Sanl and his sons, 11, 12 He orders the Amalekite to be slain, who professed that he had killed Saul, 13-16. David's funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 17--27. A. M. 2949. B. C. 1055. An Exod. 1sr. 436. Now it caul, when David was Anno aute returned from the slaughter of the 1. Olymp. 279. Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; [OW it came to pass, after the b 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, d How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? h 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me; for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and islew him, because a 1 Sam. 30. 17, 26.-b Ch. 4. 10-c 1 Sam. 4. 12-d Heb, what was, &c. 1 Sam. 4. 16.-e 1 Sam. 31. 1.-f See 1 Sam. 31. 2, 3, 4.-g Heb. Behold me -h Or, my coat of mail, or, my embroidered coat hindereth me, that my, &c.-i Judg. 9. 54-k Ch. 3. 31. & 13. 31.-1 Namb. 12. 8-m 1 Sain. 31. 4-n 1 Sam. 24. 6. & 26. 9. Psa. 105. 15. NOTES ON CHAPTER I. Verse 2. A man came out of the camp] The whole account which this young man gives is a fabrication: in many of the particulars it is grossly self-contradictory. There is no fact in the case but the bringing of the crown or diadem, and bracelets of Saul; which, as he appears to have been a plunderer of the slain, he found on the field of battle and he brought them to David, and told the lie of having despatched Saul, merely to ingratiate himself with David. Verse 8. I am an Amalekite.] Dr. Delaney remarks, that an Amalekite took that crown from off the head of Saul, which he had forfeited by his disobedience in the case of Amalek. Verse 10. The crown-and the bracelet] The crown was probably no more than a royal fillet, or diadem, both being the ensigns of royalty. It is sometimes customary, in the East, for a sovereign prince to give a crown and bracelets, when investing others with dominion or authority over certain provinces. Had Saul these in token of his being God's vicegerent? and that he held the kingdom from him alone? I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and *rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to "stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, F Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed. 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written t in the book" of Jasher :) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil. b o Ch. 4. 10, 12-p 1Sam. 26. 9. 1 Kings 2 32,33,37.-r Ver. 10. Luke 19. 22-1 Sam. 31. 3.-t Josh. 10. 33-1 Or, of the upright Ver. 77. 1 Mac. 9. 21.-w 1 Sam. 31. 9. Mic. 1. 10. See Judg. 16. 23-x See Exod. 15. 20. Judg. 11. 34. 1 Sam. 18. 6.-1 Sam. 31. 4.- 1 Sam. 31. 1.-a So Judg. 5. 23. Job 3. 3, 4. Jer. 20. 14.-b 1 Sam. 10. 1. Verse 16. Thy blood be upon thy head] If he killed Saul, as he said he did, then he deserved death: at that time it was not known to the contrary; and this man was executed on his own confession. Verse 17. David lamented] See this lamentation, and the notes on it, at the end of this chapter. Verse 18. The use of the bow] The use of is not in the Hebrew; it is simply the bow, that is, a song thus entitled. See observations at the end. Verse 21. As though he had not been] Instead of beli, NOT, I read > keley, INSTRUMENTS. Anointed with oil.] See the observations at the end. Chap. i. ver. 18, &c.-He bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow, nop kasheth. The word kasheth is to be understood of the title of the song which immediately follows, and not of the use of the bow, as our translation intimates. Many of David's psalms have titles prefixed to them: some are termed Shosannim, some Maschil, Nchiloth, Neginoth, &c. and this one here Kasheth, or The Bore, because it was occasioned by the Philistine archers. 1 Sam. xxxi. 1-3. "And the archers hit him." C d 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and a pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights; who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me: f thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished. e1 Sam. 19. 4.-d Or, sweet.-e Judg. 14. 18.-f1 Sam. 18. 1, 3. & 19 2 & 20. 17, 41, & 23.16.-g Ver. 9.-a Judg. 1. 1. 1 Sam. 23. 2, 4, 9. & 30. 7, 8. But especially respecting the bow of Jonathan, "which returned not back from the blood of the slain," as the song itself expresses. And David could not but remember the bow of Jonathan, out of which "the arrow was shot beyond the lad," 1 Sam. xx. 36. It was the time when that covenant was made, and that affection expressed between them, "which was greater than the love of women." On these accounts the song was entitled Kasheth; or, The song of the Bow; and David commanded the chief musicians, Ethan, Heman, and Jeduthun, to teach the children of Judah how to sing it. "It is written in the book of Jasher," ET BIBION TOV Evlovs, Sept. "In the Book of the upright." NONT NDD Siphra dioraitha, The book of the Law." Jonathan. The Arabic says, "Behold it is written in the Book of Ashee; this is the Book of Samuel;" the interpretation of which is, "book of songs, or canticles." This lamentation is justly admired as a picture of distress, the most tender and the most striking; unequally divided by grief into longer and shorter breaks, as nature could pour them forth from a mind interrupted by the alternate recurrence of the most lively images of love and greatness. His reverence for Saul, and his love for Jonathan, have their strongest colourings; but their greatness and bravery come full upon him, and are expressed with peculiar energy. Being himself a warrior, it is in that character he sees their greatest excellence; and, though his imagination hurries from one point of recollection to another, yet we hear him at first, at last, every where, lamenting-How are the mighty fallen! It is almost impossible to read the noble original without finding every word swollen with a sigh, or broken with a sob. A heart pregnant with distress, and striving to utter expressions descriptive of its feelings, (which are repeatedly interrupted by an excess of grief,) is most sensibly painted throughout the whole. Even an English reader may be convinced of this, from the following specimen, in European characters: 19. Hatsbi Yishrael al bamothecha chalal; 20. Al taggidu begath, Al tebrasru bechuteoth Ashkelon; Pen tismachnah benoth Pelishtim, 21. Hare baghilbon al tal, Ve-al matar aleken ush'de terumoth; Magen Shaul keley Mashiach bashshamen I 23. Shaul Vihanathan, Hanneehabija rchannelmim bechaiyikem, Minnesharim kallu, mmarayoth gaberu! 24. Benoth Yishrnal el Shaul bikenah; Hammalbishkem shani im adanim, Hammaaleh adi zahab al lebushken. 25. Eich naphelu Gibborim betoch hammilchamaht Yehonathan al bamotecha chalal! 23. Tear li alecha achi Yehonathan, naamta li meod, Niphleathah ahabtecha li meahabath nashim! 27. Eich napkelu Gilborin, Vayobedu kele Milchamah! The three last verses in this sublime lamentation have sense and sound so connected as to strike every reader. Dr. Kennicott, from whom I have taken several of the preceding remarks, gives a fine Latin version of this song, which I here subjoin: O decna Israelis, super excelsa tua miles ! Quomo lo cecideruat fortes! Nolite in licare in Gatho, Nolite in care in plateis Ascalonis; CHAPTER II. David, by the direction of God, goes up to Hebron, and is there anointed king over the house of Judah, 1-4. He congratulates the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead on their kindness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines, 5--7. Abaer anoints Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjarain, and all Israel; over whom he reigned two years, 8-10. David reigns over Judah, in Hebron, seven years and six months, 11. Account of a battle between Abner, captain of the Israelites, and Joab, captain of the men of Julah; in which the former are routed, with the loss of three hundred and sixty men: but Asahel, the brother of Joab, is killed by Abner, 12–32. I. AND it came to pass after this, that 4 F.396. Isr. David inquired of the LORD, say- Anno ante ing, Shall I go up into any of the cities 1. Olymp. 279. of Judah? and the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto b Hebron. 2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. b1 Sam. 30. 31. Verse 11. Ch. 5. 1, 3. 1 Kings 2. 11.-c 1 Sam. 30. 5-d 1 Sam. 27. 2, 3. & 30. 1. 1 Chron. 12. 1. Amabiles erant et jucundi in vitis suis, Et in morte sua non separati, Prie leonibus fortes! Qui coccino cum deliciis vos vestivit, Qui vestibus vestris ornamenta imposuit aurea! O Jonathan, super excelsa tua miles! Frater mi, Jonathan! Mihi fuisti admodum jucundus Et perierunt arma belli -Dissertation i. pag. 122. In ver. 21. I have inserted keley, for a beli. Dr. Delaney rightly observes that the particle beli, is not used in any part of the Bible in the sense of quasi non, as though not; in which sense it must be used here, if it be retained as a genuine reading; the shield of Saul as though it had not been anointed with oil. In a MS. written about the year 1200, numbered 30 in Kennicott's Bible, keley is found; and also in the first edition of the whole Hebrew Bible printed Soncini 1488. Neither the Syriac nor Arabic versions, nor the Chaldec paraphrase, acknowledge the negative particle beli, which they would have done had it been in the copies from which they translated. It was easy to make the mistake, as there is such a similarity between beth and caph; the line, therefore, should be read thus-The shield of Saul, weapons anointed with oil. In ver. 22. nashog, to obtain, attain, seems to have been written for no nasog, to recede, return. The former destroys the sense; the latter, which our translation has followed, and which is supported by the authority of 30 MSS. makes it not only intelligible but beautiful. In verses 19, 22, and 25, 5n and chalal and challim occur, which we translate the SLAIN, but which Dr. Kennicott, I think, from good authority, renders soldier, and soldiers; and thus the version is made more consistent and beautiful. Sn chalal, signifies to bore, or pierce through; and this epithet might be well given to a soldier-g. d. the because his business is to transfix, or pierce his enemies with sword, spear, and arrows. PIERCER, If it be translated soldiers, in the several places of the Old Testament, where we translate it SLAIN, or WOUNDED, the sense will be much mended: See Judges xx. 31, 39. Psa. lxxxix. 10. Prov. vii. 26. Jer. li. 4, 47, 49. Ezek. xi. 6, 7. xxi. 14. In several others it retains its radical signification of piercing, wounding, &c. AFTER these general observations, I leave the particular beauties of this inimitable song to be sought out by the intelligent reader. Much has been written upon this, which cannot, consistently with the plan of these notes, be admitted here. See Delaney, Kennicott, Lowth, &c.; and above all, let the reader examine the Hebrew text. NOTES ON CHAPTER II. Verse 1. David inquired of the LORD] By means of Abiathar, the priest; for he did not know whether the different tribes were willing to receive him, though he was fully persuaded that God had appointed him king over Israel. Unto Hebron] The metropolis of the tribe of Judah, 4 And the men of Judah came; and there | they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. 5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Anno ante vants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, An Exod. I. 436 went out from Mahanaim Pto Gibeon. I. Olymp, 271. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose, and went over by number, twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18 And there were "three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. 21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to And Abner the son of Ner, and the ser- thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold e Verse 11. Ch. 5. 5. 1 Mac. 2. 57-f1 Sam 31. 11, 13-g Rath 2 20. & 3. 10. Psalm 115. 15.- 2 Tim. 1. 16, 18-i Heb. be ye the sons of valour.-k 1 Sam. 14.50. 1 Heb. the host which was Saul's.-m Or, Eshbaal 1 Chiron. 8. 33. & 9. 39.-n Ch. 5. 5. 1 Kinga 2. 11. o Heb. number of days.-p Josh. 18. 35.-r Heb. them together.-s Jer 41 12 That is, The field of strong men.-u 1 Chron. 2. 16.-v 1 Chron. 12 - Heb of his feet.-x Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field.—y Ps. 18 33. Caut 2 17. & 14.-2 Heb. from after Abner. observed, that Ish-bosheth reigned all the time that David reigned in Hebron; which was seren years and siz months. Perhaps the meaning of the writer is this: Ishhad attached themselves to the interest of David. Some think, that Abner in effect reigned the five last years of Ish-bosheth, who had only the name of king after the two first years. Or, the text may be understood thus: When Ish-bosheth had reigned two years over Israel, he was forty years of age. one of the richest regions in Judea. The mountains of Hebron were famed for fruits, herbage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, olives, and different kinds of grain, and abounding in springs of excel-bosheth reigned two years before any but the tribe of Judah lent water, as the most accurate travellers have asserted. Verse 4. Anointed David king] He was anointed before by Samuel, by which he acquired jus ad regnum, a right To the kingdom: by the present anointing he had jus in regno, authority over the kingdom. The other parts of the kingdom were, as yet, attached to the family of Saul. Verse 5. David sent messengers unto-Jabesh-gilead] This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul as his once legitimate sovereign; he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend. The former had greatly injured him, and sought his destruction; but even this did not cancel his respect for him as the anointed of God, and as the king of Israel. This brings to my remembrance that fine speech of M. Saurin, when speaking of the banishment of the Protestants from France, by the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He thus at the Hague apostrophizes Lewis XIV. their persecutor: Et toi, prince redoutable, que j'honorai jadis comme mon roi, et que je respecte encore comme le fleau du Seigneur. "And thou, O formidable prince, whom I once honoured as my king, and whom I still reverence as the scourge of the Lord!" Verse 7. Now let your hands be strengthened] David : certainly wished to attach the men of Jabesh to his interest: he saw that they were generous and valiant; and must be of great service to him whose part they espoused; and he was, no doubt, afraid that they would attach themselves to the house of Saul, in consideration of the eminent services Saul had rendered them, in rescuing them from Nahash, king of the Ammonites. Verse 8. Abner the son of Ner] This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul's army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions: he was probably envious of David's power, by whom he had often been outgeneralled in the field. Verse 9. Made him king over Gilead] These were places beyond Jordan; for, as the Philistines had lately routed the Israelites, they were, no doubt, in possession of some of the principal towns; and were now enjoying the fruits of their victory. Abner was, therefore, afraid to bring the new king to any place where he was likely to meet with much resistance, till he had got his army well recruited. Who the Ashurites were, is not generally agreed; probably men of the tribe of Ashur. Verse 10. Ish-bosheth-reigned two years] It is well Houbigant, dissatisfied with all the common modes of solution, proposes to read sheshith shanah, six years; for the one shetim shanim, two years, of the text, which, he contends, is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words would be non, as they are every where read in the first book: and is the reading of eleven of Kennicott's MSS. and nine of De Rossi's; but the number two is acknowledged by all the ancient versions, and by all the MSS. yet collated. The critical reader may examine Houbigant on the place. After all, probably the expedition mentioned in the succeeding verses, is that to which the writer refers, and from which he dates. Ishbosheth had reigned two years without any rupture with David, or his men, till under the direction of Abner, captain of his host, the Israelites passed over Jordan, from Mahanaim to Gibeon; and being opposed by Joab, captain of David's host, that battle took place which is described in the following verses. Verse 14. Let the young men-play before us.] This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-four (twelve on each side) fell down dead together! but this was the signal for that sanguinary skirmish which immediately took place. Verse 16. Caught every one his fellow by the head] Probably by the beard, if these persons were not too young to have one; or by the hair of the head. Alexander ordered all the Macedonians to shave their beards; and being asked by Parmenio, why they should do so? answered, "Dost thou not know, that in battle there is no better hold than the beard ?" Helkath-hazzurim] "The portion of the mighty;" or, "The inheritance of those who were slain," according to the Targum. Verse 18. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.] To be swift of foot, was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity : πόδας ωκυς Αχιλλευς, the swiftfooted Achilles, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times in the course of the Ilias. It was a qualification also among the Roman soldiers: they were taught both to run swiftly and to swim well. Verse 21. Take thee his armour] It seems Asahel on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? 23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner, with the hinder end of his spear, smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah, by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? 27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abuer: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. 32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went aii night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. CHAPTER III. Account of the children born to David in Hebron, 1-5. Abner being accused by Ish-basheth of familiarities with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, he is enraged; offers his services to David; goes to Hebron, and makes a league with him, 6-22 Joab, through enmity to Abner, pretends to Davil that he came as a spy, and should not be permitted to return, 23-25. He follows Abner, and treacherously alnys him, 25, 27. David. hearing of it, is greatly incensed against Joab, and pronounces a curse upon him, and upon his family, 23, 29. He commands a general mourning for Abner, and himself follows the bier weeping, 30-32 David's Lamentation over Abner, 33, 34. The people solicit David to take meat; but he fasts the whole day; and complains to them of the insolence and intrigues of Joab and his brothers; the people are pleased with his conduct, 35-39. An. Exod. Isr. 439. Anno ante between Now there was long and the house L Olymp. 277. of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. a Or, spoil Judg. 14. 19.-b Ch. 3. 27. & 4. 6. & 2) 10.-e Ver. 14. Prov. 17. 14. d let from the morning-e Or, gone away - 1 Chron. 3. 1-4-g 1 Chron. 29. 27-hi Sam. 25. 43-i Ör, Daniel. 1 Chron. 3 1-k 1 Sam. 27. 8. Ch. 13. 37. 11 Kings 1. 5.-in Ch. 21. 8, 10.-n Ch. 16. 21.-o Deut. 23. 18. 1 Sam. 21. 15. Ch. 9. S. wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but, as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill or be killed; and therefore he turned his spear, and ran it through the body of Asahel. This turning about, that he might pierce him, is what we translate the hinder end of his spear. This slaying of Asahel cost Abner his life; as we shall find in the next chapter. Verse 27. And Joab said] The meaning of this verse appears to be this: If Abner had not provoked the battle, (see ver. 14.) Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Therefore the blame fell upon Israel. Verse 29. They came to Mahanaim.] So they returned to the place whence they set out. See ver. 12. This was the commencement of the civil wars between Israel and Judah and properly the commencement of the division of the two kingdoms; through which both nations were deluged with blood. h 2 T And funto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 And his second, í Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. m 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault concerning this woman? 9 P So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. r 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from w Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 Now then do it: a for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant &16. 9-p Ruth 1 17. 1 Kings 19. 2-q1 Sain. 15. 25. & 16. 1, 12 & 28. 17. 1 Chron. 12.23-r Judg. 20. 1. Ch. 17. 11. 1 Kings 4. 25-8 Heb. raying.-t So Gen. 43. 3.ul Sain. 18. 20.- 1 Sam. 18. 25, 27.-w 1 Sam. 25. 44. Phaltix Heb. going and weeping -y Chap. 19. 16.-2 Heb. both yesterday and the third day-a Verse 9. NOTES ON CHAPTER III. Verse 1. There was long war] Frequent battles and skirmishes took place between the followers of David and the followers of Ish-bosheth, after the two years mentioned above, to the end of the fifth year, in which Ish-bosheth was slain by Rechab and Baanah. Verse 6. Abner made himself strong] This strengthening of himself, and going in to the late king's concubine, were most evident proofs that he wished to seize upon the government. See 1 Kings ii. 21, 22. xii. 8. xvi. 21. Verse 8. Am I a dog's head] Dost thou treat a man with indignity who has been the only prop of thy tottering kingdom, and the only person who could make head against the house of David? Verse 9. Except, as the Lord hath sworn to David] And why did he not do this before, when he knew that Was he not God had given the kingdom to David? now, according to his own concession, fighting against God? Verse 11. He could not answer Abner a word] Miser737 |