2 Samuel 11:1--12:31
[A.M. 2969. B.C. 1035. An. Ex. Is. 456. after the year, etc. Heb. at the return of the year.]
time <06256> [at the time.]
The sacred historian seems to intimate that there was one particular time of the year to which military operations were limited; and Josephus informs us that this took place in the beginning of spring. In another part of his works he says, that as soon as spring was begun, Adad levied and led forth his army against the Hebrews. Antiochus also prepared to invade Judea at the first appearance of spring; and Vespasian marched to Antipatris at the commencement of the same season. The kings and armies of the East, says Chardin, do not march but when there is grass, and when they can encamp, which is in April. This rule, however, seems to be disregarded in modern times.
David sent out ................... David <07971 01732> [David sent.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
got ..... bed <06965 04904> [arose from.]
roof ....... roof <01406 04428> [the roof of.]
saw <07200> [he saw.]
very <02896 03966> [very beautiful.]
sent <07971> [sent.]
Bathsheba <01339> [Bath-sheba. or, Bath-shua. Eliam. or, Ammiel.]
Uriah <0223> [Uriah.]
sent ... messengers <07971 04397> [sent messengers.]
sexual <07901> [he lay.]
purifying <06942> [she was, etc. or, and when she had purified herself, etc., she returned.]
purifying <06942> [purified.]
pregnant <02030> [I am with child.]
sent ........ Send ... Uriah ...... sent Uriah <07971 0223> [Send me.]
Joab ...... doing ....... going <07965 03097> [how Joab did. Heb. of the peace of Joab.]
Go down <03381> [go down.]
relax <07364> [wash.]
gift <0310 04864> [there followed him. Heb. there went out after him.]
gift <04864> [a mess.]
ark <0727> [The ark.]
lord ..... lord's <0113> [my lord.]
I go <0589 0935> [shall I then.]
surely ..... alive <02416> [as thou livest.]
drunk <07937> [made him.]
servants <05650> [with the servants.]
wrote ... letter <03789 05612> [wrote a letter.]
It was resolved in David's breast that Uriah must die--that innocent, valiant, and gallant man, who was ready to sacrifice his life for the honour of his prince; and, worse than all, by being himself made the bearer of letters to Joab which prescribed the mode by which he was to be murdered. This was the greatest treachery and villany on the part of David; while Joab appears to enter as fully upon the execution of the murder, being perhaps pleased to have this opportunity of further enthralling his king, and thus increasing his own power.
Station Uriah <03051 0223> [Set ye.]
withdraw <02389> [hottest. Heb. strong. from him. Heb. from after him. and die.]
stationed <05414> [he assigned.]
fell <05307> [there fell.]
Abimelech <040> [Abimelech.]
Jerub-Besheth <03380> [Jerubbesheth.]
[Jerubbaal. Thy servant.]
sword <03415 02719> [displease thee. Heb. be evil in thine eyes. for the sword.]
<02090> [one. Heb. so and such.]
What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that the death of this noble and gallant man was no chance-medley: he was by his own order thrust on the sword.
battle <04421> [make.]
mourned <05594> [she mourned.]
mourning <060> [And when, etc.]
The whole of her conduct indicates that she observed the form, without feeling the power of sorrow. She lost a captain, and got a king for her husband: and therefore, {Lacrymas non sponte cadentes effudit; gemitusque expressit pectore laeto;} "She shed reluctant tears; and forced out groans from a joyful breast!"
brought .... palace <0622 01004> [fetched her.]
what <01697> [But the thing.]
<03415> [displeased. Heb. was evil in the eyes of.]
Lord <03068> [A.M. 2970. B.C. 1034. An. Ex. Is. 457. the Lord.]
David <01732> [unto David.]
came <0935> [he came.]
two <08147> [There were.]
There is nothing in this parable which requires illustration. Its bent is evident; and it was wisely constructed, by not having too near a resemblance, to make David unwittingly pass sentence on himself. The parable was in David's hand what his own letter was in the hands of the brave Uriah. Nathan at length closed in with him in the application of it. In beginning with a parable he shewed his prudence, and great need there is of prudence in giving reproof; but now he speaks as an ambassador from God. He reminds David of the great things God had designed and done for him, and then charges him with a high contempt of the Divine authority, and threatens an entail of judgments upon his family for this sin. Those who despise the word and law of God, despise God himself, and will assuredly suffer for such contempt.
great <03966> [exceeding.]
little <06996 0259> [one little.]
food <06595> [meat. Heb. morsel. lay in his.]
traveler <01982> [a traveller.]
use ..................... took ... poor <03947 07326> [took the.]
David <01732> [David's.]
Lord <03068> [As the Lord.]
die <04194 01121> [shall surely die. or, is worthy to die. Heb. is a son of death.]
pay <07999> [restore.]
Because <06118 0834> [because.]
man <0376> [Thou art.]
chose <04886> [I anointed.]
rescued <05337> [I delivered.]
master's ...... master's wives <0802 0113> [thy master's wives.]
gave .... master's house ..... master's ........ gave .... house <05414 0113 01004> [gave thee.]
more <03254> [I would.]
contempt <0959> [despised.]
doing evil <06213 07451> [to do evil.]
struck <05221> [thou hast.]
sword <02719> [the sword.]
For <06118> [because.]
taking <03947> [hast taken.]
bring <06965> [I will raise.]
take <03947> [I will take.]
That is, in the course of my providence I will permit this to be done. Such phrases in Scripture do not mean that God either does or can do evil himself; but only that he permits such evil to be done as he foresaw would be done, and which, had he pleased, he might have prevented.
secret <05643> [secretly.]
David .............. David <01732> [David.]
sinned <02398> [I have sinned.]
Lord ......... Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
die <04191> [thou.]
matter <01697> [by this deed.]
son <01121> [the child.]
struck ... child <05062 03206> [struck the child.]
prayed <01245> [besought.]
fasted <06684> [fasted. Heb. fasted a fast.]
spend .... lying <03885 07901> [lay all night.]
elders <02205> [the elders.]
seventh day <03117 07637> [seventh day. vex. Heb. do hurt to.]
got <06965> [arose.]
put on oil <05480> [anointed.]
house ............ palace <01004> [the house.]
<01697> [What thing.]
fasted <06684> [I fasted.]
go <01980> [I shall go.]
back .......... return <07725> [he shall not.]
birth <03205> [A.M. 2971. B.C. 1033. An. Ex. Is. 458. she bare.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Jedidiah <03041> [Jedidiah. that is, Beloved of the Lord.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
Rabbah, or Rabbath-Ammon, also called Philadelphia, from Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, was situated east of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, ten miles east from Jazer. It is sometimes mentioned as belonging to Arabia, sometimes to Coelo-Syria; and was one of the cities of the Decapolis east of Jordan. Josephus extends the region of Perea as far as Philadelphia. It is now, says Burckhardt, called Amman, distant about 19 miles to the S. E. by E. of Szalt, and lies along the banks of a river called Moiet Amman, which has its source in a pond, at a few hundred paces from the south-western end of the town, and empties itself in the Zerka, or Jabbok, about four hours to the northward. This river runs in a valley bordered on both sides by barren hills of flint, which advance on the south side close to the edge of the stream. The edifices which still remain, though in a decaying state, from being built of a calcareous stone of moderate hardness, sufficiently attest the former greatness and splendour of this metropolis of the children of Ammon.
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
water ..... city <05892 04325> [the city of waters.]
Probably that part of the city situated near the pond, from which the rest received their water.
named <08034 07121> [it be called after my name. Heb. my name be called upon it.]
took <03947> [took.]
weighed <04948> [the weight.]
If this talent was only seven pounds, as Whiston says, David might have carried it on his head with little difficulty; but this weight, according to common computation, would amount to nearly 114 pounds! Some, therefore, think, that {mishkelah} should be taken for its value, not weight; which renders it perfectly plain, as the worth of the crown will be about 5,074œ. 15s. 7d. sterling. The ancients mention several such large crowns, made more for sight than use. Athen‘us describes a crown of gold that was 24 feet in circumference; and mentions others that were two, some four, and others five feet deep. Pliny takes notice of some that were no less than eight pounds weight. Besides the crown usually worn, it was customary for kings, in some nations, to have such large ones as described, either hung or supported over the throne, where they sat at their coronation or other solemn occasions.
great deal <03966 07235> [in great abundance. Heb. very great.]
made ....... saws <07760 04050> [and put them.]
Rather, as the particle [b] frequently signifies, "And he put them to saws, and to harrows, and to axes," etc., as we say, to put a person to the plough, to the anvil, to the last, etc.
[Also.]
