2 Samuel 15:1
Absalom <053> [A.M. 2980. B.C. 1024. Absalom.]
2 Samuel 14:1-33
Joab <03097> [A.M. 2977. B. C. 1027. An. Ex. Is. 464. Joab.]
Absalom <053> [toward Absalom.]
Tekoa <08620> [to Tekoah.]
Tekoah was a city of Judah, situated, according to Eusebius and Jerome, twelve miles south of Jerusalem. Josephus says it was not far from the castle of Herodium; and Jerome (Prologue to Amos) says it stood on a hill six miles south from Bethlehem. Dr. Poccocke places it at the same distance; and says there are still considerable ruins on the top of a hill, which is about half a mile long and a furlong broad.
[Tekoa. mourning.]
fashion Then ... told <07760 01697> [put the words.]
bowed ..... face <05307 0639> [fell on her.]
help <03467> [Help. Heb. Save.]
<061> [I am indeed.]
It is very possible that the principal incidents mentioned here were real; and that Joab found out a person whose circumstances bore a near resemblance to that which he wished to represent. She did not make the similitude too plain and visible, lest the king should see her intention before she had obtained a grant of pardon; and thus her circumstances, her mournful tale, her widow's dress, her aged person, (for Josephus says she was advanced in years,) and her impressive manner, all combined to make one united irresistible impression on the heart of the aged monarch.
two ..... two <08147> [and they two.]
intervene <05337> [none to part. Heb. no deliverer between.]
family <04940> [the whole.]
extinguish <03518> [so they.]
extinguish <03518> [quench.]
face .... earth <06440 0127> [upon the earth. Heb. upon the face of the earth.]
instructions <06680> [I will give.]
blame <05771> [the iniquity.]
king ..... king .................. king <04428> [and the king.]
king <04428> [let the king.]
avenger <01350> [thou, etc. Heb. the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy. the revengers.]
Lord .......................... Lord <03068> [As the Lord.]
hair <08185> [not one hair.]
servant <08198> [Let thine.]
said ............... matter .... Tell <01697 01696> [speak one word.]
said .................. Tell <01696> [Say on.]
devised <02803> [Wherefore.]
people <05971> [people.]
king ............ king <04428> [in that the king.]
die <04191> [we must.]
water <04325> [as water.]
God <0430> [neither, etc. or, because God hath not taken away his life, he hath also devised means, etc. God.]
devises <02803> [he devise.]
security <04496> [comfortable. Heb. for rest. as an angel.]
This is very much like the hyperbolical language which is addressed by the Hindoos to an European when they desire to obtain something from him: "Saheb," say they, "can do every thing. No one can prevent the execution of Saheb's commands. Saheb is God." Though the expression may be imputed to the hyperbolical genius of these countries, yet there was, perhaps, more of real persuasion than we are apt to suppose. Sir John Chardin states, that having found fault with the king of Persia's valuation of a rich trinket, the grand master told him that if a Persian had dared to have done such a thing, it would have been as much as his life was worth. "Know," said he, "that the kings of Persia have a general and full knowledge of matters, as sure as it is extensive; and that, equally in the greatest and smallest things, there is nothing more just and sure than what they pronounce."
<08085> [to discern. Heb. to hear.]
hide ... information <03582 01697> [Hide not.]
Joab ............................................ Joab <03097> [of Joab.]
live <05315> [As thy soul.]
right <03231> [turn.]
put <07760> [he put.]
change <05437> [fetch.]
wisdom <02451> [according.]
knows <03045> [to know.]
do <06213> [I have done.]
<01288> [thanked. Heb. blessed.]
found <04672> [I have found.]
face ............. servant ........................ servant <06440 05650> [his. or, thy.]
Geshur <01650> [Geshur.]
see ............... see <07200> [let him not.]
Israel <03478> [But in all Israel, etc. Heb. And as Absalom there was not a beautiful man in all Israel to praise greatly.]
sole <03709> [from the sole.]
shave ............. shave ............ shave <01548> [when he polled.]
three pounds <08255 03967> [two hundred shekels.]
If the shekel be allowed to mean the common shekel, the amount will be utterly incredible; for Josephus says that "two hundred shekels make five {min‘:}" and the {mina,} he says, "weighs two pounds and a half;" which calculation makes Absalom's hair weigh twelve pounds and a half! But it is probable that the king's shekel was that which Epiphanius and Hesychius say was the fourth part of an ounce, half a {stater,} or two drachms: the whole amount, therefore, of the 200 shekels is about 50 ounces, which make 4 lb. 2 oz. troy weight, or 3 lb. 2 oz. avoirdupois. This need not be accounted incredible, especially as abundance of oil and ointment was used by the ancients in dressing their heads. Josephus informs us, that the Jews also put gold dust in their hair.
had <03205> [born.]
Tamar <08559> [Tamar.]
seeing ... king's <07200 04428> [A.M. 2977-2979. B.C. 1027-1025. An. Ex. Is. 464-466. and saw not.]
willing ................... willing <014> [but he would.]
to ........... adjacent <03027 0413> [near mine. Heb. near my place. go and set.]
Absalom's <053> [And Absalom's.]
better <02896> [it had been.]
am ... fault <03426> [if there.]
Absalom ........ Absalom ................ kissed <05401 053> [A.M. 2979. B.C. 1025. An. Ex. Is. 466. kissed Absalom.]
2 Samuel 23:1-39
final <0314> [A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015. An. Ex. Is. 476. the last.]
raised up <06965> [raised.]
chosen <04899> [the anointed.]
beloved singer of songs <02158 05273> [sweet psalmist.]
God ........................... God <0430> [God.]
protector <06697> [the Rock.]
rules ........ rules <04910> [He that ruleth. or, Be thou ruler, etc.]
fairly <06662> [must be just.]
rules ........ rules <04910> [ruling.]
light <0216> [as the light.]
[mourning.]
grass <01877> [tender.]
dynasty ................................ fruition <01004 06779> [Although.]
made <07760> [he hath made.]
particulars <08104> [and sure.]
delivers <03468> [all my salvation.]
desire <02656> [desire.]
fruition <06779> [to grow.]
evil <01100> [the sons.]
thorns <06975> [thorns.]
instrument <04390> [fenced. Heb. filled. and they shall.]
names .... warriors .... Tahkemonite ...... officers ......... spear <08034 01368 08461 07675 07991 05722 06112> [A.M. 2949-2989. B.C. 1055-1015. An. Ex. Is. 436-476. The]
Tachmonite. or, Josheb-bassebet, the Tachmonite, head of the three.
It is highly probable that in this version instead of {yoshaiv bashshaiveth tachkemoni,} we should read {yoshavam ben chachmoni,} "Joshebeam, son of Hachmoni;' and instead of {hoo adino ha‰tzni, hoo “rair eth chanitho,} "he lift up his spear," which are the readings in the parallel place in Chronicles, where it is also, "three hundred," instead of "eight hundred."
killed <02491> [whom he slew. Heb. slain.]
Eleazar <0499> [Eleazar.]
[Dodai. defied.]
men <0376> [the men.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
army <05971> [and the people.]
<08048> [Shammah.]
[Shammoth the Harorite. the Philistines.]
<02416> [into a troop. or, for foraging.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<07969> [three, etc. or, the three captains over the thirty.]
{Shalishim,} "captains," should most probably be read, instead of {shaloshim:} thirty {shalishim,} as it is in ver. 8, and Ex 14:7: where LXX. render [tristatas,] which Jerome (on Eze 33) says "among the Greeks is the name of the second rank after the royal dignity."
cave <04631> [the cave.]
valley <06010> [the valley.]
stronghold <04686> [an hold.]
garrison <04673> [garrison.]
thirsty <0183> [longed.]
Bethlehem <01035> [Bethlehem.]
Bethlehem signifies the "house of bread," and the place was likewise noted for excellent water. There Christ was born, who is the "bread of life," and who also gives us the "water of life." "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
three <07969> [the three.]
poured ... out <05258> [poured it.]
not <02486> [Be it far.]
blood <01818> [the blood.]
lives <05315> [jeopardy.]
Abishai <052> [Abishai.]
[and slew them. Heb. slain.]
<0935> [he attained.]
Benaiah <01141> [Benaiah.]
Kabzeel <06909> [Kabzeel.]
great exploits <07227 06467> [who had done many acts. Heb. great of acts. he slew.]
Ariel <0739> [lion-like men. Heb. lions of God.]
struck down .............. killed ... lion <0738 05221> [slew a lion.]
impressive-looking Egyptian <04758 0376> [a goodly man. Heb. a man of countenance, or sight. called.]
[a man of great stature. slew him.]
honor <03513> [more honourable. or, honourable among the thirty.]
bodyguard <04928> [over his guard. or, over his council. Heb. at his command.]
Asahel <06214> [Asahel.]
Shammah <08048> [Shammah.]
[Shammoth the Harorite.]
Paltite <06407> [Paltite.]
[Pelonite. Ira.]
Tekoa <08621> [Tekoite.]
Abiezer <044> [Abiezer.]
[Antothite.]
[Anetothite. Mebunnai.]
[Sibbecai.]
Maharai <04121> [Maharai.]
Heled <02460> [Heleb.]
[Heled.]
[Heldai. Ittai.]
[Ithai.]
Benaiah <01141> [Benaiah.]
Pirathonite <06553> [Pirathonite.]
Hiddai <01914> [Hiddai.]
[Hurai. brooks. or, valleys.]
Abi-Albon <045> [Abi-albon.]
[Abiel. Barhumite.]
[Baharumite.]
Jashen <03464> [Jashen.]
[Hashem, the Gizonite.]
Shammah <08048> [Shammah.]
Sharar <08325> [Sharar.]
[Sacar.]
Eliam <0463> [Eliam.]
Hezrai <02695> [Hezrai.]
[Hezro.]
Igal <03008> [Igal.]
[Joel.]
Zelek <06768> [Zelek.]
[Nahari.]
Ira <05896> [Ira.]
Uriah <0223> [Uriah.]
thirty-seven <07970 07651> [thirty and seven in all.]
From the number of these officers being thirty-seven, it is almost self-evident that {shalishim} cannot denote the thirty, as rendered in ver. 13, etc., but some particular description of men, or officers; for it can scarcely be said, with propriety, that we have thirty-seven out of thirty; and besides, in the parallel place in 1 Chronicles, there are sixteen added!
