2 Samuel 2:1--4:12
inquired <07592> [enquired.]
Hebron <02275> [Hebron.]
<0582> [his men.]
cities <05892> [the cities.]
Judah .............. Judah <03063 0582> [the men of Judah.]
anointed <04886> [anointed.]
Jabesh <03003 0582> [the men of Jabesh-gilead.]
David <01732> [David.]
This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul, though he had been greatly injured by him, as the anointed king of Israel, and once his legitimate sovereign; and he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend.
blessed <01288> [Blessed.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
may ................ done <06213> [I also.]
valiant <03027> [let your.]
valiant <01121> [valiant. Heb. the sons of valour.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
[Saul's host. Heb. the host which was Saul's. Ish-bosheth.]
[Esh-baal. Mahanaim.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
Geshurites <0805> [Ashurites.]
The LXX. read [ ,] {Thasiri;} and the Vulgate {Gessuri,} "Geshurites;" but it is probable that for {ashuri,} "Ashurites," we should read {ashairi,} "Asherites," or those of the tribe of Asher.
Jezreel <03157> [over Jezreel.]
years ............ two years <08141 08147> [two years.]
Houbigant proposes to read {shesh shanah,} "six years" instead of {shetayim shanim,} "two years," of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words should be {shetayim shanah;} and this is the reading of twenty MSS.; but two is acknowledged by all the versions and MSS. yet collated.
<04557> [time. Heb. number of days.]
Mahanaim <04266> [A.M. 2951. B.C. 1053. An. Ex. Is. 438. Mahanaim.]
Gibeon <01391> [Gibeon.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
group <03162> [together. Heb. them together. pool.]
fight before <06440 07832> [play before.]
<07218> [by the head.]
Probably by the beard or hair of the head. Plutarch, in his Apophthegms, informs us, that all things being ready for a battle, Alexander's captains asked him whether he had any thing else to command them. "Nothing," said he, "but that the Macedonians shave their beards." Parmenio wondering what he meant, "Dost thou not know," said he, "that in fight, there is no better hold than the beard?"
Field of Flints <02521> [Helkath-hazzurim. that is, the field of strong men.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
three <07969> [three.]
quick <07031> [was as light.]
feet <07272> [foot. Heb. his feet. a wild roe. Heb. one of the roes that is in the field.]
[The word {tzevee,} rather denotes the gazelle or antelope.]
(See note on De 15:22.)
turning <05186> [turned.]
Abner ............. followed Abner <074 0310> [following Abner. Heb. after Abner.]
take ... equipment <03947 02488> [and take thee.]
It seems that Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy.
equipment <02488> [armour. or, spoil.]
strike <05221> [wherefore.]
show <05375> [how then.]
abdomen ........ spear ... spear <02570 02595> [the fifth rib.]
respect <05975> [stood still.]
sword .................. tell <02719 0559> [Shall.]
sword <02719> [sword.]
bitter <04751> [it will be.]
tell <0559> [how long.]
God <0430> [As God.]
This was spoken in allusion to the proposal of Abner, (ver. 14,) which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel.
not <03884> [unless.]
morning <01242> [in the morning. Heb. from the morning. gone up. or, gone away.]
Bitron <01338> [Bithron.]
Bithron or Bether is probably the same as {Betarus,} which is placed in the Antonine Itinerary between Caesarea of Palestine and Diospolis or Lydda, 18 miles from the former, and 22 from the latter. The Jerusalem Itinerary mentions a place called Bethar, 16 miles from Caesarea, and 20 from Diospolis, which is probably the same. The Talmudists say that it was four miles distant from the sea.
[Bether. Mahanaim.]
360 <03967 07969> [three hundred.]
The slain of Israel, though greatly exceeding those of Judah, were not great. This might be owing to the directions given by David, to be as lenient as possible; but the death of Asahel seems to have stopped the pursuers, and greatly favoured the escape of the vanquished.
buried <06912> [buried.]
<03212> [went.]
war ... prolonged <04421 0752> [long war.]
house ...... house ........... house <01004> [between.]
David David ... becoming steadily ......... becoming increasingly <01980 01732> [David waxed.]
sons ... born <03205 01121> [sons born.]
Amnon <0550> [Amnon.]
Ahinoam <0293> [Ahinoam.]
Kileab <03609> [Chileab.]
[Daniel. Abigail.]
Absalom <053> [Absalom.]
Talmai <08526> [Talmai.]
Geshur <01650> [Geshur.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
Rizpah <07532> [Rizpah.]
have sexual relations <0935> [Wherefore.]
This action of Abner's seems a most evident proof that he intended to seize on the government; and it was so understood by Ish-bosheth; see Parallel Texts.
have sexual relations <0935> [gone in.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
head .... dog <03611 07218> [Am I a dog's head.]
This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible. Something similar to this was the answer of the Turkish commander at Beer, on the Euphrates, to a request made to see the castle. "Do they," said he, "take me for a child, or an ass's head, that they would feed me with sweet meats, and dupe me with a bit of cloth? No, they shall not see the castle."
demonstrating <06213> [do shew.]
God .......... do <06213 0430> [So do God.]
Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
Dan <01835> [from Dan.]
afraid <03372> [because.]
land <0776> [Whose.]
<03772> [Make.]
can <03027> [my hand.]
said <0559> [that is. Heb. saying. Thou shalt.]
face ............ visit <06440> [except.]
As Michal was not divorced, but violently separated from David, he had a legal right to demand her, and was justified in receiving her again. It is probable, also, that her marriage with Phaltiel was a force upon her inclinations; and whatever affections he might have for her, it was highly criminal for him to take another man's wife. David required Michal probably both out of affection for her, and to strengthen his interest, by asserting his affinity with the house of Saul.
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
Ish-bosheth <0378> [Ish-bosheth.]
[and hundred.]
Paltiel <06409> [Phaltiel.]
[Phalti.]
went ................ Go <01980> [along weeping. Heb. going and weeping.]
Bahurim <0980> [Bahurim.]
wanting <08543 08032> [in times past. Heb. both yesterday and the third day.]
Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
hand ............ from ..... from <03027> [By the hand.]
Benjaminites .................... Benjamin <01144> [Benjamin.]
David .... David <01732> [David.]
gather <06908> [will gather.]
rule <04427 05315> [reign over.]
done <06213> [What hast.]
Joab and his brother Abishai, David's nephews, had been very faithful and highly useful to him in his distresses; and, from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently permitted them to assume almost as much ascendancy over him as Abner had over the pusillanimous Ishbosheth: he trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance they claimed; which had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption.
came <0935> [that he came.]
know ................. determine ........... discover <03045> [and to know.]
sent <07971> [he sent.]
aside <05186> [took him.]
privately <07987> [quietly. or, peaceably.]
stabbed <05221> [and smote.]
Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner: and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David: see ver. 6-10; 4:6.
blood <01818> [for the blood.]
innocent <05355> [guiltless.]
blood <01818> [blood. Heb. bloods.]
blood whirl <02342> [rest.]
cease <03772> [let there.]
cease <03772> [fail. Heb. be cut off. an issue.]
killed Abner <02026 074> [slew Abner.]
killed <04191> [because.]
David ....................... David <01732> [And David.]
David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would feel but little objection to the ceremony.
Tear <07167> [Rend.]
bier <04296> [bier. Heb. bed.]
loudly <05375> [lifted.]
fool <05036 04194> [as a fool dieth.]
That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture.
hands <03027> [hands.]
The hand of malefactors were usually secured with cords, and their feet with fetters; a custom to which David affectingly alludes in his lamentation over the dust of Abner. Thy hands, O Abner, were not bound, as found to be a malefactor, nor thy feet put in fetters; thou was treated with honour by him whose business it was to judge thee, and thy attachment to the house of Saul was esteemed rather generous than culpable: as the best of men may fall, so thou fellest by the sword of treachery, not of justice.
criminals <05766 01121> [wicked men. Heb. children of iniquity.]
wept <01058> [wept.]
encouraged <01262> [cause.]
punish <06213> [So do.]
before ... sun <06440 08121> [till the.]
[pleased them. Heb. was good in their eyes. as.]
leader <08269> [a prince.]
Today <03117> [I am.]
weak <07390> [weak. Heb. tender.]
sons <01121> [the sons.]
too much .... to bear <07186> [too hard.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<03027> [his hands.]
Israel <03478> [and all.]
units <08269> [captains.]
other <08145> [other. Heb. second. Beeroth.]
Jonathan ...................... Jonathan <03083> [Jonathan.]
news <08052> [when the tidings.]
Mephibosheth <04648> [Mephibosheth.]
[Meribbaal.]
<03212> [went.]
rest <04904 07901> [lay on a bed.]
It is customary, in all hot countries, to travel or work very early and very late, and to rest at noon, at which time the heat most prevails.
getting <03947> [as though.]
It is still the custom of the East, according to Dr. Perry, to allow the soldiers a certain quantity of corn, with other articles of provision, together with some pay: and as it was the custom also to grind the corn, as needed, at the break of day, these two captains very naturally went the day before to the palace, where the king's stores appear to have been kept, to fetch wheat, in order to distribute it to the soldiers under them, to be ground at the accustomed hour in the morning. The princes of the East, in those days, as appears from the history of David, reposed on their couches till the cool of the evening: they therefore came in the heat of the day, when they knew their master would be resting on his bed; and as it was a necessary to have the corn before it was needed, their coming at this time, though it might be earlier than usual, excited no suspicion.
stomach <02570> [under.]
head Taking ... head <07218 03947> [took his head.]
When those difficulties dispirit us which should rather invigorate us and sharpen our endeavours, we betray a carelessness of character which is soon taken advantage of by our more watchful neighbours. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer.
sought <01245> [sought.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
delivered <06299> [who hath.]
told <05046> [one.]
<05869> [thinking, etc. Heb. he was in his own eyes, as a bringer, etc. who thought, etc. or, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.]
wicked <07563> [when wicked.]
require <01245> [require.]
earth <0776> [from.]
them ... death .... cut <02026 07112> [slew them.]
hung <08518> [hanged.]
tomb <06913> [in the sepulchre.]
