2 Samuel 2:1--8:18
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.]
came <0935> [came.]
blood <06106> [we.]
leader <03318> [leddest out.]
shepherd <07462> [feed.]
rule <05057> [a captain.]
leaders <02205> [So all.]
made <03772> [made.]
before <06440> [before.]
designated <04886> [anointed.]
thirty <07970> [thirty.]
forty <0705> [forty.]
seven years ............ years <07651 08141> [seven years.]
Jerusalem <03389> [Jerusalem.]
Jebusites <02983> [the Jebusites.]
said ................... saying <0559> [which spake, etc.]
Dr. Kennicott's amended translation is as follows: "Who spake unto David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither; for the blind and the lame shall drive thee away, by saying, David shall not come in hither." ver. 8. "And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, and through the subterraneous passage reacheth the lame and the blind, who hate the life of David, (because the blind and the lame said, he shall not come into the house,) shall be chief and captain. So Joab, the son of Zeriah, went up first, and was chief."
turn ... back <05493> [Except.]
said ... David ................. saying David <01732 0559> [thinking, David cannot. or, saying, David shall not, etc.]
Zion <06726> [Zion.]
city <05892> [the same.]
approach <05060> [Whosoever.]
said ............................... said <0559> [he shall be.]
said ............................... said <0559> [Wherefore, etc. or, Because they had said, even the blind and the lame, he shall not come into the house.]
City <05892> [city.]
terrace <04407> [Millo.]
steadily <03212 01980 01419> [went on, and grew great. Heb. went going and growing.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Hiram <02438> [Hiram.]
stonemasons <07023> [masons. Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall. they built.]
David <01732> [David.]
people <05971> [his people.]
names <08034> [the names.]
[Shammuah. or, Shimea.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Solomon <08010> [Solomon.]
Elishua <0474> [Elishua. or, Elishama.]
Eliada <0450> [Eliada. or, Beeliada.]
Eliphelet <0467> [Eliphalet. Eliphelet.]
Philistines <06430> [But when.]
fortress <04686> [the hold.]
valley <06010> [the valley.]
asked <07592> [enquired.]
Lord ................. Lord <03068> [And the Lord.]
Baal Perazim ............................. Baal Perazim <01188> [Baal-perazim. that is, The plain of breaches.]
David <01732> [David.]
picked <05375> [burned them. or, took them away.]
up <05927> [came up.]
asked <07592> [enquired.]
circle <05437> [fetch.]
trees <01057> [the mulberry trees.]
The word {becha‹m,} rendered mulberry trees, is rendered by Aquila, [apion,] pear-trees, as the LXX. also render in 1 Ch 14:14, 15; and so the Vulgate in both places has {pyrorum.} The Rabbins, however, believe {bacha} signifies the mulberry-tree; with whom Ursinus agrees. It more probably denotes a large shrub which the Arabs still call {baca,} from its distilling an odoriferous gum, from {bachah} to distil, as tears. Of this opinion is Celsius, who quotes a passage from Abulfadi, who describes it as a balsam shrub, having longish leaves, and bearing a large fruit with an acrid taste. M. Forskal mentions a tree by the name of {b‘ca,} with leaves rather ovated, smooth, entire: its berries are poisonous to the sheep.
sound <06963> [sound.]
decisively <02782> [thou shalt bestir.]
Gibeon <01387> [Geba.]
[Gibeon. Gazer.]
Baalah in Judah <01184> [Baale.]
[Baalah, i.e., Kirjath-jearim.]
name <08034> [whose name, etc. or, at which the name, even the name of the]
Lord of hosts, was called upon.
sits enthroned <03427> [dwelleth.]
loaded <07392> [set, etc. Heb. made the ark of God to ride.]
<01390> [Gibeah. or, the hill.]
with <05973> [accompanying. Heb. with.]
David <01732> [David.]
<01265> [on all manner.]
This place should doubtless be corrected from the parallel place, 1 Ch 13:8; where, instead of {bechol ƒtzey beroshim,} which is literally, "with all trees or wood of fir," we read {bechol “z oovesheerim,} "with all their might, and with songs." This makes a good sense, while the former makes none: the LXX. have the same reading here, [en ischui, kai en odais.]
Nacon <05225> [Nachon's.]
[he is called Chidon. put forth.]
Even the Kohathites, who were appointed to carry the ark, after it was covered by the priests, were forbidden to touch it on pain of death; but Uzzah, who certainly was no priest, probably with some degree of irreverence, having presumed to lay his hand upon the ark, which perhaps was not covered, thus incurred the penalty due to his rashness.
[shook it. or, stumbled.]
he killed ................. God <05221 0430> [God smote.]
negligence <07944> [error. or, rashness.]
angry <02734> [displeased.]
attacked <06555> [made. Heb. broken. Perez-uzzah. that is, The breach of]
Uzzah.
afraid <03372> [afraid.]
ark <0727> [How shall.]
Obed-Edom <05654> [Obed-edom.]
Gittite <01663> [Gittite.]
Lord .............. Lord blessed <01288 03068> [the Lord blessed.]
ark ........... ark <0727> [because.]
David ....................... David ................... David <01732> [So David.]
carried <05375> [when they.]
ox <07794> [oxen.]
dancing <03769> [danced.]
[with all this.]
wearing <02296> [girded.]
David <01732> [David.]
shouting <08643> [with shouting.]
trumpets <06963> [the sound.]
ark <0727> [And as.]
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
despised <0959> [despised.]
brought <0935> [they brought.]
pitched <05186> [pitched. Heb. stretched. offered.]
David <01732> [as soon.]
blessing <01288> [he blessed.]
handed out <02505> [he dealt.]
member .......................... people <05971> [So all the.]
blessing <01288> [bless.]
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
distinguished <03513> [glorious.]
exposed <01540> [uncovered.]
We are only to understand by this expression that David had divested himself of his royal robes, in order to appear humble before the Lord, by assimilating himself to the condition of one of the priests or Levites: for we find that he was "girded with a linen ephod;" and consequently no part of his body was exposed, having only put off his outer garments. The terms uncovered or naked frequently mean no more than this in Scripture.
vulgar <07386> [vain fellows.]
exposed <01540> [shamelessly. or, openly.]
before ....... before ......... father ..... family <06440 01 01004> [before.]
chose <0977> [chose.]
celebrating <07832> [play.]
humiliate <07043> [more vile.]
<05869> [in mine.]
slave girls <0519> [maid-servants. or, handmaids. I be had.]
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
day <03117> [unto the day.]
king <04428> [the king.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
living in ............ sits <03427> [I dwell.]
ark <0727> [the ark.]
tent <03407> [curtains.]
mind <03824> [all that.]
Lord <03068> [for the.]
night <03915> [that night.]
servant David <05650 01732> [my servant David. Heb. to my servant, to David. Shalt.]
lived <03427> [I have not.]
traveling <01980> [walked.]
tent <0168> [tent.]
moved among <01980> [walked.]
any .... leaders <07626 0259> [any of the tribes.]
[any of the judges.]
Instead of [shbty,] {shivtey,} "tribes," we should probably read, with Houbigant, Drs. Waterland and A. Clarke, and others, [shpty,] {shophtey,} "judges;" which is the reading in the parallel passage. Indeed there is but one letter of difference between them, and letters which might be easily mistaken for each other; the apex under the upper stroke of the [p,] {pay,} being the only mark to distinguish it from the [b,] {baith.} Compare with ver. 11.
care for <07462> [feed.]
took ..... pasture <03947 05116> [I took thee.]
<0310> [following. Heb. after. ruler.]
went <01980> [And I was.]
defeated <03772> [cut off.]
before <06440> [out of thy sight. Heb. from thy face. a great.]
famous <08034> [like unto.]
establish ......... settle <05193 07931> [plant them.]
men <01121> [neither.]
beginning <07223> [as beforetime.]
time <03117> [since.]
relief <05117> [have caused.]
<06213> [he will make.]
time <03117> [And when.]
die <07901> [sleep.]
raise up <06965> [I will set.]
build <01129> [He shall.]
<03559> [I will stablish.]
father <01> [I will be.]
sins <05753> [If he.]
father ............. correct <01 03198> [I will.]
loyal love <02617> [But my.]
removed ...... removed ....... removed <05493> [as I took.]
sat <03427> [sat.]
Lord <0136> [Who am I.]
<06994> [And this.]
spoken <01696> [but thou.]
usual way <08452> [And is this.]
usual way <08452> [manner. Heb. law.]
recognition <03045> [knowest.]
promise <01697> [thy word's.]
purpose <03820> [according.]
great <01431> [Wherefore.]
God <0430> [none.]
unique ... on <0259> [what one.]
went <01980> [went.]
make ... name <07760 08034> [make him.]
great <01420> [great things.]
people ............... nation ...................... people <05971> [thy people.]
nation ...... God .................................... empire .... gods <0430 01471> [nations and their gods.]
made <03559> [confirmed.]
became <01961> [art become.]
reality <06965 05704> [establish it.]
fame <08034> [let thy.]
before <06440> [before thee.]
dynastic <01540> [revealed. Heb. opened the ear.]
build <01129> [I will.]
dynastic <04672> [found.]
words <01697> [thy words.]
willing ... bless ............................ blessed <01288 02974> [let it please thee to bless. Heb. be thou pleased and bless.]
permanently <05769> [for ever.]
Later <0310> [A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040. An. Ex. Is. 451. And after.]
Metheg <04965> [Metheg-ammah. or, the bridle of Ammah.]
[Gath.]
In the parallel passage of Chronicles, we read, "David took Gath and her towns;" and it is probable, that Gath and its districts were called Metheg-ammah in David's time; which, being unusual or becoming obsolete, in the time of the author of the Chronicles, led him thus to explain it.
defeated <05221> [he smote.]
measure ... off ... put <04058> [measured.]
Moabites ............................... Moabites <04124> [And so.]
brought tribute <04503 05375> [brought gifts.]
Hadadezer <01909> [Hadadezer.]
[Hadarezer. Zobah.]
Euphrates <05104> [at the river.]
1,700 .... 20,000 <0505> [from him. or, of his. chariots.]
As 1 Ch 18:4 seven hundred. In the parallel place in Chronicles it is "seven thousand horsemen, a far more probable number. The letter [Zayin,] {zayin,} with a dot upon it stands for seven thousand, and the final letter N–wn,] {noon,} for seven hundred: the great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce an error in this place.
David .......... David cut the hamstrings <06131 01732> [David houghed.]
but <03498> [reserved.]
Arameans ................. Arameans <0758> [And when.]
<0935> [came.]
Zobah <06678> [Zobah.]
From 2 Ch 8:3, we learn that Zobah was the district in which Tadmor or Palymyra was situated; and consequently lay between the land of Israel and the Euphrates. The capital was probably the same as the Sabe mentioned by Ptolemy as a city of Arabia Deserta.
garrisons <05333> [garrisons.]
subjects <05650> [became.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
shields <07982> [shields.]
Tebah <0984> [Betah.]
Probably the same as Bathne in Syria, between Bero‘ea and Hierapolis.
[Tibhath, Chun. Berothai.]
Berothai is probably the Barathena of Ptolemy, which he mentions, along with Sabe, as a city of Arabia Deserta, in the confines of the Palmyrenian district.
<03966> [exceeding.]
Toi <08583> [Toi.]
[Tou. Hamath.]
Joram ............................... brought <03141 03027> [Joram.]
[Hadoram. salute him. Heb. ask him of peace.]
blessing ...... victory <01288 03898> [to bless him.]
<0376> [had wars. Heb. was a man of wars. brought with him. Heb. in his hand were.]
King ........................... subdued <04428 03533> [Which.]
Aram <0758> [Syria.]
famous <06213 08034> [gat him.]
defeating <05221> [smiting. Heb. his smiting. the valley of salt.]
18,000 <08083> [being. or, slaying.]
Edom ..... Edomites <0123> [all they.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Israel <03478> [over all Israel.]
David ...... he guaranteed <06213 01732> [David executed.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Jehoshaphat <03092> [Jehoshaphat.]
secretary <02142> [recorder. or, remembrancer, or writer of chronicles.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Seraiah <08304> [and Seraiah.]
[Shavsha. scribe. or, secretary.]
Benaiah <01141> [Benaiah.]
Kerithites <03774> [the Cherethites.]
priests <03548> [chief rulers. or, princes.]
