2 Samuel 21:1--24:25
famine <07458> [A.M. 2986. B.C. 1018. An. Ex. Ex. Is. 473. a famine.]
inquired <01245> [enquired. Heb. sought the face, etc. of the Lord.]
Saul <07586> [It is.]
Saul <07586> [Saul.]
Gibeonites ........ Gibeonites <01393> [now the.]
Amorites <0567> [the Amorites.]
The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from Jos 6:19; but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general.
zeal <07065> [in his zeal.]
amends <03722> [wherewith.]
bless <01288> [bless.]
silver <03701> [We will, etc. or, It is not silver nor gold that we have to do with Saul, or his house; neither pertains it to us to kill, etc. no silver.]
man <0376> [The man.]
schemed <01819> [devised. or, cut us off.]
seven <07651> [Let seven.]
As God accepted the expiation here demanded, we must suppose that both the enquiry of David, and the answer of the Gibeonites, were directed by some open or secret intimation from him.
execute <03363> [hang.]
Gibeah <01390> [in.]
Lord ......... Lord's chosen one <03068 0972> [whom the Lord did choose. or, the chosen of the Lord.]
Mephibosheth <04648> [Mephibosheth.]
Lord's <03068> [because.]
Rizpah <07532> [Rizpah.]
sons .............. five sons ............. son <01121 02568> [and the five sons.]
This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter, but Merab, 1 Sa 18:19; Michael being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore {(yaledah,} not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., however, have Merab, instead of Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: "And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai."
Merab <04324> [Michal. or, Michal's sister.]
born ............... born ... Adriel <03205 05741> [brought up for. Heb. bare to.]
before ... Lord <06440 03068> [before the Lord.]
beginning <08462> [in the beginning.]
This happened in Judea about the vernal equinox, or 21st of March.
Rizpah <07532> [Rizpah.]
took sackcloth <03947 08242> [took sackcloth.]
beginning <08462> [from the.]
rain <04325> [until water.]
Some suppose that this means a providential supply of rain, in order to remove the famine; but from the manner in which it is introduced, it seems to denote the autumnal rains, which commence about October. For five months did this broken-hearted woman watch by the bodies of her sons!
birds <05775> [the birds.]
David ... told <01732 05046> [told David.]
bones ... Saul ..................................... Saul <06106 07586> [the bones of Saul.]
Beth Shan <01052> [Beth-shan.]
[Beth-shean.]
Gilboa <01533> [in Gilboa.]
buried <06912> [buried.]
Zela <06762> [Zelah.]
[Zelzah. God.]
Philistines .............. Philistines <06430> [the Philistines.]
David ........... David ... exhausted <01732 05774> [and David waxed faint.]
descendants <03211> [of the sons.]
Rapha <07497> [the giant. or, Rapha.]
spear <07013> [whose spear. Heb. the staff, or, the head. thought.]
Abishai <052> [Abishai.]
<05826> [succoured.]
out <03318> [Thou shalt.]
extinguish <03518> [quench.]
lamp <05216> [light. Heb. candle, or lamp.]
Sibbekai <05444> [Sibbechai.]
Saph <05593> [Saph. or, Sippai.]
Rapha <07497> [the giant. or, Rapha.]
Elhanan <0445> [Elhanan, etc.]
Instead of [y`ry 'rgym byt hlchmy 't glyt,] of the text, we should certainly read, as in the parallel text, "and Elhanan the son of Jair, slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath."
Jair <03296> [Jaare-oregim. or, Jair.]
Goliath <01555> [Goliath.]
battle <04421> [yet a battle.]
Rapha <07497> [the giant. or, Rapha.]
taunted <02778> [defied. or, reproached.]
Jonathan <03083> [Jonathan.]
[Shimeah.]
[Shammah.]
[Shimma.]
four <0702> [four.]
killed by <05307 03027> [fell by.]
David <01732> [David.]
words <01697> [words.]
when <03117> [in.]
power ...... including <03709> [and out.]
shelter <02620> [in him.]
shield <04043> [shield.]
horn <07161> [the horn.]
stronghold <04869> [my high.]
refuge <04498> [my refuge.]
savior ... save <03467> [my saviour.]
savior ... save <03467> [thou savest.]
called <07121> [I will.]
praise <01984> [worthy.]
delivered <03467> [so.]
waves <04867> [waves. or, pangs.]
currents <05158> [the floods.]
chaos <01100> [ungodly men. Heb. Belial.]
ropes <02256> [sorrows. or, cords.]
snares <04170> [the snares.]
distress <06862> [my distress.]
heard <08085> [did hear.]
temple <01964> [out.]
cry for help <07775> [my cry.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
foundations <04146> [foundations.]
ascended <05927> [went.]
nose ......... mouth <0639 06310> [out of his. Heb. by his, etc. coals.]
made .... sink <05186> [bowed.]
thick cloud <06205> [darkness.]
winged angel <03742> [a cherub.]
wings <03671> [upon the.]
shrouded <07896> [made.]
thick rain <04325 02841> [dark waters. Heb. binding waters.]
coals ... fire <0784 01513> [coals of fire.]
thundered <07481> [thundered.]
arrows <02671> [arrows.]
depths <0650> [the channels.]
battle cry <01606> [rebuking.]
nose <0639> [nostrils. or, anger.]
reached down <07971> [sent.]
pulled <04871> [he drew.]
surging <07227> [many. or, great.]
<05337> [delivered.]
confronted <06923> [prevented.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
brought ... out <03318> [brought.]
pleased <02654> [delighted.]
repaid <01580> [rewarded.]
blameless <01252> [cleanness.]
obeyed <08104> [I have kept.]
commands <01870> [the ways.]
rebelled <07561> [have not.]
regulations <04941> [For all.]
regulations <04941> [judgments.]
reject <05493> [I did not.]
blameless <08549> [upright.]
kept <08104> [before him. Heb. to him. kept.]
rewarded <07725> [recompensed.]
behavior <05048> [in his eye sight. Heb. before his eyes.]
faithful <02623> [the merciful.]
prove to be reliable ...... blameless <01305> [the pure.]
[forward.]
perverse <06617> [shew thyself unsavoury. or, wrestle.]
oppressed <06041> [afflicted.]
watch <05869> [but thine.]
lamp <05216> [lamp. or, candle.]
illumines <05050> [lighten.]
charge .... army <07323 01416> [run through. or, broken.]
manner <01870> [his way.]
promise <0565> [the word.]
reliable <06884> [tried. or, refined. a buckler.]
God <0410> [For who.]
protector <06697> [a rock.]
refuge <04581> [strength.]
removes <05425> [maketh. Heb. riddeth, or looseth. my way.]
obstacles <08549> [perfect.]
gives ... the agility <07737> [maketh. Heb. equalleth to. like hinds'.]
negotiate <05975> [setteth.]
trains <03925> [teacheth.]
battle <04421> [to war. Heb. for the war. a bow.]
shield <04043> [the shield.]
willingness <06031> [gentleness.]
enables <07235> [made me great. Heb. multiplied me.]
widen <07337> [enlarged.]
feet <07166> [feet. Heb. ankles.]
give <0247> [girded.]
<06965> [them.]
kneel <03766> [subdued. Heb. caused to bow.]
retreat <06203> [necks.]
destroy ..... me <06789> [I might.]
Lord <03068> [unto the Lord.]
dust <06083> [as small.]
clay <02916> [as the mire.]
stomp <07554> [did spread.]
rescue <06403> [delivered.]
leader <07218> [head.]
army .......... people <05971> [a people.]
Foreigners <01121> [Strangers. Heb. Sons of the stranger.]
powerless ...... hear ...... submit ... me <03584 08085> [submit themselves. or, yield feigned obedience. Heb. lie.]
courage <05034> [fade away.]
strongholds <04526> [out.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
protector ....... delivers <06697 03468> [the rock of.]
vindicates ...... submit <05414 03381> [avengeth me. Heb. giveth avengement for me.]
submit <03381> [that bringeth.]
snatch <07311> [thou also.]
violent <02555> [the violent.]
nations <01471> [among.]
sing praises <02167> [I will sing.]
<04024> [the tower.]
chosen ruler <04899> [his anointed.]
descendants <02233> [seed.]
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!
again <03254> [A.M. 2987. B.C. 1017. An. Ex. Is. 474. again.]
incited <05496> [he.]
This verse, when read without reference to any other part of the word of God, is very difficult to understand, and has been used by those who desire to undermine the justice of God, to shew that he sought occasion to punish--that he incited David to sin; and when he had so incited him, gave to him the dreadful alternative of choosing one of three scourges by which his people were to be cut off. On the face of the passage these thoughts naturally arise, because "the Lord" is the antecedent to the pronoun "he,"--He moved David. But to those who "search the Scriptures," this exceedingly difficult passage receives a wonderful elucidation, By referring to 1 Ch 21:1, the reader will there find that Satan was the mover, and that the Lord most righteously punished David for the display of pride he had manifested. Oh! that Christians, who sometimes have their minds harassed with doubts, would remember the promise, that what they know not now they shall know hereafter; and if no other instance of elucidation than this passage occurred to them to remove their doubts, let this be a means of stirring them up to dig deeper than ever into the inexhaustible mines of the Inspired Word.
incited <05496> [moved.]
count <03212 04487> [Go, number.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Go through <07751> [Go now, etc. or, Compass now all.]
Dan <01835> [from Dan.]
muster <06485> [and number.]
We know not in what the sinfulness of this action consisted. Some think it was a contempt of the promise that the Israelites should be innumerable, and that they ought not to have been numbered without an express command, as in the days of Moses. Others suppose with Josephus that it was a kind of sacrilege, in omitting to collect the half-shekel a-piece for the use of the sanctuary. It however would appear that pride and ambition, and a desire of conquest, induced David to this measure, and rendered it so displeasing to God.
know <03045> [that I may.]
king's ......................... king's <04428> [the king's.]
So <03318> [went out.]
Aroer <06177> [Aroer.]
wadi <05158> [river. or, valley. Jazer.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
[land of Tahtim-hodshi. or, nether land newly inhabited.]
Dan-jaan.
Sidon <06721> [Zidon.]
Tyre <06865> [Tyre.]
Beer Sheba <0884> [to Beer-sheba.]
800,000 ......... 500,000 <08083 03967 0505> [eight hundred thousand.]
David felt ......... David <03820 01732> [David's heart.]
sinned <02398> [I have sinned.]
remove <05674> [take away.]
foolishly <05528> [foolishly.]
Gad <01410> [Gad.]
seer <02374> [seer.]
offering <05190> [I offer.]
carry ... out <06213> [that I may.]
seven <07651> [seven.]
flee <05127> [flee.]
three ............... three days <07969 03117> [three days.]
very <03966> [I am in.]
mercy <07356> [for his.]
very ................ great <03966 07227> [great. or, many. let me not.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Dan <01835> [from Dan.]
Seventy thousand men <07657 0505 0376> [seventy thousand men.]
angel ................. angel .............. angel <04397> [the angel.]
relented <05162> [repented.]
enough <07227> [It is enough.]
Araunah <0728> [Araunah.]
[Ornan. the Jebusite.]
said <0559> [spake.]
sinned <02398> [Lo, I have sinned.]
sheep <06629> [these sheep.]
<03027> [let thine.]
Gad <01410> [Gad.]
threshing floor <01637> [threshing floor.]
These, among the ancient Jews, were only round, level plats of ground in the open air, as they are to this day in the East, where the corn was trodden out by oxen.
Araunah <0728> [Araunah. Heb. Araniah.]
Lord's <03068> [as the Lord.]
bowed <07812> [bowed.]
lord <0113> [Wherefore.]
buy <07069> [To buy.]
plague <04046> [the plague.]
lord <0113> [Let my lord.]
oxen ......... harnesses <01241> [be oxen.]
king ....... king ...... king <04428> [as a king.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
insist on buying ...................... bought <07069> [Nay.]
David <01732> [So David.]
built ... altar <01129 04196> [built there.]
Lord ............ Lord <03068> [So the Lord.]
