2 Samuel 17:29

_AND HONEY, AND BUTTER, AND SHEEP, AND CHEESE OF KINE, FOR DAVID, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH HIM, TO EAT: FOR THEY SAID, THE PEOPLE IS HUNGRY, AND WEARY, AND THIRSTY, IN THE WILDERNESS._ In the wilderness - spread out beyond the cultivated table-lands into the steppes of Hauran....

22-29 Ahithophel hanged himself for vexation that his counsel was not followed. That will break a proud man's heart which will not break a humble man's sleep. He thought himself in danger, concluding, that, because his counsel was not followed, Absalom's cause would fail; and to prevent a possible public execution, he does justice upon himself. Thus the breath is stopped, and the head laid low, from which nothing could be expected but mischief. Absalom chased his father. But observe how God sometimes makes up to his people that comfort from strangers, which they are disappointed of in their own families. Our King needs not our help; but he assures us, that what we do for the least of his brethren, who are sick, poor, and destitute, shall be accepted and recompensed as if done to himself...

CHEESE OF KINE - Or, as others, “milch cows,” which is more in accordance with the context, being coupled with “sheep,” and is more or less borne out etymologically by the Arabic. God’s care for David was evident in the kindness of these people....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 17:1 LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN. The advice of Ahithophel was such as would have made success almost certain. The rebellion had taken David by surprise, and he was quite unprepared to resist the large forces which Absalom had gathered round him. But the better part of the nation disapproved of the enterprise, especially when they perceived that David's life was in danger; and consequently his followers, in course of time, would increase. Moreover, the day had been one of extreme moral and mental trial to David. Upon the sudden news of Absalom's approach, he had to arrange for the flight of his wives and children; to provide supplies for their wants, and for those of their attendants on the march; to give orders to his officers, and take means to prevent their flight degenerating into a panic. Then, wi

AND HONEY AND BUTTER,.... Honey was much in use with the ancients; Homer b speaks of it as a part of the provisions at a feast, and as food with which persons were nourished and brought up; and the ancient Scythians lived on milk and honey c; and this and butter were pretty much the food of the people in Judea; see Isaiah 7:15; AND SHEEP; with which and goats the land of Gilead abounded; see Song of Solomon 4:1; AND CHEESE OF KINE: made of the milk of cows, as it commonly is: FOR DAVID, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT [WERE] WITH HIM, TO EAT; and no doubt they brought wine with them for them to drink; the men that brought these, some brought one sort, and some another, or however different parcels of the same, and did not join in one present; for

7. ABSALOM, AHITOPHEL, AND HUSHAI CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The counsel of Ahitophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1)_ 2. The counsel made known to David (2 Samuel 17:15) 3. Ahitophel commits suicide (2 Samuel 17:23) 4. Absalom pitched in Gilead (2 Samuel 17:24) 5. The kindness of Shobi, Machir and Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:27) Ahitophel's counsel was aimed at the person of David only. He wanted to have him killed and thus by the death of the one man bring all Israel back. But Ahitophel had not

DAVID COMES TO MAHANAIM (J). 2 Samuel 17:15. Meanwhile David was in constant communication with his agents in Jerusalem through Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But one day, apparently when the news of Ahithophel's advice was being conveyed to David, they were seen and pursued, but escaped by being hidden in a well (_cf._ Joshua 2:6), and got away and brought the news to the king. 2 SAMUEL 17:17. EN-ROGEL: 1 Kings 1:9 *. 2 Samuel 17:20. brook: _michal,_ a word of unknown meaning, occurring only here....

BUTTER. Scarce in Lo-debar. Compare 2 Samuel 9:4. The word means place of "no pasture"....

Loyal reception of David at Mahanaim 27. _when David was come to Mahanaim_ The narrative is continued from 2 Samuel 17:24. What follows happened immediately on David's arrival there. _Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah_ It is natural to suppose that Shobi was a brother of Hanun (ch. 2 Samuel 10:1), who had been invested with some kind of dependent chieftainship by David after the conquest of the Ammonites, and now came to testify his gratitude. _Machir_ See note on ch. 2 Samuel 9:4. He who had entertained Jonathan's son now shews hospitality to Jonathan's friend. _Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim_ Who came down to escort the king over Jordan on his return, but declined to acc

BROUGHT BEDS, AND BASONS, &C.— Dr. Russell tells us, "that _burgle_ is very commonly used among the Christians of Aleppo;" and in a note he informs us, "that this burgle is _wheat boiled,_ then bruised by a mill, so as to take the husk off, then _dried_ and kept for use." The usual way of dressing it, is, either by boiling it like rice into a pilaw, or making it into balls, with meat and spice, and either fried or boiled. These balls are called _cubby._ Rauwolf and Ockley speak of the like preparation, under the name of sawik; but the former mentions it as prepared from barley, and the other from barley and rice, as well as wheat. Mr. Jones, in his account of the diet of the Moors of West Barbary, makes mention of the _flour of parched barley;_ which, he says, is the chief provision they make for travelling; and that some of them use it for their diet at home as well as in journeying. He...