2 Samuel 3:39

22-39 Judgments are prepared for such scorners as Abner; but Joab, in what he did, acted wickedly. David laid Abner's murder deeply to heart, and in many ways expressed his detestation of it. The guilt of blood brings a curse upon families: if men do not avenge it, God will. It is a sad thing to die like a fool, as they do that any way shorten their own days, and those who make no provision for another world. Who would be fond of power, when a man may have the name of it, and must be accountable for it, yet is hampered in the use of it? David ought to have done his duty, and then trusted God with the issue. Carnal policy spared Joab. The Son of David may long delay, but never fails to punish impenitent sinners. He who now reigns upon the throne of David, has a kingdom of a nobler kind. Whatever He doeth, is noticed by all his willing people, and is pleasing to them....

Verse 2 Samuel 3:39. _I_ AM _THIS DAY WEAK_] Had Abner lived, all the tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government. _THOUGH ANOINTED KING_] I have little else than the title: _first_, having only one tribe under my government; and _secondly_, the sons of Zeruiah, Joab and his brethren, having usurped all the power, and reduced me to the shadow of royalty. _THE LORD SHALL REWARD THE DOER OF EVIL_] That is, Joab, whom he appears afraid to name. WE talk much of ancient manners, their _simplicity_ and _ingenuousness_; and say that _the former days were better than_ _these_. But who says this who is a judge of the times? In those days of celebrated _simplicity_, c., there were not so _many_ crimes as at present I grant: but what they wanted i

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 3:1 THERE WAS LONG WAR. As Ishbosheth reigned only two years, and as "the house of Saul" is the phrase used, it seems probable that after Ishbosheth's murder, during the five years before David's election to the throne of all Israel, the house of Saul had some puppet representative at Mahanaim, and some commander in Abner's place. But after the death of this able man matters would go from bad to worse, and, though David probably remained on the defensive, yet the contrast between the peace and good government of Judah and the misery in Israel made all the tribes wish to put an end to a harassing civil war. It is plain, too, that the Philistines, repelled at first by Abner's skill, had again gained the ascendant, and regarded themselves so completely as the rulers of the country, that they resented immediately with summ

AND I [AM] THIS DAY WEAK, THOUGH ANOINTED KING,.... Which seems to be given as a reason, or for an excuse why he did not inflict just punishment upon the murderer, according to the law of God, because he was "weak"; not in body or mind, but with respect to the kingdom, that was like a tender branch, or in its infant state; and great care and caution were to be used that it was not overturned: he was a king by unction, not by birth; a son of the late king was yet up against him, and was possessed of the far greater part of the kingdom; he was indeed anointed by Samuel to be king over all Israel; but as yet he was not put into the possession of the kingdom he was anointed to; he was anointed and made king over Judah, and invested with the office of king there, and settled in it; and yet his power was not very great there, for as follows: AND THESE MEN, THE SONS OF ZERUIAH, [BE] TOO HARD F...

4. ABNER'S DEEDS AND END CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The long war and its results (2 Samuel 3:1)_ 2. David's family (2 Samuel 3:2) 3. Abner's defiant deed (2 Samuel 3:6) 4. Abner and Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 3:8) 5. Abner's defection to David (2 Samuel 3:12) 6. David's request (2 Samuel 3:13) 7. Abner with David (2 Samuel 3:17)...

David made it clear that he had nothing to do with the murder. He gave Abner honourable burial, and king and people lamented him. The dirge in 2 Samuel 3:33 f. is generally accepted as the work of David....

SHALL REWARD. Compare 1Ki 2:5, 1 Kings 2:6. EVIL. Hebrew. _ra_. _a_ `. App-44. WICKEDNESS. Hebrew. _ra_. _a_ `. App-44....

David's lamentation for Abner 31. _gird you with sackcloth_ The practice of wearing garments of the coarse dark hair-cloth used for making sacks as a sign of mourning was very ancient (Genesis 37:34). In cases of extreme grief or humiliation they were worn next the skin, but ordinarily outside the usual tunic. _mourn before Abner_ Preceding the bier in the funeral procession....

IT PLEASED THEM: AS WHATSOEVER, &C.— David's behaviour towards Abner had its success. The sincerity of his sorrow was seen by all the people, and he was universally acquitted of all guilt in his death: nor was this all; he took care to let his servants know, and they doubtless took care to inform the people, that nothing but the _weak_ and _unsettled_ condition of his affairs, 2 Samuel 3:39 hindered him from executing just vengeance upon the author of it. In short, his whole behaviour on this occasion gave great satisfaction to his people, as did every part of his conduct. _Whatsoever the king did, pleased all the people._ Rare felicity of princes! or, shall I add? felicity peculiar to David! The fall of a man like Abner must inspire every mind with grave and serious reflections: _A great man fallen!_ fallen by so unexpected and so surprising a treachery! in the very

_David Mourns for Abner._ 2 Samuel 3:31-39 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that _were_ with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner, And king David _himself_ followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 34 Thy hands _were_ not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, _so_ fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down. 36 And all the people took notice of i