2 Samuel 4:11

_AND DAVID ANSWERED RECHAB AND BAANAH HIS BROTHER, THE SONS OF RIMMON THE BEEROTHITE, AND SAID UNTO THEM, AS THE LORD LIVETH, WHO HATH REDEEMED MY SOUL OUT OF ALL ADVERSITY,_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

8-12 A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver....

Verse 2 Samuel 4:11. _HOW MUCH MORE_] Here are several things which aggravated the guilt of those wicked men. 1. Ish-bosheth was an _innocent man_, and therefore none could have any ground of quarrel against him. 2. He was in _his own house_, which was his sanctuary, and none but the worst of men would disturb him there. 3. He was _upon his bed_, resting in the heat of the day, and so free from suspicion that he was not even attended by his guards, nor had he his doors secured. To take away the life of such a man, in such circumstances, whom also they professed to hold as their sovereign, was the most abandoned treachery....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 4:1 WHEN SAUL'S SON HEARD THAT ABNER WAS DEAD. The news of Abner's death must have had a doubly depressing effect upon Ishbosheth; for he learned, not only that the mainstay of his kingdom was slain, but that even he, in despair of a successful issue, had been engaged in treasonable negotiations with his rival. ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE TROUBLED. Their trouble was caused rather by uncertainty than by fear. Abner's plans had fallen through, and the fact of his murder threw grave suspicions on David. Had he now attacked Israel, the chiefs would most probably have stood loyally by Saul's house. But he did nothing, and his innocence slowly but gradually was made clear. They were thus in a state of suspense, and waiting till some brave man arose to lead them to a decision. Unfortunately, a fresh crime threw e

HOW MUCH MORE, WHEN WICKED MEN HAVE SLAIN A RIGHTEOUS PERSON,.... As Ishbosheth was in comparison of the wicked men that slew him; though not with respect to David, if he knew of his divine designation to the throne; nor with respect to Mephibosheth his eldest brother's son, whose right to the throne was prior to his, which he must know; though with respect to his conduct towards David, in assuming the throne of Israel, it might not be owing to any bad principles of malice and injustice, but to his ignorance of David's having a right to the throne upon his father's death, and by the advice of his friends he took it: the sin of these men in murdering him is aggravated, in that they slew him IN HIS OWN PALACE, UPON HIS BED? in cold blood, and not in the field of battle, not being engaged in war with him; in his own palace, where he might justly think himself in safety; on his bed asleep,...

5. THE DEATH OF ISH-BOSHETH CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Ish-bosheth in despair (2 Samuel 4:1)_ 2. Mephibosheth, the lame son (2 Samuel 4:4) 3. The end of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:5) 4. The punishment of the murderers (2 Samuel 4:9) Abner's death meant the speedy end of Ish-bosheth's pretentious reign. Baanah and Rechab were his captains and became his murderers. While Ish-bosheth was resting in the heat of the day they sneaked in and murdered the sleeping son of Saul, then brought the head to David. They claimed to be instruments of God in the execution of the wicked deed, expecting approval and a reward from

It was clear that Ishbaal's authority could not long survive Abner. It was only a question who should carry out the schemes which Abner had set on foot. Two of Ishbaal's captains came to his house as he was enjoying his midday siesta. And, behold the portress was cleaning wheat, and she had fallen sound asleep, and they got into the house without being noticed (following LXX of 2 Samuel 4:6 _cf. mg.),_ and slew Ishbaal and took his head to David, who had them put to death. There are two insertions in this narrative. 2 Samuel 4:2_ b_, 2 Samuel 4:3 is an archæ ological note as to Beeroth (Deuteronomy 10:6). Its inhabitants, probabl

PERSON. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14. REQUIRE. exact the penalty for. EARTH. land....

The Punishment of the Murderers by David 8. _to the king_ Observe that Ish-bosheth is never honoured with the title of _king_. _thine enemy, which sought thy life_ These words are to be referred to Saul not to Ish-bosheth. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:4; 1 Samuel 25:29. _the_Lord _hath avenged_ The murderers profanely represented themselves as the instruments of Providence. "They pretended piety and loyalty, but they regarded nothing except their own interest." Wordsworth....

HOW MUCH MORE WHEN WICKED MEN— It was a fine reflection which fell from Darius upon finding that Bessus was plotting against him: he told the traitor, that he was as well satisfied of Alexander's justice, as he was of his courage; that they were mistaken who hoped he would reward treachery; that, on the contrary, no man was a more severe avenger of violated faith. It was upon this principle that Caesar put Pompey's murderers to death, and the Romans sent back the Faliscian school-master under the lashes of his own scholars. There is no one villany which the human soul so naturally, so instinctively abhors, as treachery, because it is perhaps the only villany from which no man living is secure; and for this reason every man must take pleasure in the punishment of it. Thus ended the dominion of the house of Saul. _Note;_ Sooner or later every enemy must fall before the Son of David, and hi...