And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. Ver. 1. _And David numbered the people._] Which seem to be by this time not so few as four thousand, as Josephus reporteth them, or seven thousand, as Comestor, but many more; so th... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. Ver. 2. _I wil... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city._ Ver. 3. _But now thou art worth ten t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. Ver. 4. _What seemeth you best I will do._] So meekly doth David submit himself to the will of his men. Affliction and meekness grow both on t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. Ver. 5. _Deal gently for my sake._] Heb., _Leniter propter me, sc., agite._ Though he... [ Continue Reading ]
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; Ver. 6. _And the battle was in the wood of Ephraim._] So called, because it was opposite Ephraim; or because forty-two thousand Ephraimites there once lost their lives. Jdg 12:5-6... [ Continue Reading ]
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men]. Ver. 7. _Where the people of Israel were slain._] For a just reward of their unjust rebellion: besides a great sort of them who having tasted of the sweetness... [ Continue Reading ]
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. Ver. 8. _And the wood devoured more people that day._] While in running from death, they ran to it; _sive in stipites impegerint, sive in arbores illisetint, sive... [ Continue Reading ]
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him went away. Ver. 9. _And his head caught hold of... [ Continue Reading ]
And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. Ver. 10. _Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak._] Which oak, by the just judgment of God, this new king had for a throne, his twisted hair for a crown. He shall shortly have three darts in his heart for a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a girdle. Ver. 11. _And I would have given thee._] And will do still, if thou wilt yet do it: for though Joab wish... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none [touch] the young man Absalom. Ver. 12. _Yet would... [ Continue Reading ]
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me]. Ver. 13. _And thou thyself wouldst have set thyself._] Or, Wouldst have kept aloof off from helping me. Satan is ever accusing the sain... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak. Ver. 14. _And thrust them through the heart of Absalom._] In which execution of this arch-rebel, contrary to David's c... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him._ Ver. 15. _And ten young men._] As he had defiled his father's ten concubines, so by these ten youngsters he hath that little breath that was left in him beaten out of his body. _En admirandum Dei iudicium._... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. Ver. 16. _For Joab held back the people._] From pursuing the rebels, as pitying their seduction: he knew as well how to use victory, as to get it, which Hannibal did not.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Ver. 17. _And laid a very great heap of stones upon him._] Other disobedient sons were by the law to be stoned alive; so was Absalom when dead:... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. Ver. 18. _Had reared up for himself a pil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies._ Ver. 19. _And bear the king tidings._] Who could not but much long to hear the issue of the battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. Ver. 20. Because the king's son is dead.] Not by a fever and a flux, with excoriation of his bowels (as died Henry, son of... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Ver. 21. _Then said Joab to Cushi._] _a_ _Cuidam Aethiopi; _ so Tremellius rendereth it; to a certain blackamoor, some slave that belonged to David's house, 2Sa 18:31 whose acceptance before t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?_ Ver. 22. _But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run._] For he resolved to be first there, and... [ Continue Reading ]
But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. Ver. 23. _Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain._] Which was the nearest way, though farthest about.... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. Ver. 24. _And David sat between the two gates._] Where he hung in suspense, and waited for the next news.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. Ver. 25. _If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth._] Tidings of victory likely; for if an army be beaten they flee by troops; and it is seldom see... [ Continue Reading ]
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. Ver. 26. _Behold another man running._] He ran first, but was outrun by Ahimaaz; so was Peter by the beloved disciple. Joh 20... [ Continue Reading ]
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings. Ver. 27. _He is a good man._] We should have the same good esteem of God's faithful ministers, whose "feet," if they b... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. Ver. 28. _All is well._] Heb., Peace; or, There is peace... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was]. Ver. 29. _Is the young man Absalom safe?_] Heb., Is there peace to Absalom? _q.d., _ I reckon it no peace if Absalom p... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. Ver. 30. _And he turned aside, and stood still._] Till Cushi came. Meanwhile David was held in suspense; and fearing the worst, was the better prepared to hear and bear the sad news of his son's death.... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. Ver. 31. _And, behold, Cushi came._] Who was the king's servant, 2Sa 18:29 and likely one of his footmen; but outrun by Ahimaaz, who left him the worst... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is]. Ver. 32. _Is the young man Absalom safe?_] _Omnis in Ascanio, &c._ See still his excessive love and unboun... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Ver. 33. _And the king was much moved._] A great deal more than was justified. Many heat... [ Continue Reading ]