_And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled._ Ver. 1. _His hands were feeble._] He was quite dispirited; _nihil neque animi, neque consilii habuit._ And all the Israelites were troubled.] _Consternati sunt et conturbati,_ fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul's son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: Ver. 2. And Saul's son,] _i.e., _ Jonathan; as the Rabbis and some... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) Ver. 3. _And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim._] A town of their own tribe, but of far greater security. Hither therefore they fled for fear of the Philistines. See 1 Samuel 31:7 . _ Until this day._] Until the time tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son [that was] lame of [his] feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name [was] Mephibosheth. Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. Ver. 5. _Who lay on a bed at noon._] And on his bed was slain sleeping: so true is that “ _Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur et ipse._ ” It... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth [rib]: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped._ Ver. 6. _As though they would have fetched wheat._] Either for their own pay, or for the use of their soldiers. _ And... [ Continue Reading ]
_For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night._ Ver. 7. _He lay on his bed._] Dreading no danger. So great need have we to commit ourselves to God, when we... [ Continue Reading ]
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. Ver. 8. _Behold the head of Ishbosheth._] A plausible o... [ Continue Reading ]
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, Ver. 9. _As the Lord liveth._] _Sunt verba iurantis, sed abrupta et praecisa:_ _a_ Understand, I will surely punish you. _... [ Continue Reading ]
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: Ver. 10. _I took hold of him, and slew him._] So did Caesar serve him who brought him Pompey's head,... [ Continue Reading ]
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? Ver. 11. _How much more,_] _q.d., _ That Amalekite's perdition should have been your caution; especially since you... [ Continue Reading ]
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron. Ver. 12. _And they slew them._] Not without exquisite torments, sai... [ Continue Reading ]