_A.M. 2977. B.C. 1027._ The story told David by the widow of Tekoah, 2 Samuel 14:1. Absalom is brought back to Jerusalem, but not to court, 2 Samuel 14:21. An account of Absalom's person and children, 2 Samuel 14:25. He is at length introduced to David, 2 Samuel 14:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That the king's heart was toward Absalom_ That he longed to see him, and have him restored to his country; but was ashamed to show kindness to one whom God's law and his own conscience obliged him to punish. He wanted, therefore, a fair pretence for it, with which Joab now furnished him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab sent to Tekoah_ A city in the tribe of Judah, about twelve miles south of Jerusalem. _And fetched thence a wise woman_ One whom he knew to be fit for such an undertaking, having good sense and a ready utterance; _and said, I pray thee feign thyself to be a mourner_ Who put on no ornaments, nor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deliver him, that we may kill him_ Put him to death, as the law requires, Numbers 35:18. We _will destroy the heir also_ Take away his life, although he be the heir, or the only one remaining of the family. _And so they shall quench my coal which is left_ Deprive me of the little comfort of my life... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Go to thy house_, &c. Notwithstanding the forementioned dissimilarity, the case was too like his own to suffer David to be unmoved; he soon felt her distress, and told her she might return to her house, and leave the care of her business to him; he would give proper directions about... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the king remember the Lord thy God_ In whose presence thou hast made me this promise, to stay the avenger of blood from causing any further destruction in my family. She intended to draw him thus distantly and insensibly into the obligation of an oath: and her address had the desired effect; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the woman said_ Having gained this point, she begs leave to say one word more, which being granted, she immediately proceeds to expostulate with the king upon his own conduct, and unkindness to the people of God, in not pardoning his own son, and bringing him back from exile. _Wherefore then_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we must needs die_ Some by one means, and some by another; death being the common lot of all men, Amnon must have died, if Absalom had not cut him off; and Absalom, if he do not die by the hand of justice, must die by the necessity of nature, and, if he be not recalled soon, may die in exile, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore, that I am come_, &c. “But here, apprehending she might have gone too far, and made too free with majesty, in expostulating so plainly upon a point of such importance, she excused this presumption, from the force put upon her by her people; who had so severely threatened her, that, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the king will hear_ Clemency and kindness are the properties of a good king, and such a king, she insinuates, she knew David to be, who, she was persuaded, would grant her audience and acceptance. _To deliver his handmaid_, &c. By granting her request concerning her son, in whose life, she inti... [ Continue Reading ]
_The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable_ Upon reflection, she grew confident that the king's answer would be according to her heart's desire. _For as an angel of God is my lord the king_ In wisdom, justice, and goodness. _To discern good and bad_ To distinguish between reasonable and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Hide not from me_, &c. Observing the uncommon art and dexterity of her address in the management of this affair, the king immediately began to suspect it was a thing concerted between her and Joab, and asked, _Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this?_ Hast thou not said and don... [ Continue Reading ]
_To fetch about this form of speech_ That is, to propose his and the people's desire of Absalom's restoration, in this parabolical manner. _To know all things that are in the earth_ Or, rather, _in this land_, in all thy kingdom; all the counsels and devices of thy subjects, and what is fit to be do... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said unto Joab_ Joab seems to have stood in some part of the room all the while the woman was addressing the king; who, therefore, now turned himself from her to him as the principal agent in the business, and said, _Behold, now I have done this thing_ That is, the thing which thou hast co... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Joab went, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem_ “Well pleased, we may be assured, to be at once the messenger of his prince's mercy to the heir apparent of his crown, and the instrument of their reconciliation: which could not fail to secure him a present fund of favour with the father, and an equa... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, Let him turn to his own house_ Although the king so far forgave Absalom as to recall him from exile, yet he forbade him to see his face. For his affection to him did not so blind his eyes but he still saw it would not be for his honour to let him come into his presence, lest while he... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty_ Which proved one occasion of his ruin; for he became proud because he was so much admired; and, forgetting his cruel murder of his brother, he began to rely on the people's favour, and to proceed to the commission of a greater crime, e... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he polled his head_, &c. In those days hair was accounted a great ornament, and the longer it was, the more it was esteemed. And therefore it is no wonder that Absalom, who was proud, and courted popularity, should let his grow to a great length, as this rendered him still more beautiful in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom sent for Joab_ This vain young man, whose only excellence seems to have been his singular beauty, weary with being so long detained in that confinement and obscurity, so mortifying to his pride, and so unfriendly to his popularity, sent a messenger to Joab, to desire to speak with him, in o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go and set it on fire_ Absalom's ambition could but ill endure Joab's coldness and delay, and therefore he ordered this extraordinary step to be taken that he might be set right with his father, a step which showed him determined to go any lengths, rather than fall short of his ambitious aims. For... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab arose and came to Absalom_ It may seem strange that so furious a man as Joab should not immediately revenge himself by ordering Absalom's fields to be burned, or in some such way; but he was so wise as to consider, that, being the king's son, Absalom might, some time or other, be reconciled to... [ Continue Reading ]
_If there be iniquity in me_ He could not but know that there was iniquity in him, heinous iniquity: but he pretends if the king would not pardon it, and admit him into his presence, he had rather die. _Let him kill me_ For it is better for me to die than be deprived of the sight and favour of my de... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Joab came to the king_ Absalom's impetuosity prevailed: these passionate expressions that he was weary of life, while he continued to be debarred his father's presence; nay, that he desired to die so he might but see him, moved Joab to intercede with the king for him, and he was admitted into th... [ Continue Reading ]