2 Samuel 16 - Introduction
_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ David is deceived by Ziba, 2 Samuel 16:1; and cursed by Shimei, 2 Samuel 16:5. Absalom receives Hushai, 2 Samuel 16:15; lies with his father's concubines, 2 Samuel 16:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ David is deceived by Ziba, 2 Samuel 16:1; and cursed by Shimei, 2 Samuel 16:5. Absalom receives Hushai, 2 Samuel 16:15; lies with his father's concubines, 2 Samuel 16:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him_ This crafty man, being persuaded that God would in due time appear for the righteous cause of so good a king, and scatter the cloud which was now upon him, takes this occasion to make way for his own future advancement, by making David a handsome p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The asses be for the king's household to ride on_ Or, rather, some of his household, for they could not all ride on two asses, unless by turns, relieving each other, which perhaps Ziba intended; for he seems to have been very considerate in adapting his present to the wants of David and those that... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me_, &c. This was a fiction, but not badly contrived; for the family of David being so divided, and one part enraged against another, it was possible they might destroy one another by mutual wounds; and the people, being tired out by civil wars, mig... [ Continue Reading ]
_When David came to Bahurim_ The next village in his way to the wilderness; that is, when he came to the territory of it, for he did not reach the place itself till afterward, as is mentioned 2 Samuel 16:14. _Thence came out a man, and cursed still as he came_ Out of an inveterate hatred to David; w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come out_ Or rather, _go out_, as the Hebrew properly means: begone out of thy kingdom, from which thou deservest to be expelled. _Thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial_ Probably he says this with a reference to David's adultery with Bath-sheha, and the killing of Uriah. _All the blood of the hou... [ Continue Reading ]
_What have I to do with you?_ &c. In this matter I ask not your advice, nor will I follow it. Your violent counsels are no way pleasing or fit for me at present. _The Lord hath said unto him, Curse David_ God, by bringing me into this distressed condition, hath caused me to appear a proper object of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, my son seeketh my life_ Which is a much greater mischief than to reproach me with words. _How much more may this Benjamite do it?_ One of that tribe and family from which God hath taken away the kingdom, and given it to me. _Let him curse_ Do not now hinder him by violence from doing it, no... [ Continue Reading ]
_It may be the Lord will look on mine affliction_, &c. He means that, although this was a chastisement from God upon him, yet if he bore it as became him, it might become a means of mercy to him. His humble submission and resignation might call down the divine commiseration upon his patience and pen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shimei went along on the hill's side_ David's patience but more inflamed Shimei's insolence. And as David and his servants marched along, Shimei kept pace with them upon the side of an adjacent hill; and still continued cursing, reviling, and throwing dust and stones unchastised. David, however, en... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom and all the people came to Jerusalem_ Probably a considerable time before David reached the banks of Jordan, to which he was marching. When David quitted Jerusalem, it was upon a persuasion that Absalom would make all the haste he could to possess himself of the capital, and, if possible, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hushai said unto Absalom_, &c. Hushai, it appears, mindful of his instructions, lost no time to pay his court, and profess his allegiance to Absalom; but, immediately coming to him, addressed him in the customary form of salutation to kings, or rather, with a seemingly peculiar zeal, he re-doubled... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is this thy kindness to thy friend?_ Doth this action answer that profession of friendship which thou hast hitherto made to him? He speaks thus only to try him. He does not say, _To my father_, for that question would have reflected a heavier reproach upon himself, who had forsaken not only a frien... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hushai said, Nay, but whom the Lord_, &c. Hushai gave him to understand, that his allegiance was governed by other principles than those of private friendship; that the appointment of God and the election of his people determined him in the object of his duty: and what should hinder him from servin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go in unto thy father's concubines_ This counsel he gave, partly to revenge the injury done to Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, chap. 2 Samuel 11:3; the son of Ahithophel, 2 Samuel 23:34; and principally for his own and the people's safety, that the breach between David and Absalom might be irrep... [ Continue Reading ]
_So they spread a tent upon the top of the house_ Of the king's palace, the very place from whence David had gazed upon Bath-sheba: so that his sin was legible in the very place of his punishment. _And Absalom went in unto his father's concubines_ To one or some of them. _In the sight of all Israel_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The counsel of Ahithophel_, &c. It was deemed as unerring, and was commonly followed with as little doubt of its success, as though the oracle of God had dictated it. This is mentioned as the reason why counsel, which carried so ill a face, should meet with such general approbation.... [ Continue Reading ]