_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ Ahithophel advises Absalom to despatch, 2 Samuel 17:1. Hushai advises deliberation, and his advice is received, 2 Samuel 17:5. Intelligence is sent to David, 2 Samuel 17:15. David passes over Jordan, 2 Samuel 17:22. Ahithophel hangs himself, 2 Samuel 17:23. Absalom pursues D... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will arise and pursue after David_ It seems he was a soldier as well as a counsellor. Or, at least, he thought his counsel so sure of being successful that he offered himself to put it in execution. He was probably afraid, also, that if Absalom should command the men himself, natural affection mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will come upon him while he is weary_ Before he has had time to breathe from the fatigues he has just gone through; _and weak- handed_ Before he has collected more forces. _I will make him afraid_ Strike a terror into him by this sudden attack, made in the night, when he is ill-provided. _I will... [ Continue Reading ]
_The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel_ That such a wretch as Absalom should aim at his father's throat is not strange. But that the body of the people, to whom David had been so great a blessing, should join with him in it, is amazing. But the finger of God was in it. Let no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai_ A wonderful effect of Divine Providence, influencing his heart, that he could not rest in Ahithophel's counsel, though it was so evidently wise, and approved by the general consent of his whole party; and that he should desire Hushai's advice, though neither his... [ Continue Reading ]
_The counsel of Ahithophel is not good at this time_ Though he generally gives most wise and admirable counsel, yet he seems now to be under a mistake, and not sufficiently to consider all the present circumstances of this business. _Thou knowest thy father and his men_ Hushai, setting himself to op... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, he is now hid in some pit_ Having been often accustomed to that course, and well acquainted with all hiding-places from Saul's time. In one of them, unknown to us, he will lurk with some of his chosen men, and lie in ambush for us; and when they see a fit opportunity, they will suddenly com... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee_ As Ahithophel proposed all imaginable advantage to the evil cause he was engaged in, from expedition, upon the principle mentioned by Tacitus, that nothing determines civil discords so happily as despatch, Hushai, on the contrary,... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will light upon him as the dew falleth upon the ground_ Plenteously, suddenly, irresistibly, and on all sides; for so the dew falls. This is very beautiful and expressive. “The dew in Palestine, as in several other climates, falls fast and sudden; and is therefore an apt emblem of an active and... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he be gotten into a city_, &c. If he should take refuge for more security in any one of the cities of Israel, they would have numbers sufficient to pull it down, stone by stone, about his ears. The expression in the original is very remarkable, but hyperbolical, suited to the vain-glorious tempe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom and all the men of Israel said_ Being infatuated by a divine power, and given up to believe a lie. _The counsel of Hushai is better_, &c. His advice was much better suited to Absalom's cruelty, as well as his vanity; and seemingly to the interest of his ambition, as well as the safety of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore send quickly_ Lest Absalom's and the people's minds change, and Ahithophel persuade them to pursue you speedily. _Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel_ Or _the fuller's fountain._ Being to carry the intelligence, they had not returned into the city, but found some pretence for tarr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless a lad saw them_ Who knew them to be favourers of David, and observed that they waited there with design to gain intelligence, and possibly saw the girl speaking privately to them. _But they went away quickly_ Suspecting by the observation which the lad made, and his after conduct, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Absalom's servants_ Who were sent to pursue them; _came to the woman to the house_ For some had informed them that Jonathan and Ahimaaz had turned that way. _The woman said, They be gone over the brook_ According to Josephus, the woman told them; they made no stay at her house, but, after they... [ Continue Reading ]
_David arose_ He instantly obeyed the friendly counsel given him, with such diligence and despatch that before the next morning he and all his people were safe on the other side Jordan, which they passed over either at the fords or in boats; and in such a manner, it appears, that none of them perish... [ Continue Reading ]
_And put his household in order_ Disposed of his property by will. See Isaiah 38:1. _And hanged himself_ Partly because he could not bear to outlive his disgrace, and the rejection of his counsel; and partly because he saw that by this means, David would gain time and strength, and, in all probabili... [ Continue Reading ]
_David came to Mahanaim_ A place in the country of Gilead, bordering upon the land of the Ammonites, lately the residence of Ish- bosheth, and anciently the resting-place of Jacob; where God had placed him under the protection of two hosts of angels. The king's distress here, at this time, would nat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom made Amasa captain of the host_ Amasa was another of David's nephews, the son of his sister Abigail. _The daughter of Nahash_ Nahash was one of Jesse's wives, by whom he had this Abigail, the mother of Amasa, as he had Zeruiah, the mother of Joab, by another wife; so that they were sisters... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah_ Who, probably, disliked and disowned that barbarous action to David's ambassadors, recorded 2 Samuel 10:4, and therefore, when the agents and instruments of Hanun's tyranny were chastised by David, was left by him in the regency of the country, with such marks of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels_ All manner of household stuff; _and wheat, and barley, and flour, and corn_ That is, various kinds of provision, which they now wanted. _For they said, The people is hungry and weary, &c.,in the wilderness_ Having been in the wilderness, where there wa... [ Continue Reading ]