_A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056._ David goes up to Hebron and is crowned there, 2 Samuel 2:1. Thanks the men of Jabesh- gilead, 2 Samuel 2:5. Ish-bosheth is set up in opposition to him, 2 Samuel 2:8. An encounter between David's men and Ish-bosheth's, in which the latter are beaten, 2 Samuel 2:12. Asahel is... [ Continue Reading ]
_David inquired of the Lord_ By Urim. When he had given a due time to his grief and mourning for Saul and Jonathan, he applied himself to God, who had appointed him to the kingdom, to know by what means he should best be put in possession of it. He did not inquire whether he should take the kingdom;... [ Continue Reading ]
_They dwelt in the cities of Hebron_ That is, the cities or towns belonging to Hebron, which was the metropolis. For in Hebron itself there was not space for them all, because it was filled with priests, and with David's court.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Judah came and anointed David king_ This they did on just grounds, because not only the sovereignty had been promised to that tribe, but David was designed and had been appointed by God, and at his express command anointed by Samuel to the regal office. This had long ceased to be a secre... [ Continue Reading ]
_That ye have showed this kindness_ This respect and affection. For as it is an act of inhumanity to deny burial to the dead, so it is an act of mercy and kindness to bury them. _The Lord show kindness and truth unto you_ That is, true and real kindness; not in words only, but also in actions, as yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abner took Ish-bosheth_ Abner was not only Saul's general, but his near kinsman also, and in this instance his interest and ambition, and perhaps also envy, strongly influenced him. He knew that Ish-bosheth, if advanced to the sovereignty, would only have the name of a king, while he himself had th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He made him king over Gilead_ Over all the tribes on the other side Jordan, which are comprehended under this name. _Over the Ashurites_ That is, the tribe of Asher, as the Chaldee paraphrast and others understand it. _Over Jezreel_ A large and rich valley, situate in the borders of the tribes of Z... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abner and the servants of Ish-bosheth went out to Gibeon _ They passed over Jordan into the country of Benjamin, where Gibeon was, (Joshua 18:25,) to fight with Judah, and to bring them into subjection to Saul's son. It ought to be remarked, that David did not begin any hostility, but waited to see... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abner said, Let the young men now arise, and play before us_ That is, show their prowess and dexterity in fighting together, or make trial of their courage and strength, that we may see which of us has the braver soldiers. He speaks like a vain-glorious and cruel man, and a soldier of fortune, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_There went over twelve of Benjamin_ Ish-bosheth's men were still most forward to begin hostilities. _They caught_, &c. That is, each of the servants of David last mentioned, or every one of both sides caught the man that was his opposite; _by the head_ That is, by the hair of the head, which they w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Three sons of Zeruiah_ She was David's sister, and therefore these were his nephews. _Asahel was light of foot as a wild roe_ He was a gallant man, and one of David's twelve captains, remarkably valiant, but more remarkably swift. _Asahel pursued after Abner_ Being desirous of the glory, either of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abner said, Turn thee aside_, &c. If thou art ambitions to get a trophy or mark of thy valour, desist from me, who am an old and experienced captain, and go to some young and raw soldier; try thy skill upon him, and take away his arms from him. Abner was very unwilling to kill Asahel, which he knew... [ Continue Reading ]
_He fell down there and died_ So Asahel's swiftness, which he presumed on so much, only forwarded his fate: with it he ran upon his death, instead of running from it. _As many as came to the place stood still _ Ceased from the pursuit; fearing, perhaps, the same fate if they followed further; or sta... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bitterness in the latter end_ It will produce dreadful effects. In civil wars, as Cicero speaks, (_Familiar Epist._, lib. 4.,) all things are miserable, and nothing more miserable than victory itself, which makes the conqueror do many things against his will, to satisfy those by whom he conquers. J... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unless thou hadst spoken_, &c. Made the motion that they should fight, giving a rash challenge; _surely in the morning the people had gone up_ The armies had parted in peace, without any act of hostility: it was thou, not I, that gave the first occasion of this fight. This plainly shows that Joab's... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Joab blew a trumpet_ Caused a retreat to be sounded. _Neither fought they any more_ Neither at that time, nor probably at any other, in a pitched battle. _And Abner and his men walked all that night_ He made the best of his way to Jordan; crossed it, and rested nowhere until he came to Mahanaim,... [ Continue Reading ]
_There lacked of David's servants nineteen men_ This renders it probable that the twelve men of Judah, who in the beginning of the fight engaged in combat with as many men of Benjamin, were not killed; for if they were, then there would have been no more than seven men killed in the subsequent battl... [ Continue Reading ]
_They took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father_ The rest they buried in the field of battle. Thus are distinctions made on earth, even between the dust of some and of others! But in the resurrection no difference will be made, except between good and bad, which will remain for e... [ Continue Reading ]