2 Samuel 4 - Introduction
_A.M. 2956. B.C. 1048._ Two of his servants murder Ish-bosheth, and bring his head to David, 2 Samuel 4:1. He puts them to death, 2 Samuel 4:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2956. B.C. 1048._ Two of his servants murder Ish-bosheth, and bring his head to David, 2 Samuel 4:1. He puts them to death, 2 Samuel 4:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His hands were feeble_ He was greatly dismayed, as well he might be; for he was in effect disarmed; he had lost both his sword and his shield in Abner. _And all the Israelites were troubled_ That is, all those who were united to the interest of Ish-bosheth, and probably many others also; for they h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Captains of bands_ Whether of regular forces, or some flying parties, whose business was spoil and prey, is not certain. Perhaps they were captains of two companies of guards about the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Beerothites fled to Gittaim_ When Saul was slain, several Israelites left their cities and fled, and the Philistines took possession of them. Among these, it seems, this city was forsaken of its inhabitants; _and were sojourners there until this day_ When this book was written they were not ret... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonathan had a son_ This history is inserted as that which encouraged these men to this wicked murder, because Saul's family was now reduced to a low ebb; and if Ish-bosheth were despatched, there would be none left but a lame child, who was altogether unfit to manage the kingdom, and therefore the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who lay on a bed at noon_ As the manner was, and still continues to be, in hot countries. _As though they would have fetched wheat _ Which was laid up in public granaries in the king's house, and was fetched thence by the captains and commanders of the army for the pay of their soldiers, who, in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_They smote him, and slew him_, &c. The privacy of the place gave them opportunity to do all this, without discovery. _And gat them away through the plain, from Mahanaim to Hebron_ It being for the most part a flat country, till they came to ascend the mountain, on the side of which Hebron stood. _H... [ Continue Reading ]
_David answered Rechab and Baanah_, &c. Together with this thankful acknowledgment of God's care of him in all his straits and adversities, he suggests to them that he needed not the help of such men as they were, nor of the commission of wicked acts for his future preservation and advancement. “It... [ Continue Reading ]
_How much more_, &c. If he put the Amalekite to death for barely saying that he slew Saul, even at Saul's own command, and when his life was despaired of, how much more would he take signal vengeance on their united and aggravated treachery and murder? _When wicked men have slain a righteous person_... [ Continue Reading ]
_David commanded, and they slew them_ But what a disappointment to Baanah and Rechab was the sentence which David passed upon them! And such they will meet with who think to serve the Son of David by cruelty or injustice: who, under colour of religion, outrage or murder their brethren, and _think th... [ Continue Reading ]