2 Samuel 3 - Introduction
III.... [ Continue Reading ]
III.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS LONG WAR. — Not actual fighting of pitched battles, but a state of hostility, in which Ish-bosheth and David each claimed the allegiance of the whole nation, and this continued until the death of Ish-bosheth. During this time Ish-bosheth was too weak to carry on actual war, and David was c... [ Continue Reading ]
(2-5) AND UNTO DAVID. — The list of David’s sons born during his seven and a half years’ reign in Hebron rather interrupts the continuity of the narrative, but is quite in accordance with the habit of the sacred historians to insert at the beginning or at some turning point in each reign statistics... [ Continue Reading ]
ABNER MADE HIMSELF STRONG. — It has already been noticed that the fortunes of the house of Saul depended entirely upon Abner, but the fact of Ish-bosheth’s great obligation to him is again mentioned here in explanation of the following story.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIZPAH. — The name of this woman is associated with her strong and tender grief over the loss of her sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 21:8. WHEREFORE HAST THOU GONE IN? — The harem of an Eastern monarch was considered as the property of his successor, and therefore the taking of a woman belonging to it as... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) AM I A DOG’S HEAD? — The translation of this clause is taken from the Vulg., and is hardly possible; it should rather be, _Am I a dog’s head belonging to Judah? _... [ Continue Reading ]
SO DO GOD TO ABNER. — The anger of Abner culminates in a solemn oath to transfer the kingdom to David, “as the Lord hath sworn to him.” There is no record of a Divine oath to give the kingdom to David, but the prophetic declaration that God’s choice of him was unalterable (1 Samuel 15:29) may well h... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TRANSLATE THE KINGDOM. — This sudden expression of Abner’s resolve seems to imply that he had before had the matter under consideration, and shows that there was some ground for the reproach of Ish-bosheth. The following verse brings out clearly the utter weakness of Ish-bosheth.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE IS THE LAND? — These words in themselves may be understood in either of two senses: (1) “Is not the land thine by promise?” or (2) “Who has the power to bring the land into subjection to whom he will except myself?” Since the question is put forward as the basis for making a league with Abner,... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT THOU FIRST BRING MICHAL. — David consents to negotiate with Abner only on condition of the previous restoration of his lawful wife. Besides the justice of this demand (Michal having been wrongfully taken from him by Saul), and besides all question of affection towards one who had loved him an... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ISH-BOSHETH. — The demand is made upon the _de facto_ king that all may be done legally, and David may not appear to be reclaiming his wife by force. At the same time, Ish-bosheth is thus compelled to acknowledge the wrong done to David and his inability to refuse his demand. It appears from 2 Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
WEEPING BEHIND HER. — Phaltiel appears to have been sincerely attached to Michal, and it may be supposed that his affection was reciprocated. But it is to be remembered that she was not rightfully his wife, and that David’s claim was prior as well as better. According to 1 Samuel 25:44, Phaltiel was... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SOUGHT FOR DAVID. — 1 Samuel 18:6; 1 Samuel 18:16; 1 Samuel 18:30; 1 Chronicles 11:1 (comp. 2 Samuel 3:36), sufficiently testify to the great popularity of David throughout the nation, and its confidence in his prowess and wisdom. It was the influence and activity of Abner that had hitherto preve... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH SPOKEN. — The promise here quoted is not contained in so many words in the records which have come down to us. It may have been either an unrecorded utterance of one of the prophets (Samuel, Gad, or Nathan), or simply a reasonable inference from what had been promised, and from the Div... [ Continue Reading ]
SPAKE IN THE EARS OF BENJAMIN. — Special and careful negotiations with the Benjamites were necessary, because they felt bound to their kinsmen of the house of Saul, and had hitherto enjoyed great advantages from their connection with their sovereign. Abner reported to David at Hebron the result of h... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY MEN. — These were doubtless representative men, selected by Abner from Israel and Benjamin to accompany him and confirm his report. The feast which David made for them is not to be understood of mere conviviality, but of a solemn sacrificial feast, such as was customary in ancient times in co... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB CAME. — He had been either on some expedition against the Philistines, the Amalekites, or other enemies of Judah, or else engaged in repelling some attack from them. In either case, he returned elated with victory, and bringing great spoil; but Abner had concluded his interview and gone away be... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAST THOU DONE? — Joab’s somewhat rough remonstrance with David may have been supported by an honest suspicion of Abner, for which there was some ground in Abner’s long opposition to the known Divine will and his present revolt from Ish-bosheth; but there was also a personal enmity, due partly... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT MESSENGERS AFTER ABNER. — Whether this was done in his own or in David’s name (though without his knowledge) does not appear, but in either case Abner would readily suppose that the coming of Joab had made further conference desirable. His entire confidence in David is shown by his unsuspecting... [ Continue Reading ]
ASIDE IN THE GATE. — The gateway was a customary place of conference in the East, and Joab there awaited Abner’s return; he then took him “aside” to some place of privacy, as the LXX. reads, “by the side of the gate.” On the phrase “fifth rib,” see Note on 2 Samuel 2:23. The reason for this cold-blo... [ Continue Reading ]
I AND MY KINGDOM ARE GUILTLESS. — This was true. Joab’s act was entirely without David’s knowledge, and was not only against his will on moral grounds, but was in danger of proving disastrous to him politically; hence he takes the strongest means of showing his abhorrence of the deed.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET IT REST ON THE HEAD OF JOAB. — The strong curse here pronounced by David shows that Joab’s act could not be justified as that of the “Goel,” or lawful avenger of his brother’s blood, for Abner had slain Asahel in battle, unwillingly and in self-defence. It is also to be remembered that Hebron wa... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW... HAD SLAIN. — The words are different in Hebrew, the former denoting violence. Translate the latter _had put to death._ By this strong disapproval of Joab’s act, David shows that it was done without his knowledge or consent. He still remains at fault, however, for continuing Joab in his high... [ Continue Reading ]
REND YOUR CLOTHES. — David commands a public mourning with the usual signs of rent clothes and sackcloth, and lays this command especially upon Joab, who is thus required, as it were, to do public penance for his act. David himself followed the bier as chief mourner.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HEBRON. — The family home, and therefore the natural burial-place, of Abner was at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 8:29; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:33); but this may have been now under Ish-bosheth’s control, and, at all events, a burial in the royal city of Hebron was more honourable and a more mark... [ Continue Reading ]
THY HANDS WERE NOT BOUND. — The people were moved greatly by the sight of David’s sorrow, but still more by this brief elegy over Abner. The whole circumstances are summed up in a few pregnant words: Abner, so valiant in war, with his hands free for defence, with his feet unfettered, unsuspicious of... [ Continue Reading ]
TO EAT MEAT. — The fasting of David in his grief had already attracted attention, so that the people came to urge him to take food; but he utterly refused “till the sun be down,” the usual time of ending a fast. David’s conduct had a good effect upon the people, and, indeed, they were generally disp... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THIS DAY WEAK. — David’s high appreciation of the importance and value of Abner shows that Joab’s jealousy was not without ground, and there is a tone of deep sadness in his words, “these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me.” He knew their ungoverned passions, their bold lawlessness, and... [ Continue Reading ]