CHAPTER II _David, by the direction of God, goes up to Hebron, and is_ _there anointed king over the house of Judah_, 1-4. _He congratulates the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead on their_ _kindness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons from_ _the Philistines_, 5-7. _Abner anoints Ish-bosheth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:4. _ANOINTED DAVID KING_] He was anointed before by Samuel, by which he acquired _jus ad regnum, a right TO the kingdom_; by the present anointing he had _jus in regno, authority OVER the kingdom_. The other parts of the kingdom were, as yet, attached to the family of Saul.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:5. _DAVID SENT MESSENGERS UNTO - JABESH-GILEAD_] This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul as his once legitimate sovereign; he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend. The former had greatly injured him, and sought h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:7. _NOW LET YOUR HANDS BE STRENGTHENED_] David certainly wished to attach the men of Jabesh to his interest; he saw that they were generous and valiant, and must be of great service to him whose part they espoused; and he was no doubt afraid that they would attach themselves to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:8. _ABNER THE SON OF NER_] This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul's army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions; he was probably envious of David's power, by whom he had often been out-generalled in the field.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:9. _MADE HIM KING OVER GILEAD_] These were places beyond Jordan; for as the Philistines had lately routed the Israelites, they were no doubt in possession of some of the principal towns, and were now enjoying the fruits of their victory. Abner was therefore afraid to bring the new k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:10. _ISH-BOSHETH - REIGNED TWO YEARS._] It is well observed that Ish-bosheth reigned _all the time that David reigned in_ _Hebron_, which was _seven years and six months_. Perhaps the meaning of the writer is this: Ish-bosheth reigned two years before any but the tribe of Judah had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:14. _LET THE YOUNG MEN - PLAY BEFORE US._] This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-four (twelve on each side) fell down dead together! But this was the signal for that sanguinary skirmish which immediately took place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:16. _CAUGHT EVERY ONE HIS FELLOW BY THE HEAD_] Probably by the beard, if these persons were not too young to have one, or by the hair of the head. Alexander ordered all the Macedonians to shave their beards; and being asked by Parmenio why they should do so, answered, "Dost thou not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:18. _ASAHEL_ WAS AS _LIGHT OF FOOT AS A WILD ROE_] To be _swift_ _of foot_ was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity; ποδας ωκυς Αχιλλευς, _the swift-footed Achilles_, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times in the course of the Ilia... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 2:21. _TAKE THEE HIS ARMOUR._] It seems Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a trophy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to spare him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _AND JOAB SAID_] The meaning of this verse appears to be this: If Abner had not provoked the battle, (see 2 Samuel 2:14), Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Therefore the blame fell upon Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THEY CAME TO MAHANAIM._] So they returned to the place whence they set out. See 2 Samuel 2:12. This was the commencement of the civil wars between Israel and Judah, and properly the commencement of the division of the two kingdoms, through which both nations were deluged with blood.... [ Continue Reading ]