CHAPTER IV _Some account of Rechab and Baanah, two of Ish-bosheth's_ _captains, and of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan_, 1-4. _Rechab and Baanah murder Ish-bosheth, and escape; and bring_ _his head to David_, 5-8. _David is greatly irritated, and commands them to be slain_, 9-12. NOTES ON C... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:2. _CAPTAINS OF BANDS_] _Principes latronum_, captains of banditti, says the _Vulgate_; the _Syriac_ is the same. Whether Ish-bosheth kept bands of _marauders_, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry off grain, provisions, cattle, c., we k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:3. _THE BEEROTHITES FLED TO GITTAIM_] Probably the same as _Gath_; as _Ramathaim_ is the same as _Ramah_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:4. _HE FELL, AND BECAME LAME_] Dislocated his _ankle, knee_, or _thigh_; which was never after reduced; and thus he became lame. Lovely Jonathan! unfortunate in thy life, and in thy progeny.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:5. _LAY ON A BED AT NOON._] It is a custom in all hot countries to travel or work very _early_ and very _late_, and rest at _noonday_, in which the _heat_ chiefly prevails.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:6. AS THOUGH _THEY WOULD HAVE FETCHED WHEAT_] The king's stores were probably near his own dwelling; and these men were accustomed to go thither for provisions for themselves, their cattle, and their men. This supposition which is natural, renders unnecessary all the emendations of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:8. _THEY BROUGHT THE HEAD - UNTO DAVID_] They thought, as did the poor lying Amalekite, to ingratiate themselves with David by this abominable act.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:9. _WHO HATH REDEEMED MY SOUL OUT OF ALL ADVERSITY_] This was, in David's case, a very proper view of the goodness and watchful providence of God towards him. His _life_ was frequently in danger; murderers had often laid wait for it: but God, the _living_ God, had always _redeemed t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:10. _A REWARD FOR HIS TIDINGS_] Ὡ εδει με δουναι ευαγγελια, _Septuagint_. Here is a proof that ευαγγελιον, _evangelium_ or _gospel_, signifies the _reward_ which the bringer of good tidings is entitled to receive. See my _preface_ to St. Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:11. _HOW MUCH MORE_] Here are several things which aggravated the guilt of those wicked men. 1. Ish-bosheth was an _innocent man_, and therefore none could have any ground of quarrel against him. 2. He was in _his own house_, which was his sanctuary, and none but the worst of men... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 4:12. _AND THEY SLEW THEM_] None ever more richly deserved death; and by this act of justice, David showed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destruction of Saul's family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with condign punishment... [ Continue Reading ]