Harmony Upon 2 Samuel, Book 2 · General questions
Generall Questions touching the whole Booke.
1. Quest. Of the inscription of this Booke.
1.WHy the first booke of Samuel is so named, there may be euident reasons giuen; as both because the booke beginneth with the storie of Samuels natiuitie, as the Hebrewes vse to name the bookes of Scripture of the beginning; as also because it containeth Samuels acts principally; and besides, Samuel is held to hauehave beene the writer thereof, till that place where mention is made of his death. 2. But of this second booke there is greater question, why it should beare the name of Samuel: for neither are Samuels acts therein described, neither was he the penne-man thereof: but it was written by some of the Prophets, as by Nathan, and Gad, who supplyed the rest of the historie, that followeth Samuels death, or by some other of the Prophets: some thinke they were collected by Hezekiah; some by Ezra. 3. Now why yet this booke is intituled by Samuel, two reasons may be yeelded, both because it sheweth the accomplishment of Samuels prophesie concerning the kingdome of Dauid, and the consummation and perfection of that argument, which beganne with Samuels anointing: Genevens. as also for that this booke is but a continuation of the former historie: and therefore the Hebrewes doe not diuide it from the former. Pellic. 4. But whereas Hierome thinketh in his Hebrewe traditions, that this booke of Samuel is like to be that, which is called the booke of the righteous, it hath no probabilitie: Mar. for we finde mention made of that booke, before this historie was either done, or written: Ios. 10.13.
2. Quest. Of the Argument of this Booke.
1. As the former booke containeth the historie of such things as were done vnderunder Samuel and Saul, so this setteth forth the acts of Dauid: and specially three things in generall are handled in this booke: the beginning, increase, and flourishing of Dauids raigne: then the manifold troubles, treasons, and oppositions against his kingdome: as also Dauids fall, and his rising againe, and reconciling vntounto God. 2. And further, herein is obserued a notable difference betweene the raigne of Saul and of Dauid: for Sauls kingdome beganne with great glorie and renowne, but ended with shame: but contrariwise, Dauids kingdome had but small beginnings, yet encreased more and more. Borr. 3. In which respect Dauid was a liuely type of Christ, who found many enemies in the world, which sought to suppresse his kingdome in the infancy thereof: But his dominion preuailed, and from a corner of the earth, hath ouerspread all the world. Mar.
3. Quest. Of the profit and vtilitie of this booke.
1. This booke in generall affoardeth that profit, which all the Scriptures do yeild, which are profitable either for doctrine, to confirme the truth, and improoue error; or for manners, to correct vice, and to instruct in righteousn…s: as S. Paul sheweth, 2. Timoth. 3.16. 2. In this booke, as also in the former, are set forth vntounto vsus many graue and worthy examples of vertuous acts, which doe mooue much, and perswade vntounto vertue, and doe longer remaine in memorie then bare precepts. 3. These histories serue to expound the writings and oracles of the Prophets, but especially the booke of the Psalmes, shewing the occasions whereupon many of those Psalmes were indi…ed, which maketh much to the true vnderstanding of them. 4. Further, whereas these bookes are alleadged in the Gospel: the knowledge hereof is profitable to vnderstand the precepts and sermons of our blessed Sauiour. 5. And lastly, the wisedome of God doth wonderfully appeare herein, in tempering the Scriptures to eueryevery ones capacitie: for them which are seuere and austere, and are addicted to graue things and matters of rigour and authoritie, the fiue bookes of Moses were digested: some men are delighted with a pleasant style, and flowing speech, such the Psalmes and Canticles specially are for: others doe more respect graue and wise sentences, such as the Prouerbs of Salomon, and the booke of Ecclesiastes containe: Some are delighted in antiquaries, to them the holy histories are specially applyed: Others louelove to heare of Gods iudgements and threatnings against sinne, who are to be sent to the Prophets. Mart.
Quest. 4. How many yeares the historie of these two bookes of Samuel containe.
1. The former booke containeth not so many yeares, as Iosephus computation accounteth: for hee giueth 38. yeares vntounto Sauls raigne, whereof he raigned 18. yeares while Samuel yet liued, and 20. after: for adde vntounto this 40. yeares of Eli, for so long hee iudged Israel, 1. Sam. 4.18. and 20. yeares at the least, for Samuel before Saul was anointed, as is gathered, 1. Sam. 7.2. see the question vponupon that place: so should the whole summe of yeares make an 100. within two: which cannot stand with that account, 1. King. 6.1. which setteth downe 480. yeares to be runne in the 4. yeare of Salomon from the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, vntill the building of the Temple. This number consisteth of these particulars: 40. yeares vnderunder Moses, 17. vnderunder Ioshuah, 299. vnderunder the Iudges, 44. vnderunder Dauid and Salomon: all which make but 400. yeares: there remaineth then but 80. yeares, whereof 40. were vnderunder Eli, 1. Sam. 4.18. then there are but 40. more to be diuided betweene Samuel and Saul, Act. 13.21. the first booke then containeth the historie of 80. yeares, and no more.
2. Then the computation which Pet. Martyr followeth, can not be true: that reckoneth 366. yeares from the departure of Israel out of Egypt vntill Eli, which can not be: from the beginning of Elies 40. yeare to the 4. yeare of Salomon, are yeares 124: whereof 40. were vnderunder Eli, 40. vnderunder Samuel and Saul, and 40. vnderunder Dauid, and 4. of Salomons raigne: which summe of 124. being put to the former summe of 366. will make in all 490. yeares: whereas the Scripture accounteth but 480. 1. King. 6.1.
3. The Historie then of this booke, is onelyonly of 40. yeares vnderunder the raigne of Dauid, and certaine moneths: whereof he raigned 7. yeares, 6. moneths in Hebron, and 33. yeares in Ierusalem, 2. Sam. 5.5. Iun.