Harmony Upon 2 Samuel, Book 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4.
1. Quest. v. 3. What Berothites, and when they fled to Gittaim.
1. SOme vnderstand it of Baanah and Rechub, the two captaines of Ishbosheth, that they fled away from Ishbosheth, because of some crime, which they had committed: some, for that they had conspired with Mephibosheth, who discouered them: ex Mart. But the historie it selfe is against this sense: for how could these two hauehave opportunitie to kill Ishbosheth, and to hauehave such free ingresse to the house of Ishbosheth, if they had fled before, and had beene as it were banished from him. 2. Therefore it is better referred to the inhabitants of Beroth: not that they all fled away because of this conspiracie of Baanah, and Rechub, as Osiander: for this their flying, and departure went before this treason practised against Ishbosheth. 3. But the truth is, that the Berothites had fled a…ay from Beroth a towne of Beniamin, Iosh. 19.25. when they had heard of the death and ouerthrow of Saul: then the Philistims came, and dwelt in ther Cities: they remooued therefore from Beroth to Gittaim, which was neither a towne in Edom, or Arabia, but in Beniamin, Nehem. 11.33. Iun. Borrh. Genevens. Vatab. 4. And this is the cause, why mention is made of this flight: that these captaines beeing Berothites might be known to be of the children of Beniamin, because they were Berothites; though at this time their citie were inhabited by the Philistims, yet it was reckoned still with Beniamin. Iun.
2. Quest. v. 4. Why mention is made of Mephibosheth.
1. This narration is inserted, to shewe the purpose and drift of these two captains in killing of Ishbosheth: they saw that none remained of Sauls house, who was likely to succeed in the kingdome, and to reuenge Ishbosheths death, but onelyonly Mephibosheth, who was a lame man: Iun. and beside, he was but a child; not aboue 12. yeare old: for 5. yeare old he was at the time of Sauls death, and Dauid had now raigned toward seauen yeares in Hebron: Saul had other sonnes by Rispah his concubine, but they could not be heires to the kingdome: Borr. 2. Further, hereby appeareth the prouidence of God, so disposing all things for Dauids good, that the kingdome might be deuolued vntounto him, without his owne seeking: for seeing there was none left of Sauls house, sauing Ishbosheth, who was afterward killed, and Mephibosheth, the one lame in bodie, the other impotent in mind, the people of necessitie were now to looke after Dauid, and to desire him to be their King: as it followeth in the next chapter. Pellic.
3. Quest. v. 6. How these captaines disguised themselues, when they entred in to kill Ishbosheth.
1. The Chalde thinketh that they came as merchants to buy corne, so also Vatab. but if they had beene strangers, it is not like they should hauehave had such readie accesse. 2. Some thinke they came as to fetch corne for the souldiers and the campe. Martyr. 3. But seeing the word lakach signifieth as well to beare, as to take or fetch; it is more like, that they made as though they were domesticall seruants, and so came in bringing of wheate: Iun. Pag. 4. The Septuag. read, that the doore keeper was cleansing, and purging of wheat: but there is no such thing in the text.
4. Quest. v. 7. Of Ishbosheths secure sleepe.
1. Though it seemeth to hauehave beene vsuall in those countries, to hauehave their afternoone nappes, as we read of Dauid, c. 12.3. both because the nights were short, and therefore they tooke vp some part of their sleepe in the day: Mar. and the heate of the day, which is verie feruent in those countries, made them also drowsie: Ioseph. 2. Yet this heauie sleepe of Ishbosheth, beeing now left naked, and without defence (Abner beeing slaine) sheweth both his securitie touching his owne estate, and his negligent administration of the kingdome: so Ionas slept in the ship when the tempest arose, and great daunger was at hand; and the disciples were asleepe, when their master was in his greatest agonie.Matth. 26.40. 3. But sleepe it selfe is not to be accused: for as some are ouertaken in their sleepe; so sometime it is a meane of deliuerance, and to escape danger: as Plutarch hath a storie how Mithridates sent one Oltacus to kill Lucullus, who comming thither as to doe a message of some importance, and answer beeing returned, that he was asleepe, and it was against his health to be awaked; he thereupon fledde away, least he should hauehave beene further sifted. 4. And seeing Ishbosheth was thus slaine in his sleepe, it teacheth vsus to commend our selues vntounto God, when wee goe to our rest, because we knowe not what may happen vntounto vsus in our sleepe. Martyr.
5. Quest. v. 8. Of their words to Dauid, The Lord hath auenged my lord, &c.
1. True it is, that this came to passe by the secret working and disposing of Almightie God, that Dauid might be established in his kingdome: and it was iust, that Ishbosheth should come to such an ende, because he vsurped vponupon the kingdome, which the Lord had appointed to an other. 2. But this was no good excuse, or defence of their vnlawfull act, in killing their Lord: for by this meanes, Iudas treacherie toward his Lord might be excused, because it was done according to the determinate counsell of God. Indeede when Alexander in his rage and wine, had killed Clitus, and afterward was stricken with griefe, Aristander did comfort him, by laying the cause and originall thereof vponupon the fates, wherewith Alexanders griefe was somwhat qualified. 3. Neither had these two murderous and bloodie men any such intent, herein to obey Gods will, but respected only their owne aduancement and preferment therein. Mart.
6. Quest. v. 9.10. Of Dauids answer to the traytors that brought Ishbosheths head.
1. Dauid vttereth three excellent sentences: the one in saying, as the Lord liueth, who hath deliuered me: shewing that vnlawfull meanes must not be vsed to hasten the Lords worke, but that we must with patience waight vponupon God: the other, that we must not reioyce in the destruction of an enemie, as Dauid did not neither in Sauls death, nor Ishbosheths: the third, that honestie is to be preferred before profit and vtilitie, and that the counsels and enterprises of the wicked must not be approoued, though they be for our profit: Borr. 2. Dauid will much more be avenged of these men, then of the Amalekite that said he killed Saul; both in respect of their persons, who were seruants to Ishbosheth, and of the same tribe, whereas the Amalekite was a stranger, and not of Israel: as also of him that was slaine, who was a righteous person: in respect of them which conspired against him, he had deserued well of them; so had not Saul of the Amalekites, whom he had destroyed, and Saul had alreadie his deaths wound, and could not recouer, but Ishbosheth was then a sleepe, and in good health: the one was killed in the field, the other in his owne house: and thirdly, Dauid was then but as a priuate man, when he commaunded the Amalekite to be killed, but now he was anointed King in Hebron: therefore in all these three respects, there was greater cause why he should put them to death, then the other.
7. Quest. v. 12. Of the cutting off their hands and feete and hanging them vp.
1. Dauid either caused their bodies which were hanged vp, to be taken downe before night, according to the Law, Deuter. 21. and as it was practised by Iosuah, c. 7. Mart. or else he hung vp onelyonly their hands and feete ouer the poole in Hebron,Reconcil. after their bodies were taken downe, both in detestation of that horrible murder, and to be a spectacle to others: Borr. An example is made of those parts, which were the speciall instruments of contriuing this villanie, their feete in going to shedde blood, and their hands in cutting off his head: Mart. 2. This cutting off the hands and feet, was beside the prescript of the law, which commanded the murderer onelyonly to be put to death: but as the sinne might be more hainous, so the Magistrate might also encrease the punishment; as they cut off Adonibezeks thumbes of his hands and feete. So that though the Lawe inflicted onelyonly the bare punishment of death,Iudg. 1. yet according to the circumstances of the crime, more grieuous torments might be added by the Magistrate: Mar. He was not to adiudge to death, where the law imposed not the punishment of death: but he might aggrauate that penaltie, in the manner of death, according to the qualitie of the offence.