The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 175 – Section 178
SECT. CLXXV.
DAvid now laments the death of Saul and Jonathan, and the men of Iſrael in a Funeral Song, having firſt given order that the children of Judah ſhould be taught the uſe of the bow, and the rather becauſe Saul and Jonathan had been overcome by the Archers among the Philiſtines, therefore he deſired they ſhould be expert in that Art, that they might match their enemies in that military skill for time to come. Which order is further recorded in the Civil Annals, or the General Chronicle of the Memorable Acts of the Nation, called the Book of Jaſher *Which Book with divers others, particularly ſome compoſed by Solomon were burnt in the deſtruction of Jeruſalem by the Chaldeans., which was continued (as is probable) from time to time by the Prophets. See Note on Joſh. 10.13.
David begins his Funeral Elegy thus: O how are Saul, Jonathan, and many other valiant men of Iſrael (who were the beauty, ornament, and glory of the land) fallen on the mountains of Gilboa! O tell it not in Gath, publiſh it not in the ſtreets of Askalon, leſt the daughters of the Philiſtines rejoice, leſt the daughters of the uncircumciſed triumph, as they us'd to do in their dances and ſongs, [ſee Note on 1 Sam. 18.6.] O if it were poſſible that this thing might be conceal'd from the enemies of God and his people, leſt they triumph and inſult over them, [ſee Judg. 16.23. Mich. 1.10.] aſcribing the glory of this victory to their Idol-gods, to the great diſhonour of the only true God, the God of Heaven and earth. O ye unfortunate mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain ever fall upon you more; be ye curſed with drought and barrenneſs (c)Gravitas doloris etiam rebus, inanimatis maledicere conſuevit, vid. Job 3.3.as a ſad and woful monument of this calamity, and let there be no fruitful plots or fields found among you, that may yield offerings of firſt fruits (d)Poëtica exclamatio cum hyperbolica imprecatione ad figurandum horrorem, quo pii recordantes accepti mali percelluntur.and Tythes. May thoſe hills which have given ſo much occaſion of ſorrow never afford any matter of rejoicing, for there the ſhield of the mighty was vilely caſt away, viz. when the Iſraelites were routed in the field, yea the ſhield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oyl, that is, there Saul himſelf dropt his ſhield, and fell contemptibly, as though he had been a common ordinary man, and not a King. It was far otherwiſe formerly. For Jonathan's bow, and Sauls ſword uſed not to return empty from the blood of the ſlain, and from the fat *Eat is mentioned to ſignifie men healthful, luſty and ſtrong.of the mighty; that is, they did uſually devour the blood and fleſh of their ſtouteſt enemies. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleaſant in their lives; that is, they dearly loved one another, though Saul in his frantick fits was ſometimes enraged againſt Jonathan, yet no doubt he dearly loved him when thoſe fits were over. And in their deaths they were not divided, that is, they fell together in the field. They were ſwifter than Eagles, and ſtronger than Lions; that is, they were nimble and active in purſuing their enemies, and ſtrong and valiant in ſubduing them. Ye daughters of Iſrael weep over Saul, who clothed you in ſcarlet, with other delights, and gave you ornaments of gold upon your apparel; remember the peace you enjoyed under his Government, which was accompanied with great plenty and abundance of all things both for neceſſity and delight; remember how he enriched the land with the ſpoils of the enemy. But O ſad and deplorable! how are the mighty fallen in the midſt of the battel? O Jonathan how wert thou ſlain upon thoſe curſed high mountains? I am diſtreſſed, exceedingly diſtreſſed for thee my Brother Jonathan: Very pleaſant haſt thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women, whoſe affections uſually are very ſtrong. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war loſt, viz. the armes that were brought by the Iſraelites to the battel, and became a ſpoil to the Philiſtines, to the great diſhonour and weakning of Gods own people. O tell it not in Gath, publiſh it not in the ſtreets of Askalon.
2 Sam. Ch. 1. from 17, to the end.
SECT. CLXXVI.
DAvid now inquires of the Lord by the Ephod, whither he ſhould go up to any of the Cities of Judah, and he receives directions from God to go up to Hebron (a)This was at preſent the chief City of the Tribe of Judah, and was withal the place where Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob were buried.; accordingly he with his two wives, and his followers with their families went up to that City. The men of Judah preſently flocked thither and anointed David King over them. For though before he had been anointed by Samuel, yet that they might teſtifie their approbation of what God had appointed, they chearfully now conſent to accept him for their King and Soveraign, and he reigned over them in Hebron ſeven years and ſix months before the reſt of the Iſraelites did generally ſubmit to him. Soon after the men of Judah had thus acknowledged him, he made inquiry after the Bodies of Saul and his Sons, intending (as 'tis probable) to have honourably buried them, and he was told what had been done concerning them by the men of Jabeſh Gilead, of which before, 1 Sam. 31.11, 12, 13. Hereupon he ſent Meſſengers to them to thank them for the kindneſs they had ſhewed to Saul, deſiring the Lord to recompence it unto them, and to manifeſt his mercy and faithfulneſs to them for it. And he being now anointed King over Judah, would not have them entertain any thoughts of jealouſie, as if he would bear them any ſpleen or ill will for their kindneſs ſhewed to Saul, but to believe that he would the rather endeavour to manifeſt all kindneſs to them, and to requite them for it.
2 Sam. Ch. 2. from 1, to 8.
SECT. CLXXVII.
ABner, Saul's Couſin-german, who in Saul's life-time had been General of his Army, fearing that if David were made King, he ſhould be diſplaced, or diſregarded; and knowing he could not in reaſon expect that favour and preferment under David, which he might under a King of his own kindred and family, eſpecially if he himſelf were the chief inſtrument to make him King; and further conſidering that Mephiboſheth, Jonathans Son, (the heir apparent to Saul) was but five years old, and now lately lamed in his feet, and ſo unfit for his purpoſe, [ſee Ch. 4.4.] therefore he thought it beſt to take Iſhboſheth (who was the only Son of Saul that was now left, except thoſe he had by his Concubines) and to make him King, and to that end he took and carried him to Mahanaim a City in Gilead in the Tribe of Gad beyond Jordan, chuſing there to ſettle his new King, where he might be ſafeſt, and at the greateſt diſtance from Davids party. Abner well knew that David was anointed by Samuel to ſucceed Saul in the Throne, [ſee Chap. 3.4.] but being an ambitious and atheiſtical man, he regarded not what God had appointed, and ſeeing Iſhboſheth to be a weak and poor-ſpirited man, he thought he might make uſe of him as a ſhadow, and in the mean time rule all himſelf. And accordingly in that City he made him King over all Iſrael, Judah excepted, who to their great praiſe ſtuck to David (whom God had appointed to be King) though they knew it was like to prove the occaſion of a Civil War, and of much danger to them; however they reſolved to do their duty and to leave the event to God. Iſhboſheth was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years quietly without any quarrel with the houſe of David.
2 Sam. 2. from 8, to 11.
SECT. CLXXVIII.
DAvid now the better to ſtrengthen himſelf in his new Kingdom contracts affinity with Talmai King of Geſhur (a)Iſraelitis ut puto era vectigalis Rex Geſhur eumque ut ſibi devinciret David, & Iſhboſhetho adverſarium faceret, filiam ejus Maacham ſibi in uxorem depoſcit. Tirinus. Geſhur pars eſt Syriae contermina Gileadi in Trachionitide. Deut. 3.14. There were alſo Geſhurites on the South-ſide of Canaan towards Egypt, 1 Sam. 27. and from whom David being at Ziklag fetched great ſtore of prey., a City lying in the North, in the borders of Gilead, and marries his daughter Maacha, who bare him Abſalom, and a fair daughter call'd Tamar.
2 Sam. Ch. 3.3. and Ch. 13.1.