Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Samuel · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Verſ. 1. DAvid enquired of the Lord, ſaying, Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?] Though David knew that he ſhould be king, and that Saul being now dead, the Diadem, which by Gods ſpeciall providence was put into his hand, belonged unto him; yet where or by what means the Lord would open a way to him, that he might poſſeſſe and enjoy it, he knew not, and therefore for this he enquired of the Lord, to wit, by the Ephod, as formerly, the rather doubtleſſe, becauſe he knew that Gods anſwer herein, would be a great encouragement, both to him and to his followers.
And David ſaid, whither ſhall I go up? And he ſaid unto Hebron.] This was at preſent the chief citie of the tribe of Judah, and withall it was the place where Abraham; Iſaac, and Jacob were buried: and thus the kingdome of David was firſt erected where they lay enterred, to whom long ſince the land of Canaan was promiſed, the Sceptre of Chriſt and the kingdome to be eſtabliſhed in the tribe of Judah, which was to be a type of the kingdome of Chriſt.
Verſ. 2. So David went up thither, and his two wives alſo, &c.] That as they had been ſharers with him in his ſufferings, ſo they might have their ſhare in his proſperity too; and thus they that are married to Chriſt, and partake with him in his ſufferings, ſhall be ſure alſo to partake with him in his glory, Luke 22.28, 29. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdome, as my Father hath appointed unto me: 2. Tim. 2.12. If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reigne with him, if we deny him, he alſo will deny us.
Verſ. 3. And they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.] That is, in Hebron and the towns and cities adjoyning, in that mountainous tract of land that belonged to Hebron. See Joſh. 21.11, 12.
Verſ. 4. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the houſe of Judah.] Though many of the other tribes came into David, whileſt he was yet at Ziklag, even ſome that were Sauls brethren, of the tribe of Benjamin, 1. Chron. 12.1, 2. & therefore it is likely, that even now too, when he was come to Hebron, ſome of every tribe came in to him, to wit, ſo many as were convinced that David had been anointed by Samuel at Gods appointment, and therefore judged they ſhould rebell againſt God, if they ſhould not ſubmit to his government; yet becauſe the generallity of the other tribes, ſtood for the ſetling of the kingdome upon Sauls poſterity (though indeed they did it at leaſt many of them, becauſe they durſt do no other, for fear of Abner: Ye ſought for David in times paſt to be king over you, ſaith Abner to the Iſraelites, chap. 3.17.) And onelyonly the tribe of Judah did generally at this time come into David, therefore it is ſaid, that for the preſent he was onelyonly anointed king over the houſe of Judah. Hitherto David had been extremely perſecuted by Saul, and had endured a great deal of trouble and ſorrow; but now at laſt God made good his word: and ſettled him in the throne which he had promiſed him; and herein was David a notable type of Chriſt, who through many ſufferings entred into glory, he endured the croſſe, despiſing the ſhame, ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 12.2. and is ſet down at the right hand of the throne of God. Yea and the voluntary ſubmiſſion of theſe men to the government of David, was a type of the voluntary ſubmiſſion of Chriſts ſubjects to his Sceptre, according to that propheticall expreſſion, Pſal. 110.3. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power. Indeed this was the very reaſon why they anointed David now again at Hebron, whereas he had been before anointed by Samuel; namely, that they might thereby teſtifie their approbation of that which God had appointed, and how freely and cheerfully they did all conſent, to accept of him as their king and ſovereigne.
And they told David, ſaying, That the men of Jabeſh-Gilead were they that buried Saul.] It may well be that David made enquiry after the bodies of Saul and his ſonne, as intending to have them honourably buried, and that hereupon he was told what had been herein done, by the men of Jabeſh-Gilead.
Verſ. 6. And now the Lord ſhew kindneſſe and truth unto you.] That is, may the Lord recompence the kindneſſe which you have ſhewed to Saul, by being conſtantly kind and gracious to you; theſe two words kindneſſe, and truth, are often joyned together in the Scripture, to ſignifie a conſtant ſure hearty kindneſſe.
Verſ. 7. Your maſter Saul is dead, and alſo the houſe of Judah have anointed me king over them.] This clauſe is added to ſhew the reaſon why he ſent this meſſage to the men of Jabeſh-gilead, to wit, becauſe he was now anointed king in Sauls room▪ and he would not have them entertain any thoughts of jealouſie, that he would bear them any ſpleen for their kindneſſe to Saul, but would rather ſtudy to requite them for it; thus by kindneſſe he ſought to winne the other tribes to ſubmit to his government.
Verſ. 8 But Abner the ſonne of Ner, Captain of Sauls hoſt, took Iſhboſheth the ſonne of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim, &c.] To wit, that he might there anoint him king, in the room of his father Saul, as it follows in the next verſe. And he made him king over Gilead, and over the Aſhurites, and over Jezreel, (not that of Judah, Joſh. 15.26. but that of Iſſachar, Joſh. 19.18.) and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Iſrael, that is, over all the other tribes of Iſrael, except the tribe of Judah, that had anointed David; Abner was Sauls couſin german (for Ner the father of Abner, and Kiſh the father of Saul, were brothers) and in Sauls time he was the Lord Generall of all his forces, fearing therefore that he ſhould be diſplaced and diſregarded, if David were king, at leaſt that he could not hope for the preferment, and favour under David, that he might expect under a king of his own kindred and family, eſpecially if he were the chief means to make him king, he reſolved to continue the kingdome, if he could in Sauls family; and becauſe Mephiboſheth Jonathans ſonne, the heir apparant to Saul, was but five years old, and now lately lamed in his feet, chap. 4.4. therefore he rather thought fit to proclaim Iſhboſheth king, who was the onelyonly ſonne of Saul that was now left, except thoſe that he had by his concubines: and to that end he took him, and carried to Mahanaim, which was a citie in Gilead, beyond Jordan in the tribe of Gad, chooſing there at firſt to ſettle his new made king; either becauſe he had heard of the meſſage which David had ſent to the men of Jabeſh-gilead, and ſo deſired to ſtrengthen himſelf in thoſe parts, leſt they ſhould be wonne to fall off to David, or elſe onelyonly becauſe this being one of the remoteſt parts of the kingdome, Iſhboſheth might be here ſafeſt from Davids party. It is indeed evident, that Abner knew well enough that David was anointed by Samuel at Gods appointment, to ſucceed Saul in the throne; for we ſee that afterwards in his anger, he could tell Iſhboſheth, that he would tranſlate the kingdome to David, even as the Lord had ſworn to him, chap. 3.9. But what do ambitious Atheſticall men care for Gods command? He conſidered at this time that Iſhboſheth was his near kinſman, and that being but a weak feeble-ſpirited man, he might uſe him as a ſcale, and in the mean time rule all himſelf, and therefore he made no bones in the purſuit of theſe his ambitious deſignes, to ſet up a king contrary to what he knew God had appointed.
Verſ. 10. Iſhboſheth Sauls ſonne, was fourty years old when he began to reigne over Iſrael, and reigned two years.] Some therefore conceive, that Iſhboſheth took not the kingdome upon him, till five years after his fathers deceaſe; but I ſhould rather think the meaning of this clauſe is, not that Iſhboſheth reigned but two years in all, but that he had reigned but two years, when Abner led forth an army againſt David, and was overcome by Joab, as is related in the ſequel of the chapter, for had not Iſhboſheth reigned longer then two years, why is it ſaid, chap. 3. verſ. 1. that there was long warre between the houſe of Saul, and the houſe of David; and why was it ſeven years and odde moneths, ere the reſt of the tribes accepted of David for their king. Yet ſome Expoſitours hold, that it was above five years after the death of Saul, ere Abner roſe up againſt David, and made Iſhboſheth king.
But the houſe of Judah followed David.] To wit, even after the other tribes had made Iſhboſheth king: which is doubtleſſe noted to the praiſe of the men of Judah. They might well aſſure themſelves that if they ſtill ſtuck to David it would make a dangerous rent in the kingdome, and that would prove the occaſion of a civil warre, wherein much bloud was like to be ſhed, and yet becauſe it was of Gods appointment that David ſhould be king, they are commended for this, that they did ſtill hold faſt with David, leaving the event for other things to God.
Verſ. 12. And Abner the ſonne of Ner, and the ſervants of Iſhboſheth the ſonne of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.] To wit, to make warre againſt David, as is evident in the ſequel of the ſtory.
Verſ. 14. And Abner ſaid to Joab, Let the young men now ariſe, and play before us, &c.] The meaning of this is, that when both armies were met together, as is before ſaid, Abner ſent a challenge to Joab, to wit, that a certain number of their young gallants on each ſide might come forth, and ſhow both armies ſome paſtime in a fight together; and this no doubt he did in a bravery as hoping by this vaunting flouriſh of the courage of his men, to daunt thoſe that were with Joab; but Joab ſoon accepted the challenge, and ſent forth twelve of his men to enter the liſts with twelve of Abners; and we may well think that the ſad event of this combate was of God, to ſhew how he abhorres ſuch vain-glorious challenges.
Verſ. 17. And there was a very ſore battel that day.] Each part happely being enraged by the death of their fellows ſlain in the combate, both armies did preſently with great fury fall upon each other, and ſo there was a ſore battel, though at laſt Joab and his men wonne the field, who fought for David the Lords anointed; as it follows in the next words, Abner was beaten, &c. and yet conſidering that Abner had all the tribes of Iſrael on his ſide ſave that of Judah, it is very probable that his army was farre greater then Joabs.
Verſ. 21. Lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, Set upon one that is thy match, and content thy ſelf with taking the ſpoil of his armour from him; or elſe I ſhall ſoon make thee know that thou art not able to deal with me.
Verſ. 22. How then ſhall I hold up my face before thy brother.] Hereby it appears that Abner began now to think of obtaining a peace from David, and was troubled to think that he ſhould have Joab his continuall adverſary, if he ſhould now ſlay his brother Aſahel.
Verſ. 23. Abner with the hinder end of his ſpear ſmote him under the fifth rib, &c.] About the place where the ſhort ribs are; which is added, becauſe in that place the blow muſt needs be mortall: and it was done with the hinder end of the ſpear, that is, with the pike in the lower end of the ſpear, for their ſpears had pikes at both ends.
Verſ. 25. And the children of Benjamin gathered themſelves together after Abner, &c.] That is, ſome of his broken troops gathering together about Abner on the top of an hill, encouraged with the advantage of the place, and night approching, began to make head againſt Joab again.
Verſ. 26. Knowest thou not that it will be bitterneſſe in the latter end? &c.] That is, though in your heat of proſecuting the victory you have gotten, the bloud of our brethren is not minded, yet afterward it will cauſe bitter ſorrow, even theſe few of our army which are left, when they ſee their condition is deſperate, may happely ſell their lives amongſt thy followers at a deare rate; but however, the ſhedding of ſo much bloud of Iſrael, your brethren, will end at laſt in bitterneſſe, and therefore deſiſt: How long ſhall it be ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
Verſ. 27. Unleſſe thou hadſt ſpoken, ſurely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.] That is, unleſſe thou hadſt by challenging the young men on our ſide, provoked the people, (and he means that challenge mentioned verſ. 14.) ſo farre we were from deſiring to ſhed the bloud of our brethren, that purpoſely to prevent it, we were minded to have retired in the morning before the battel was fought.
Verſ. 28. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people, &c.] Though Joab doubtleſſe was greatly incenſed for the death of his brother Aſahel, yet hoping that Abner began to bethink himſelf of the loſſe they had ſuſtained, and eſpecially to prevent the further ſhedding of the bloud of their brethren, he ſounded a retreat, neither fought they any more, to wit, at this time: for afterwards the warre was renewed again, as is evident in the next chapter, verſ. 1.