Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Samuel · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Verſ. 1. BUt David waxed ſtronger and ſtronger, and the houſe of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.] Herein was Davids kingdome (as in many other things) a type of Chriſts, and that both generally in the whole Church, and particularly in the heart of every true Chriſtian: for thus ſhall it alwayes be betwix: the kingdome of Chriſt, and the kingdome of Antichriſt, between the fleſh and the ſpirit in the regenerate. The Church of Chriſt ſhall grow ſtronger and ſtronger, and Antichriſt ſhall conſume away, and grow weaker and weaker; though he may ſeem to gather ſtrength for a time, yet by degrees he ſhall looſe again more then for that time he had gotten; and ſo he ſhall waſte and conſume away, till at laſt his kingdome ſhall be utterly ruined; and ſo it is likewiſe with the kingdome of Chriſt erected in the hearts of all true believers, though the ſpirituall part be never ſo weak at the firſt, yet it ſhall by little and little grow in ſtrength; and the fleſh on the other ſide ſhall grow weaker and weaker. There is a crown and kingdome promiſed them, and though there be never ſo much oppoſition, Chriſts promiſe ſhall at length be made good unto them, as here Samuels was unto David, they ſhall ſubdue all their enemies, and ſhall be crowned at laſt triumphantly in heaven.
Verſ. 2. And unto David were ſonnes born in Hebron, &c.] And herein Gods providence notably appeared, to wit, that David all the while he was in exile had no children, whileſt they were like to be an occaſion of much care and incumbrance to him. But being now ſettled in his kingdome, he had many ſonnes; for that all theſe were born to him in Hebron, is yet more clearly expreſſed, 1. Chron. 3.1, &c.
Verſ. 3. And his ſecond Chileab, &c.] Called alſo Daniel in that 1. Chro. 3.1.
And the third Abſalom, the ſonne of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geſhur.] There was an inrode made by David into this land of Geſhur, whileſt he lived with Achiſh, 1. Sam. 27.8. and therefore ſome think that David then took this Maacah captive, and ſo took her to wife, as is permitted by the Law, Deut. 21.13. And ſhe ſhall put the rayment of her captivity from off her, and ſhall remain in thine houſe, and bewail her father and her mother a full monethmonth▪ and after that thou ſhalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and ſhe ſhall be thy wife. But Abſaloms flying to this Talmai his grandfather by the mothers ſide, chap. 13.37. may rather imply, that he had her by way of peaceable treaty, and that was doubtleſſe unlawfull unleſſe ſhe yielded to become a proſelyte.
Verſ. 5. And the ſixth Ithram, by Eglah Davids wife.] This clauſe, Davids wife, is here added, either becauſe her parentage was not known, which is expreſſed in the reſt of his wives, and therefore this title is added in ſtead of that, or to diſtinguiſh this Eglah from ſome other woman of the ſame name; or elſe to imply the ſame concerning the reſt before named, and that he had theſe children in Hebron by his wives, beſides thoſe which he had by his concubines, 1. Chron. 3.9.
Verſ. 7. And Iſhboſheth ſaid to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my fathers concubine?] It is not expreſſed that Abner had lien with Riſpah his fathers concubine, but onelyonly that Iſhboſheth charged him with it; and therefore we cannot ſay whether it were ſo indeed, or whether Iſhboſheth out of ſome groundleſſe jealouſie or falſe report did onelyonly ſuſpect it was ſo. But however, moſt probable it is that Iſhboſheths diſcontent was not onelyonly becauſe he took it to be a diſhonour to his father, that his ſervant ſhould lie with his concubine; but alſo eſpecially becauſe he apprehended it was out of ſome cloſe and ſecret affectation of the kingdome. It ſeems that the taking of the deceaſed kings wives or concubines, was in theſe times eſteemed dangerous for the raiſing of the ſpirits of thoſe that did it to ſeek the crown, and that therefore it was judged fit, that the ſucceeding king ſhould take all the wives and concubines of his predeceſſour the deceaſed king, into his power; whence was that which the Lord by the Prophet Nathan ſaid to David, chap. 12.8. I gave thee thy maſters houſe, and thy masters wives into thy boſome, &c. and therefore as Solomon conceived of Adonijahs deſiring Abiſhag for his wife, who was Davids concubine, to wit, that he did it out of an ambitious affectation of the kingdome, 1. Kings 2.22. So did Iſhboſheth conceive of Abners going in to Riſpah, Sauls concubine; namely, that he had therein ſome plot by degrees to thruſt him out, and to wind in himſelf to be king in his room, and therefore charged him ſo ſharply with it.
Verſ. 8. Am I a dogs head, which against Judah do ſhew kindneſſe this day unto the houſe of Saul, &c.] By this anſwer of Abners to Iſhboſheth, we cannot conclude neither whether he were guilty or no, of that which Iſhboſheth had charged him with; for the meaning of theſe words may be either that he thought himſelf greatly wronged, that Iſhboſheth ſhould ſuſpect him for, or accuſe him of, ſuch a foul fact as this, of committing whoredome with his fathers concubine, or elſe that he took it in high diſdain that Iſhboſheth ſhould eſteem ſo meanly and baſely of him, as to make ſuch a matter of it, and to take it to be ſo great a diſparagement and diſhonour both to him and to his father, that he ſhould go in to one of his fathers concubines: But yet I conceive it more probable, that the laſt of theſe was Abners meaning; Firſt, becauſe that phraſe, Am I a dogs head? doth rather import the worthleſneſſe of his perſon, then his luſtfulneſſe in that fact he was charged with, as ſome would have it; for ſo we ſee the like phraſe is uſed elſewhere, as 1. Sam. 24.14. After whom doſt thou purſue? ſaith David to Saul, after a dead dog, after a flea? &c. 2. Sam. 9.8. What is thy ſervant that thou ſhouldest look upon ſuch a dead dog, as I am, ſaith Mephiboſheth to David: and ſecondly, becauſe that which Abner here alledgeth concerning his ſiding with him againſt the houſe of Judah, muſt needs be alledged, to ſhew how little cauſe he had ſo to vilifie him, by whoſe means he was made king, and had been hitherto ſupported in his kingdome, and in whoſe power it was if he pleaſed, to deliver him up into the hands of David. So that it ſeems by this anſwer of Abners, that he did purpoſely wave the making any reply to the fact he was charged with, either by denying or juſtifying of it, and onelyonly quarrelled that Iſhboſheth ſhould think ſo meanly of him, as to take it for ſuch a diſgrace to his family (whether it were true or falſe) that he ſhould lie with one of his fathers concubines. Am I (ſaith he) a dogs head, that thou chargeſt me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Verſ. 11. And he could not anſwer Abner a word again, becauſe he feared him.] From this which is here ſaid of Iſhboſheth, ſome Expoſitours conclude, that he was a poore and low-ſpirited man, and the rather, becauſe they obſerve too, that he alone of all the ſonnes of Saul went not forth to warre againſt the Philiſtines, when Saul and his ſonnes were ſlain. But indeed, conſidering what exceeding power theſe men had amongſt the people, that commanded in chief over the Militia, it is no wonder that he ſhould be ſo daunted, when Abner in a rage anſwered him ſo inſolently, and threatned him openly with revolting to David. Nor could it be concluded from hence alone, that he was a man of no great metall and courage: for even David himſelf upon the ſame ground, was overmuch awed with Joabs power, and durſt not do to him what otherwiſe he would have done, verſ. 39. I am this day weak though anointed king, and theſe men the ſonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me.
Verſ. 12. And Abner ſent meſſengers to David on his behalf? ſaying, Whoſe is the land, &c.] This clauſe in Abners meſſage to David, Whoſe is the land? might be meant two ſeverall wayes, to wit, either to intimate, that he had the land of Iſrael in his power, and could as he pleaſed either ſettle it upon the houſe of Saul or remove it to David; or elſe to imply that he did now acknowledge that the land did indeed belong to David, whom God by Samuel had anointed to be king over Iſrael, and that therefore he was now willing to transferre the kingdome to him; onelyonly he deſired that he would firſt aſſure him, that he would pardon all that was paſt, and upon good conditions make a league with him. And thus he pretended to come in to David, merely becauſe the land was his, and the kingdome his by Gods appointment, when indeed he did it merely to be revenged on Iſhboſheth, and to procure peace, and perhaps advancement too for himſelf: even as many men in theſe dayes of the Goſpel, come unto Chriſt, pretending they do it for the truths ſake, when indeed they ſeek themſelves onelyonly in ſome carnall reſpects, as Abner did.
Verſ. 13. Thou ſhalt not ſee my face, except thou bring Michal Sauls daughter when thou comeſt to ſee my face.] Though ſhe had lived many years with another husband, yet Davids earneſtneſſe to have her reſtored to him, and that with a purpoſe to have her live with him again as his wife, as ſhe did, needs not ſeem ſtrange to us, if we conſider, firſt, that ſhe was his firſt wife, and had been faithfull to him in preſerving his life, 1. Sam. 19.11, 12. and had been forced by her father to marry this man when David was fled, 1. Sam. 25.44. ſecondly, that David could no way better ſhew his love to her, then by reſcuing her from the ſinne and infamy of living in adultery with another man: thirdly, that it might be in policy a matter of great importance to ſettle peace in the kingdome, and to eſtabliſh the kingdome to David, that this his wife ſhould be reſtored to him again, becauſe ſhe was Sauls daughter: and fourthly, that by this means he ſhould make triall of the fidelity of Abner.
Verſ. 14. And David ſent meſſengers to Iſhboſheth Sauls ſonne, ſaying, deliver me my wife Michal, &c.] Thus it ſeems David and Abner had contrived the buſineſſe, that David ſhould ſend to Iſhboſheth for his wife, and that then Abner ſhould ſecond the motion and procure it to be done: for that Abner had a hand in cauſing Iſhboſheth to reſtore David his wife, is evident, verſ. 16. becauſe Abner went along with her to Bahurim. Now in the challenge that he makes of his wife, Deliver me my wife Michal which I eſpouſed to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philiſtines, he mentions onelyonly a hundred foreskins; becauſe ſo many onelyonly David was by covenant bound to bring, though he brought two hundred, 1. Sam. 18.25, 27.
Verſ. 16. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.] A town in the tribe of Benjamin, chap. 19.16.
Verſ. 17. And Abner had communication with the elders of Iſrael, ſaying, Ye ſought for David in times paſt to be king over you.] Hereby it appears, that many of the Iſraelites would have followed David before this, but that they durſt not for fear of Abner: For the leaſt we can conclude from hence is, that before Iſhboſheth was made king by Abner, the Iſraelites were divided, ſome ſtanding for David, others for Iſhboſheth Sauls ſonne.
Verſ. 19. And Abner went alſo to ſpeak in the ears of David in Hebron all that ſeemed good to Iſrael, and that ſeemed good to the whole houſe of Benjamin.] That is, to the greateſt part of them, 1. Chron. 12.29. Abner having treated with the elders of Iſrael about their accepting of David to be their king, and more particularly with thoſe of Benjamin, becauſe they were like to be hardlieſt wonne in regard of their eſpeciall relation to the houſe of Saul who was of their tribe; he went to David (perhaps under pretence of carrying his wife Michal to him, to which Iſhboſheth had conſented) and ſo then acquainted him how tractable he had found the Iſraelites, and how willing to ſubmit to his government: yea even the men of Benjamin amongſt the reſt, of whom David had moſt cauſe to fear that he ſhould have found them refractory.
Verſ. 25. Thou knoweſt Abner the ſonne of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, &c.] And thus though Joab doubtleſſe was chiefly enraged, becauſe he feared Abner would inſinuate himſelf into David, and prove a corrivall to him in his honours and preferments; and withall, becauſe his heart was full of revengefull thoughts againſt him for the death of his brother Aſahel, yet he alledged none of this to David, but onelyonly that he was ſolicitous for him, as being confident that Abner came onelyonly as a ſpie, and ſought to get ſome advantage againſt David.
Verſ. 26. And when Joab was come out from David, he ſent meſſengers after Abner, &c.] Having ſpoken his mind to David, it may ſeem that he flung away in an anger, not vouchſafing to hear what David would anſwer, and ſo being come out, he ſent meſſengers after Abner to bring him back, and happely he ſent in the name of the king (which might be one cauſe why David was ſo carefull afterward to clear himſelf of it,) but doubtleſſe he pretended that he had ſome buſineſſe of importance to impart to him: or elſe, it is not like that Abner would have come back again.
Verſ. 27. Joab took him aſide in the gate to ſpeak with him quietly, and ſmote him there under the fifth rib, &c.] Thus Joab and Abiſhai had plotted the buſineſſe before hand, whence is that verſ. 30. So Joab and Abiſhai ſlew Abner becauſe he had ſlain their brother Aſahel at Gibeon in the battell, &c. by this means (though the fact in Joab was foul and wicked) God puniſhed Abner for his riſing up againſt David, and making ſo light account of ſhedding ſo much bloud, chap. 2.14. And Abner ſaid to Joab let the young men now ariſe and play before us: and withall, God removed him out of the way, that David might come to have all Iſrael ſubmit themſelves to him without the help of Abners treachery; for that phraſe of ſmiting under the fifth rib, ſee the note, chap. 2.23.
Verſ. 28. I and my kingdome are guiltleſſe before the Lord for ever from the bloud of Abner, &c.] Becauſe the Lord many times plagues the whole land for the magiſtrates ſhedding innocent bloud, therefore David in this proteſtation that he makes of his innocencie, mentions the kingdome together with himſelf, I and my kingdome are guiltleſſe. &c.
Verſ. 29. Let there not fail from the houſe of Joab one that hath an iſſue, &c.] David knew well that it was much to be ſuſpected, that the people would think that Abner was ſlain by his command, or at leaſt not without his conſent, and how likely this was to alienate the hearts of the people from him; In a buſineſſe therefore that ſo nearly concerned him, no marvell though in the bitterneſſe of his ſpirit he poured forth theſe heavy imprecations againſt Joab and all his poſterity, Let there not fail from the houſe of Joab one that hath an iſſue, that is, the running of the reins, (ſee the note, Lev. 15.21.) or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a ſtaff through lameneſſe or weakneſſe; and why he did not proceed further to do juſtice upon Joab, which would have been of all, the beſt way to clear his own innocencie himſelf ſheweth, verſ. 39. I am this day weak though anointed king, and theſe men the ſonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord ſhall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedneſſe.
Verſ. 30. So Joab and Abiſhai his brother ſlew Abner, becauſe he had ſlain their brother Aſahel at Gibeon in the battell.] Theſe words, in the battell, are added as an aggravatian of Joabs ſinne: For Abner ſlew Aſahel in open battell, and was forced thereto by Aſahels purſuite of him; but Joab ſlew Abner treacherouſly, when he pretended to ſpeak peaceably with him; why Abiſhai is here joyned with Joab, ſee the note above, verſe 27.
Verſ. 31. And David ſaid to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, &c.] That is, he enjoyned them to bury Abner with a ſolemn funerall, thereby teſtifying his ſorrow for his death, and clearing himſelf before all the people from having any hand in it. Neither was it unfit that Joab amongſt others ſhould be enjoyned to be a publick mourner at his exequies: for firſt he had more cauſe to mourn then any man, becauſe of his ſinne: David therefore requiring him thereunto did that which was fit; if Joab therein diſſembled, it was his own fault. Secondly, it might be impoſed as a kind of puniſhment that he ſhould publickly by being one of the mourners bear witneſſe of Abners worth, whom in his rage he had ſlain. Concerning the cuſtome of renting their clothes, ſee the note, Gen. 37.29.
Verſ. 33. And the king lamented over Abner, and ſaid, died Abner as a fool dieth?] That is, he died not as a fool dieth; his hands were not bound, &c. the meaning is, that he died not as a weak and cowardly man, that is, taken in warre and led captive, his hands being bound, or as a malefactor that is caſt into priſon and bound in fetters, (no ſaith he, he that ſlew him, had he done it in open fight, he ſhould have found that his hands were not bound, &c.) but he was ſlain, as the valianteſt man in the world might have been ſlain, to wit, treacherouſly; by one that pretended peace and ſmote him unawares. Perhaps this was the elegie which David compoſed to be ſung at Abners funerall.
Verſ. 35. And when all the people came to cauſe David to eat meat, &c.] By theſe words is intimated, that there was a ſolemn feaſt at the funerall of Abner, where all the people, that is, the gueſts invited, or ſome in the name of all, ſeeing or hearing that the king refuſed to eat, laboured to perſwade him to eat, till with ſuch earneſtneſſe he proteſted to the contrary: and indeed that it was a cuſtome amongſt Gods people in the time of the law to have feaſts at their funeralls, either thereby to allay their grief, or to teſtifie their hope concerning the good eſtate of their deceaſed friends, may be gathered from other places. For thence are thoſe expreſſions, Jer. 16.7, 8. Neither ſhall men tear themſelves for them in mourning to comfort them for the dead: neither ſhall men give them the cup of conſolation to drink for their father, or for their mother. Thou ſhalt not alſo go into the houſe of feaſting: to ſit with them to eat and to drink. and Ezek. 24.17. Forbear to cry, and make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy ſhoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. As for Davids oath when he replyed that he would not eat, So do God to me and more alſo, ſee the note, Ruth 1.17.
Verſ. 36. As whatſoever the king did, pleaſed all the people.] This is referred by ſome Expoſitours to this particular of Davids ordering the funerall of Abner, that whatſoever the king did herein, pleaſed the people; but yet it may alſo be underſtood more generally, to wit, that the king was ſo highly eſteemed and beloved of the people, that they were ſtill inclinable to approve of any thing that he did.
Verſ. 39. And I am this day weak, though anointed king, and theſe men the ſonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me, &c.] By alledging the power of Joab and Abiſhai, and the unſettledneſſe of his eſtate in the kingdome for the preſent, he laboureth to excuſe himſelf for not puniſhing Joab for this fact of his according to the law. Indeed by many things related both of Joab and Abner it appears, that theſe that were generals over the men of warre were very potent. But why then did not David execute juſtice upon Joab afterward, when he was eſtabliſhed in his throne? Doubtleſſe it was an infirmitie in David, and before his death it ſeems he repented of his errour, which that charge of his to Solomon may probably imply, 1. Kings 2.5, 6. Moreover thou knoweſt alſo, what Joab the ſonne of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hoſt of Iſrael, unto Abner the ſonne of Ner, and unto Amaſa the ſonne of Jether, whom he ſlew and ſhed the bloud of warre in peace, and put the bloud of warre upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his ſhoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wiſdome, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.