A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 2 Samuel · Chapter 4
2 Sam. CHAP. IV.
THis Chapter gives an account of the decreaſe of the Houſe of Saul, as the former did of the increaſe of the Houſe of David, which two Houſes are Allegories; for as there was conſtant oppoſition and continual skirmiſhing for a long time between the two Houſes of Saul and David, even ſo in a double Emblem, there is firſt betwixt Chriſt, and Antichriſt while the World endures; and Secondly, betwixt the Spirit and the Fleſh, in the Souls of the Saints while their lives do laſt. This double Type holds forth a double Myſtery in the Hiſtory, both in a general and in a particular reſpect.
Firſt, As to the General, Iſhboſheth's Kingdom was founded upon an Arm of fleſh, namely Humane Power and Policy, and not any Divine Word to warrant it, but rather on the contrary to aboliſh it; therefore muſt it in God's time decreaſe tho' it look never ſo big with ſo many Tribes of Iſrael in the belly of it at its firſt beginning: Whereas David's Kingdom was founded upon a ſure word of Propheſie and Promiſe of God, which was at the firſt ſupported with one Tribe only at Hebron, yet muſt it in God's time greatly grow, having both the Promiſe and the Providence of God to warm, water, and nouriſh it into a kindly growth. Even ſo the Kingdom of Satan, tho' at the firſt it be enlarged almoſt over the face of the Earth, the whole World lying in wickedneſs, 1 John 5.19. yet the Lord hath ſpoken, it ſhall grow weaker and weaker as the Houſe of Saul did, Ch. 3.1. until at laſt, our Lord ſhall deſtroy the Man of Sin utterly, with the breath of his mouth, and with the brightneſs of his coming, 2. Theſ. 2.8. Whereas the Kingdom of Chriſt (our bleſſed David) tho' it be but as a little ſtone, the Kingdom of a Stone at the firſt, yet ſhall it become the Kingdom of a Mountain, to fill the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35.45.
In like manner, if thoſe two Houſes of Saul and David be particularly conſidered, they repreſent the two oppoſites, the Fleſh and the Spirit in our Spiritual Warfare: what can we ſee in the Shulamite (or one at peace with God as the word ſignifies, and ſo is every true Believer) but as it were the Company of two Armies, Cant. 6.13. and theſe two are contrary each to other, Gal. 5.17. So that we cannot do the things that we would; as we cannot do the good things we would, becauſe of the Army of the Fleſh (which is Satan's Lieutenant General) conſiſting of innumerable Luſts and Corruptions that do oppoſe us, ſo we cannot do the evil things we would, becauſe of the Army of the Spirit which is God's Lieutenant General, conſiſting of a Company of Evangelical Graces that do ſtop us in the way of ſin, as the Angel of God ſtopped Balaam in his perverſe way. Now becauſe he that is in us is greater than he that is in the World againſt us, 1 Joh. 4.4. therefore the Kingdom of the Fleſh (like that of Saul) grows weaker and weaker (though it ſeem never ſo invincibly ſtrong in the beginning of this Chriſtian Warfare) and is at the laſt finally aboliſhed; whereas the Kingdom of the Spirit (like that of David) grows ſtronger and ſtronger, tho' it ſeem at the firſt but as little as a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, yet grows it into a great Tree, Math. 13.31, 32. in the Kingdom of Grace, and ſo into the Kingdom of Glory.
The Remarks upon the Particulars of his Chapter, after this general double Allegory are,
Firſt, The Death of Abner did not only diſpirit Iſhboſheth, but alſo put all the People into a deep conſternation, v. 1.
N. B. Note well, The moſt Wiſe God would never ſuffer evil to be done, unleſs he knew how to bring ſome good out of that evil: Indeed Joab had his ends in thus baſely (under colour of friendſhip) to ſtab ſuch a Prince in Iſrael as Abner was, namely to revenge his Brother Aſahel's death by him, and to ſecure his own place of Generalſhip from him; but God had his ends alſo, as well as Joab his, and that was,
Firſt, To puniſh Abner juſtly, as for all his other ſins, ſo more eſpecially for his Rebellion againſt David his Lawful Lord and Sovereign, contrary to his own Knowledge and Conſcience, Chap. 3.9. for compaſſing his Worldly Honours and Wicked Deſigns, in which unlawful War, tho' much precious blood was ſpilt, yet that was but a ſport to this bloody Man, Chap. 2.4. but
Secondly, God's end was to take Abner out of David's way, not only that he might not be beholden to ſo bad a Man (upon whom he now too much depended) to bring all Iſrael under his Government, for God will have David to come to his Kingdom over all the Tribes by a better way as followeth.
The Second Remark is, The Death of Iſhboſheth by two of his own Captains, ver. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. wherein,
Mark Firſt, The Motives that induced thoſe two Traytors to Murther Iſhboſheth were becauſe
(1.) Abner's death (upon whom he wholly depended) had diſabled him for any Royal duty, ſo was become an inſignificant Cypher.
(2.) All the Tribes were in a confuſion to hear their Peace-maker was ſlain (while he was negotiating their Covenant of Peace with David) and that by Joab when he came home drunk with a ſucceſsful Victory over the Enemies of Iſrael: hereupon they now doubted of obtaining David's favour.
(3.) None of Saul's Houſe (beſide Concubine Sons uncapable of the Crown) were alive to revenge Iſhboſheth's murther, ſave only Mephiboſheth, who was lamed by a fall, and but five years old, ſo neither fit to Reign, nor likely to Revenge his Ʋnkle's Death.
(4.) Theſe two Traytors therefore thought that by their removing uſeleſs Iſhboſheth out of David's way, the Crown of the whole Kingdom muſt needs come to him without any contradiction; Hereupon theſe two Benjamites of Iſhboſheth's own Tribe, and Captains of his Guard (ſo had free egreſs and regreſs) came into his Chamber, and ſlew him ſleeping at Noon time a day.
N. B. 'Tis a wonder he could ſleep at all by night, conſidering he had loſt his right hand in the loſs of Abner. Alexander ſaid he could ſleep ſoundly while Antipater was his Guard; but Iſhboſheth's ſleeping at Noon, and without a Guard under all his preſent ſad Circumſtances, beſpeaketh him a ſluggiſh, ſapleſs, and a ſecure fool, unfit to weild the Scepter of Iſrael: while he dreaded no danger, they ſmote him under the fifth rib, where there was no bone to hinder the Stab, took off his head, and away they went that Night from Mahanaim to Hebron, with this Preſent to David.
The Third Remark is▪ What Reception theſe two Traytors found with David when they preſented Iſhboſheth's head to him, v. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. wherein,
Mark Firſt, Their ſtarch'd Oration to David, highly commending their own Damnable Deed to him upon Three Topicks.
1. A Jucundo [lo here's the Head of thine Enemy] and can there be a more ſweet Spectacle than this?
2. Ab Honeſto, We did it by God's Authority, who ſet us on work to avenge my Lord the King, &c.
3. Ab Ʋtili, Now thine Enemy is removed, thou ſhalt Reign without a Rival: Thus thoſe Wretches do Rhetoricate to make their heinous fact not only Lawful, but Meritorious, and all to ingratiate themſelves into David's favour, which was indeed the grand inducement of this their deſperate Exploit.
Mark Secondly, David abhors the Villany, and reſolves with an Oath to execute the Villains, as he had done to that pick thank Amalckite, who did but (upon Saul's Requeſt) help only to kill him: How much more ſuch Traytors as you (ſaith David) to a Righteous Man. Grotius Obſerveth here how David doth not call Iſhboſheth King (becauſe he was not ſo by right) but Man only, yet doth he aggravate the fact as far worſe than that of the Amalekite in many reſpects, as
Firſt, He was an Amalekite, ſo (by birth) an Enemy to Iſrael, and therefore no better could be expected from him, eſpecially by Saul, who had lately ſlain almoſt all their Nation; but you are Iſraelites, Brethren of the ſame Religion, and therefore bound to do all good Offices one to another; yea, you are Benjamites of the ſame Tribe with Iſhboſheth, which was yet an higher obligation upon you to the contrary; but the higheſt bond of all was, you were his Servants, and he had been a good Maſter to you, in preferring you to be Captains of his Life-guard, ſo his life was your truſt, where in to find Treaſon makes a moſt treacherous Traytor.
In a Second Reſpect, The Amalekite did but haſten Saul's death whom he found deadly wounded to his hand and without hope of recovery, ſo that what he did, was both to eaſe him of his pain, and to prevent his ſhame by the Philiſtines, &c. but you kill'd a Man in perfect health, in his own houſe (which is a Man's Caſtle) while he was taking his repoſe, and not purſued by his Enemies in the Field, &c.
In a Third Reſpect, The Amalekite did it (as he pretended) at Saul's earneſt requeſt out of meer compaſſion to him to ſhorten his torment and to free him from diſhonour, &c. but you of your own will fell in a violent way upon this man (whom you ſhould have guarded ſafe) and ſlew him againſt his will, not fearing any danger, &c.
Mark Thirdly, Hereupon David juſtly commanded their execution, and cut off their hands that had done the deed, and their feet that carried them away with this Preſent; God puniſhes thoſe offending Members foreign, Weapons of Wickedneſs, Rom. 6.13.
Mark Fourthly, Iſhboſheth's head was buried with Abner's to be Partners alike in the ſame Sepulchre, as they had been in the Ʋſurpation, and both faln by treacherous bands; yet in Hebron where the Patriarchs lay buried.