Exposition of the Laws of Moses, Exegesis 8 · Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII. Whether Iſhboſheth was a Rebell in affecting the Kingdome or not?
2 Sam. 2.8. But Abner the ſonne of Ner, Captaine of Sauls Hoſt, tooke Iſhboſheth the ſonne of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim, and he made him King over Gilead, &c.
IT may be ſaid of Iſhboſheth, Their reaſons who hold that Iſhboſheth ſinned not in taking the Kingdome.that he was no Rebell in accepting of the Kingdome after his father Saul was dead; for firſt, he was his fathers eldeſt ſonne now liuing; and by the law of Nations, the firſt borne, or he that was in place of the firſt borne, did ſucceede,The firſt borne by the law of Nations ſucceeded in the Kingdome. Exod. 11.5. and 1 King. 2.15. And ſo amongſt the Edomites, the firſt borne ſucceeded in the Kingdome, 2 King. 3.27. he tooke his eldeſt ſonne who ſhould hauehave reigned in his ſtead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall.
Secondly, Iſhboſheth had the conſent almoſt of all the people, for eleven tribes acknowledged him for their King.
Thirdly, he had good ſucceſſe amongſt his Subjects;The ſucceſſe that Iſhboſheth had. firſt, in Mahanaim; then amongſt the Giliadites; thirdly, amongſt the Aſhurites; fourthly, in Izreel; fiftly, in Iuda and Benjamin; and laſtly, over all Iſrael, 2 Sam. 2.9.
Fourthly, he reigned ſeven yeares amongſt them, and by that it may ſeeme, that it was a ſetled Kingdome.
The thing that may be alledged againſt him is this, Object. that Mephiboſheth was the ſonne of the eldeſt brother, and therefore by right ſhould hauehave ſucceeded before him. But Mephiboſheth was a lame man, Anſw. and an impotent creature, and was not fit for Government, and therefore by right the Kingdome ſucceeded to Iſhboſheth. Inſt.And if it be ſaid, that David was appointed King by the Lord, we may ſay, that Iſhboſheth knew nothing of this, Anſ. and he was in bonafide: and moreover, David calleth him a righteous perſon, 2 Sam. 4.9. therefore it may ſeeme that he did not uſurpe or affect the Kingdome wrongfully.
Iſhboſheth compared with Ieroboam in affecting the Kingdome.Now let us compare Iſhboſheths affecting of the Kingdome, and Ieroboams affecting of the Kingdome; Ieroboam had the word of the Lord by Ahija the Prophet that he ſhould be King, and he confirmed it unto him by a ſigne, in renting of the Cloke in twelue peices, thus much he had from the Lord; but he was a wicked and prophane man, and got the hearts of the people rather by diſcontentment and mutinie than by heartie good will, and herein Iſhboſheth farre exceeded him.
Againe, Ieroboams affecting of the Kingdome might ſeeme to be a revenge; for he fled away to Egypt from Salomon as a traytor, and now to be revenged upon his ſonne, he draweth away the ten Tribes from him, and ſo Iſhboſheths entering to the Kingdome ſeemeth to be better than his.
Reply. Iſhboſheth notwithſtanding of all that is ſaid for him cannot be excuſed; he was his fathers eldeſt ſonne, but the Kingdome goeth not alwayes by ſucceſſion,Iſhboſheth cannot be excuſed for affecting the Kingdome. it pleaſeth God to change this forme ſometimes, as David was choſen King and not his eldeſt brother, and ſo was Salomon choſen and not Adonijah. And if it had come by ſucceſſion, then Mephiboſheth ſhould hauehave ſucceeded and beene preferred before him, for although he was lame in his feete, yet he was not lame in his mind. And where it is ſaid, that he had the conſent of all the people, their conſent is nothing without the conſent of the ſuperiour God himſelfe, by me Kings reigne, Pro. 8.9. God had declared long before,Saul could not be ignorant that David ſhould be King. that Saul ſhould not reigne, but that David ſhould reigne, and Ionathan gaue way to it, therefore he could not be ignorant of this, but being blinded by preſumption, and miſled by craftie Abner (who thought in effect to be King himſelfe) he affected the Kingdome. And whereas David calleth him a righteous perſon; Iuſtitia cauſae. perſonae.we muſt diſtinguiſh inter juſtitiam cauſae, & juſtitiam perſonae, betwixt the righteouſneſſe of his cauſe, & the righteouſneſſe of his perſon, although he was otherwiſe a good man, yet he had not a good cauſe in hand; and if we ſhall joyne his cauſe and his death together, we may thinke that it was a juſt puniſhment of his Rebellion; for he was murthered by Baanah and Rechab upon his bed in his bed-chamber, 2 Sam. 4.7.
The concluſion of this is; Concluſion. He that affecteth Gods Kingdome in the heaven, & he who affecteth his Kings throne upon the earth, ſhall both miſerablie periſh; and as God vindicateth his owne honour when any man claimeth it; ſo he vindicateth the honour of the King, if any man affect it. Feare God, honour the King. 1 Pet. 2.17.