The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 13
II SAM: Chap: 4. from the 1. verſe to the 8.
IN the firſt verſe of the former Chapter, the generall propoſition of the third and fourth Chapters was laid, to be the hiſtory of the Civill warres between the houſes of Saul▪ and David, the end whereof was that Sauls houſe decayed, and the others waxed ſtronger. This was confirmed by ſix arguments in the laſt Chapter, and now in this Chapter we have the ſeventh, importing the full and finall decay of the houſe of Saul, and Davids advancement thereby. For at this time there were but two males lawfully deſcended of Saul, who could be conteſters with David in the challenge of the Crowne, Iſhboſeth Sauls ſonne, and Mephiboſeth Jonathans ſonne… (for as for the ſonnes of Riſpah, they were borne of concubinage, and therefore according to the cuſtome, they received no inheritance, but only a portion of goods; as Abraham provided for the Children of Keturah) now of theſe two, Iſhboſeth is impotent in mind and unworthy; murthered by his ſervants of that ſame tribe with him; and Mephiboſeth is impotent in body, and lamed by a fall which he got by his nurſe, and ſo not only young, but crooked and unable to travell in the office of a King: and therefore the houſe of Saul being thus totally decayed, all Iſrael were forced to offer themſelves to David. Then in this preſent Chapter we have in generall, the laſt and extreame decay of Sauls houſe, by the misfortune of theſe two fornamed.
This generall hath three particulars, the firſt containeth the decay of Iſhbo…eth unto the 8. Verſ. The ſecond is the inability of Mephiboſeth interjected in the 4. Verſ. The third is the juſtice and piety of David, in revenging of Iſhboſeths death, and burying his head; till the 12 and laſt Verſ.
In the decay of Iſhboſeth, we have three things to be conſidered. 1. Is himſelf. 2, His murtherers. 3. His murther. As to himſelfe or his eſtate: It is ſaid, that after he heard of the death of Abner, his hands were feeble and all Iſrael ſeeing the puſillanimity of their head: and that their captaine Abner, by whom they hoped to be reconciled to David was ſlaine, thinking themſelves now expoſed to a greevous danger, knowing the magnanimity of David, they are likewiſe afraid.
By the feeble hands of Iſhboſeth, according to the Hebrew phraſe, is ſignified the diſcouragement both of his heart, and externall members of his body: as we ſay of a man altogether dejected, he hath neither heart nor hand: ſo that here, he is ſet forth as a man deſtitute of all help, or comfort either from himſelfe, being ſo affected; or from his people, being ſo afraid: and ſo this uſurper now is fallen in extreame, and irremediable miſery. The cauſes of this his deſperate dejectedneſs, being 1. Inwardly his guilty conſcience fighting againſt himſelfe, and outwardly the ſword of David, the ſtroakes whereof he likewiſe did feare. And 2. the awaytaking of Abner, on whom he repoſed for defence, and on the force of the Army, and therefore when that faileth him, he falleth into deſperation.
The ſecond thing to be conſidered in him: is, that being thus deſperate of his matters, he giveth himſelfe to ſleep, and ſluggiſh ſecurity: The cauſe of which ſleep at noontide, ſome aſſigne to the cuſtome ſo uſed in thoſe hot countries, as Joſephus affirmeth. Some to the extream heavyneſs of his deſperate mind, making his eyes likewiſe heavy to ſleep, like Jonas in the ſhip, or the diſciples in the garden, and others attribute it to his ſluggiſh and negligent nature, againſt the duty of a good Prince who ſhould be vigilant, domi & foris, to adminiſter his kingdome aright, and to prevent both private and publick perills, either of his perſon or eſtate, which he here doth not, as we may ſee in the hiſtory of his murther.
His murtherers are deſcribed. 1. From their names: Baanah which ſignifieth affliction: and Rechab, a rydar; thus affliction overtook him, and that ſpeedily as a poſt or ridar. 2. They are called his men, and of one tribe with him, ſo neerly were they joyned with him, in ſervice and kindred. 3. They are ſaid to have beene Captaines of bands, which ſome underſtand to be, of companies in the Camp, over which they were ſet by Abner; and others (as the Rabbines) expone theſe bands to have been ſuch, as were, when there was no King in Iſrael, and when (as Debora ſaith) the high waies were not occupied, and the travellers went through by paths, even robbers and common oppreſſors of men. 4. Their parentage is pointed at, they were the ſonnes of Rimmon, and of the Citie of Beroth, which then was uſurped by the Philiſtines, ſince the battle of Gilboa, albeit within the territory of Benjamin, according to the diviſion, Ioſhua. 18. 25. From hence theſe fled at that time to Gittaim, another towne in the ſame tribe, as Nehemiah. 11. 33. 5. The carriage in this buſineſs, is diſſimulate; for they faine themſelves to be of the moſt peaceable ſort of men, even merchants, whereby they might ſo be into the leſs ſuſpicion.
The fact of the murther is very odious in all the circumſtances. 1. The perſon murthered is a King, and a Kings ſonne. 2. The murtherers are of his own ſubjects, of one tribe with him, and his men. 3. The place and time, is, even in his own Chamber, and bed: and while he is a ſleep, in the noontide of the day. 4. The form is by treaſon, and cruelly by cutting off his head. 5. The cauſe (as may be ſeen in their journey and ſpeech to David) is to gratify him, whom they perceived entring in the whole kingdome, and ſo to work their own promotion; being incouraged to this fact by Davids banqueting of Abner for perſwading Iſrael to make defection from Iſhboſeth, and thinking that much more will the killing of his perſon be acceptable and rewarded; as alſo, by the impunity of Joab for the death of Abner: and ſo concluding, that if David did overſee the ſlaughter of Abner who was reconciled; and now Davids ſworne ſervant, to bring all Iſrael to him: aſſuredly he will reward the ſlayers of Iſhboſeth who ſtood out, and had the only claime of the whole kingdome.
In the fourth verſe is interjected the hiſtory of Mephiboſeth, how that upon the newes of the diſcomfiture of Saul and Jonathan; his nurſe flying with him, when he was a child of five yeares old, he did fall: and thereby became lame of his feet; and ſo by that impediment was made unable for royall government: chiefly in Iſrael, whoſe King was required to be without inability either in body, or mind, ſeeing they were compaſſed about with ſo many enemies to withſtand. This fall of Mephiboſeth is recorded to ſhew Gods ſpeciall providence therein; that ſo the kingdome might come to David according to the promiſe. Some think that this hiſtory is rather interjected; to let us underſtand the government of the eſtate of Iſraell, when Iſhboſeth is ſo unworthy, and feeble in mind: and Mephiboſeth ſo feeble in body; therefore no marvell, that ſuch wicked men banded, and roſe againſt the eſtate and quietneſs of the land, and took ſuch …udacity to commit the like inſolencies and treaſon.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. IN the feebleneſs of Iſhboſeth, we ſee how powerfull the daſhing of a guilty conſcience is, when any triall, or trouble occurre, the terrour of this inward and homebred tribunall, ſhaking the very foundations of all the faculties, and powers of the ſoule:Judg. 16. and making the pillars of the body, (like thoſe of the houſe of Dagon which Sampſon overthrew) to bow,Dan. …. and ſmite one againſt another, as did the knees of Belſhazzar: ſo bitter things doth this ſpirituall hand write in the regiſter of that book: which fully at that laſt day ſhall be opened: and by which every one ſhall be judged. That the very glanſe of one account, given by a wakening trouble diſquieteth, and diſmayeth ſo, that the perſon touched, is like that houſe fooliſhly built upon the ſand: which, when a ſtorme cometh, cannot abide the ſame, but falleth. Where the teſtimony of a good conſcience on the contrary, is both a feaſt and a fortreſs. Examples of this daſhing power, when triall or trouble cometh, we ſee in Joſephs brethren, in Achan, Saul, Belſhazzar, Judas, and many more.
2. The ſecond leſſon is inſtruction likewiſe, for confirming of faith in Gods infallible promiſes, and is taken from this ground, Iſhboſeth in an evill cauſe and courſe, relying only upon Ab…er, and the people: ſo ſoon as Abner is ſlaine, and the people are afraid, he falleth into deſpaire, whereupon we gather. That as in all cauſes, and eſpecially evill, the way to deſperation is to contemn Gods protection, and relye altogether upon man's, and worldly meanes. As we may ſee in the examples of the Philiſtims, when Goliah is ſlaine, in Haman when he looſeth Ahaſuerus favour, and others; ſo in all good cauſes the only way to conſtancy and comfort, is to depend upon the aſſured promiſes of Gods bleſſing and favour, and to uſe and eſteem the ſecond ordinary means, whereby God worketh in their own rank and place: otherwiſe they ſhall prove but like the rotten reed of Egypt, which ſhall break, and wound the hand of him, who hath leaned thereon: of this diverſity David propheſieth in the 1. Pſalm. and examples of them who have found comfort relying upon God, when the ſeconds hath failed them. We have, in Abraham, Jacob, Joſeph, Moſes, Iob, David, Daniel, Chriſts Apoſtles, and ſundry others in Scripture.
3. In the time when Iſrael is commanded by Iſhboſeth an unworthy man, without courage, negligent and ſleeping in his office: and hath Mephiboſeth, young, and unable in body to travell: then the land is poſſeſt with violences and wicked men, whereupon we gather a doctrine for reformation of manners. That when ſuch as are the ſupreame Magiſtrates, or ſubordinate, Nobles, and great Men in any land or ſtate, are either ſimple or unworthy, either ſleeping and neglecting their offices, either young in yeares, or lame in feet, ſparing their travells; it is then that oppreſſion, murther and every ſort of vice defileth the land, and inquieteth the eſtate both in private and publick: and this confuſion is in Gods juſtice, who threatneth in his ire to give a people for their ſinnes, children and women to raigne over them. Therefore the exhortation is that where ſuch miſgovernment is, and ſuch inconveniencies fall out: ſubjects ſhould not betake themſelves ſo much to the miſliking & invection againſt their ſuperiours, much leſs in putting violent hands on them. As was done to Iſhboſeth as to be diſpleaſed with themſelves, and their ſinnes; whereby they have provoked God in his juſtice, thus to puniſh them, and ſeek their reformation, by teares and prayers from God in mercy, who hath the diſpoſition of the hearts of all ſuperiours, to make them fierce Lyons, Foxes, and ſuch like beaſts in his juſtice: and meek lambs, and couragious rulers againe in his favour. Of this we have the examples of the firſt Pharaoh, Cyrus, Conſtantine, and the like: and of the contrary, Abimelech, Saul, Achab, Joas, Herod. Julian, and others.
4. Through the impunity uſed towards Joab by David, theſe wicked men are encouraged to murther Iſhboſeth. Where we ſee, what are the dangerous fruits, which grow from impunity of any vice, eſpecially of blood. This was the fault laid to Eli's charge, that he ſuffered his Sonnes to runne into a ſlander, and by correction he ſtayed them not, therefore the Lord threateneth, that he ſhould do to him a thing, whereof whoſoever heard it ſhould make his eares to tingle. This impunity made Joab thereafter to kill Amaſa, and Abſolom his brother Amnon: ſo that the overſight and winking at any vice, and tolerating of ſinne by Magiſtrate, or Miniſter, is nothing elſe; but the encouraging of men to go forward in the further practiſe thereof, whereof they cannot be guiltleſs, nor free from the blood of ſuch, who grant ſuch impunity.
5. Abner is ſlain, the people make defection, and now at laſt Iſhboſeth himſelf is likewiſe murthered. Thus like Jobs meſſengers, when God hath bent his bow, and whe… his ſword, then the arrowes of the Almighty, and the ſtrokes of his juſtice one after another redouble upon the wicked, till they be conſumed: examplified by the plagues on Pharaohs Land, & at laſt his own ſubmiſſion. Which teacheth us not to abuſe his long ſuffering patience, which ſhould not imbolden us, or harden our hearts, and make us ſecure in ſinne, but rather in feare to break off our ſinfull courſe, and lead us to repentance; for otherwiſe aſſuredly he cometh, and his reward is with him.
6. Iſhboſeth is murthered, and that by two men of his own, Captaines of bands: and of that ſame tribe and kindred with himſelfe. Where we ſee not onelyonly that Kings are priviledged from the Lords puniſhments, when they offend more than others: as the examples of Pharaoh, Saul, Achab, and ſundry o…her wicked Kings of Iſrael, Antiochus, and the three Herods &c. do teſtify. But likewiſe how that he draweth Arrowes out of their own quiver to ſtrike them through withall: thus Sinacheribs own ſonnes are made his burrean's; and when David offendeth, Abſolom ſhall be made his rod: and as the vipers own brood are the deſtroyers of their owne damme, in gnawing forth her belly; ſo when the wayes of a man diſpleaſe the Lord, he will make his ſervants, his ſonnes, his kindred, and familiars to be his ſcourges; as when the wayes of man pleaſe him, he will make his very Enemies at one with him, Prov. 16. 7. As alſo we ſee, where grace tyes not, the bond of nature (like Sampſons cords) is eaſily burſt; Ka… will ſlay Abell: Eſau perſecute Jacob, and Sinacheribs Sonnes will kill their own Father.
7. In his very bed-chamber, this murther was committed: ſo that we may ſee that no place, ſo cloſe, ſo retyred, fenced, nor priviledged, can hold out Judgment when it cometh: thus the Froggs crawle upon Pharaoh himſelf in his Chamber,Exod. 8. and on his bed… and the deſtroyer entreth within the Kings Pallace, and killeth his firſt borne. Eglon is ſtabbed in the ſummer parlour. Sinacherib murthered in the Temple of his God. Nebuchadnezzar viſited in his great Babell. Belſhazzar made ſtupefact at his royall table. And Herod ſtriken with the hand of God on his glorious throne. For that God, who is God not only of the hills, but of the vallies hath every where a reaching hand, and where can a man flie from his fearfull preſence?
8. The time when Iſhboſheth is murthered, is while he is a ſleep on his bed; where we have to obſerve not onelyonly how the wicked oftimes into their greateſt ſecurity are viſited: but likewiſe how carefull men ought to be, to implore the watchman of Iſrael, even the Lords protection at all times: but eſpecially in the time of our ſleep to be ſtretched over us, without which what perills may over take us. The examples of Iſhboſeth, Siſera, Olofernes and others may delare; but having the ſame, we may in a joyfull aſſurance ſay with David, I will lay down, and ſleep in peace, for thou O Lord onelyonly makeſt me to be in ſafety, Pſalm. 4. 8. As likewiſe where a ſleepy and negligent King is, we ſee here what perill is both to himſelf, and the ſtate. Royall adminiſtation is the Lords work, and wo be unto him that doth the ſame negligently.
9. Theſe two, (like Simeon and Leui) Brethren in evil, and like Ananias and Saphira, or the two wicked elders, agreeing together in wickedneſſe do not onelyonly ſhew the unity, or rather conſenting conſpiracy of the ungodly to do evil: whereof the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 50. 18. And that agreement of Herod and Pilate, (though at variance before) to Crucify Chriſt doth teſtify, but in their diſguiſing of themſelves, we ſee the crafty and masked dealing of ſuch in their pretenſes, who Proteus-like, as their Maſter can transform himſelf into an Angel of light, when he intends to bring into greateſt darkneſſe: ſo can the the wicked cover themſelves in their moſt impious proceedings, with leaſt ſuſpicious, and beſt be ſeeming ſhewes, like Jael giving the ſweeteſt milk, when they intend moſt bitter deſtruction, and under ſubtileſt Hypocriſy evermore harbouring moſt dangerous impiety.
10. The fall of the houſe of Saul after this manner in himſelf and in his poſterity, repreſents laſt of all unto us, the example of Gods Juſtice againſt Tyrants, and perſecutours of his Church, and Kingdome of Chriſt, agreeable unto that in the firſt Pſalme. The wicked ſhall not ſtand amongſt the juſt, but as the wind bloweth the chaffe, and duſt to and fro, ſo ſhall the wicked periſh and decay, this conſenting unto the frequent other Prophecies of the Lords words, Job 18. Pſal. 2. 37, 110. Iſa. 13. 18, 23, 44. Jerem. 25. Revel. 17. 18. As the examples of Pharaoh, as of all ages clearly can teſtify; and as we may evidently remarke, when in Gods judgement we ſee by treaſon, and violence one after another, the Enemies of the Church cut down by the ſiccle of juſtice, and caſt in the Winepreſſe of Gods wrath till they be made all at laſt, his footſtool to tread upon.