The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 15
II SAM: Chap: 5. from the 1. verſe to the 6. and 1 CHRON. 11.
IN the former three Chapters the eſtate of Iſrael being treated on, from the death of Saul to the death of Iſhboſeth, which hiſtory affirms, and confirms that the houſe of Saul daily decayed, and the houſe of David increaſed: till at length in the death of Iſhboſeth, and inability of Mephiboſeth there remained no expectation of the recovery of the ſame againe. Now in this Chapter we have in generall the hiſtory of Davids increaſe, after the death of Abner and Iſhboſeth; and the extream, and deſperate decay of the houſe of Saul. This generall is confirmed by two particular arguments, whereinto this Chapter is divided. The one from the 1. Verſ. to the 6. containes the hiſtory of Davids inauguration by univerſall conſent to be King over all Iſrael. The ſecond from the 6. Verſ. to the end, containeth foure acts, whereby David is renounced, and made honourable in Iſrael, done by him ſoon after his inauguration.
The firſt is the expugnation of Sion, and Jeruſalem, proponed from the 6. Verſ. to the 11. The ſecond is the amitie contracted between Hiram, King of Tyrus, and David from the 11. verſe to the 13. The third is his marrying Wives, & aſſuming to him Concubines in Jeruſalem, by whom he procreated many Children, from the 13. verſe to the 17. The fourth is two notable Victories obtained againſt the Philiſtines, treated on from the 17. verſe to the laſt.
The inauguration of David (written alſo 1 Chron. 11. Chap. from the 1. to the 10. verſe, and in the 12. from the 23. to the end of that Chap.) it is amplified from all the circumſtances of time, Perſons, place, perſuaſions, and ſolemne form of the action.
The time is obſerved in the particle (then) that is after the death of Abner, and Iſhboſeth: and an end is now put thereby to the civill diſſentious, and jarres between the houſe of Saul, and of David, between Judah and Iſrael. Others extend this to the firſt beginning of the promiſe and anointing of David, made by Samuel, 1 Sam. 10. Unto this time of the performance thereof, which containeth at leaſt the ſpace of 20. years, that after ſo long delay, after ſo great troubles, and adverſities moved by Saul and Iſhboſeth, after ſo many offers of ungodly helps made by Joab, Abner, and the Murtherers of Iſhboſeth, rejected by David, and after God had tryed him in the furnace of diverſe temptations, and found him a golden David, and a man according to his own heart, then the Lord remembreth his promiſe made by Samuel in convenient time to accompliſh the ſame.
Of the place called Hebron▪ it was ſpoken before, Chap. 2. It was ſituated in the Northweſt of the Land of Judah, diſtant from Jeruſalem 20. miles, as Jerome affirmeth, and at this time was the rovall ſeat of the King, the ſpace that hee raigned onelyonly over Judah: and ſo being ſituated in the extremity of the Land, the affection muſt be thought great, both which all Iſrael, and their Princes bear unto him, from the moſt diſtant parts of the Kingdome running thus to Hebron, a border towne in the utmoſt marche of Judah, a remarkable act of Gods ſpeciall inſtinct!
The circumſtance of the Perſons is in the number, and in the quality: in the number he ſaith, all Iſrael, that is a certain number ſelected out of every tribe, the which is reduced to a particular, 1 Chron. 12. 25. making in the whole ſumme 300000. men. In quality, he ſaith the elders of every tribe came to the conference with the King, and to the ſolemnity of his inauguration, that is, the chief men and Princes of every tribe, who had the authority and place of the primogeniture.
The Perſon to who in all theſe do come, is deſpiſed David in time paſt, and now by Gods inſtinct, univerſally honoured, for as God hath the hearts of ſuperiour Perſons at his diſpoſition, ſo hath he the hearts of ſubjects, and inferiours to bow and bend them at his godly pleaſure.
The circumſtance of the occaſion, is of worthy conſideration, wherein as the Rabbins probably affirm: in the firſt place, they confeſſe their errour, they purge themſelves, and extenuate their former diſobedience, craving pardon, and promiſing loyalty in the time coming. In the next, they have an oration to David, the end whereof is to perſuade him to accept the univerſall Kingdome upon him, which they do voluntarily offer. The places of perſuaſion are very proper, and in number three, drawn out of the Law, containing the qualities of a King in Iſrael. 1. We are thy bone and thy fleſh, by which phraſe of ſpeech, the Hebrewes ſignified their conjunction in conſanguinity, Geneſ. 2. 29. Iudg. 9. This is grounded upon the Law. Deut. 17. 15. The ſecond is taken from experience of Davids qualities in that office, and ability to govern proved out of 1 Sam▪ 18. The third is from Gods choice and direction, agreeable likewiſe unto the Law, Deut. 17. 5. That the people ſhould make him their King, whom God ſhould appoint. This ſpeech of theirs, no doubt was uttered by Samuel unto David in Gods name: ſaying, thou ſhalt feed my people, when he anointed him, and the word went with the ſeale, albeit though it be not expreſſed, yet is repeated by David himſelfe, Pſalm. 78. 71.
The ſolemnity of his inauguration was by the conſent of the elders and people there, repreſenting the whole number and body of the Kingdome: a bond is mutually ſworne, wherein David obligeth himſelfe to reigne over them as God commandeth, and as he proteſteth, Pſalm. 101. And the people promiſe to obey his lawfull commandments, ſo that the Law of God no doubt, was the rule and ſquare of his government, whereunto both Prince, and people are ſworne: which was a bridle againſt his abſolute power, or their rebellious manners.
He was anointed according to the received forme, and ſolemnity of the aſperſion of the ſacred oyle of the Tabernacle, confected and conſerved for that uſe, by the hand of the high prieſt, and that before Jehovah, which is diverſly interpreted. Some by mediation of Ʋrim, and Thummim: ſome by oblation of ſacrifice upon the Alter in Hebron builded of old by Abraham. Howſoever, they ſolemnly as in Gods preſence mutually atteſted God, and required him to be witneſs to their covenant: Thus David is thrice anointed: at Bethlehem by Samuell, in Hebron by Judah; and now over all Iſrael in this publick aſſembly, being herein a vive type of Chriſt Jeſus, who is perfectly, and in full meaſure of the Spirit: anointed King, Prieſt, and Prophet of his people, as it were by a threefold unction.
In the end it is ſaid in the Chronologie of his reign, that he was 30. yeares when he began to reigne in Hebron: (being of that ſame age that our Saviour was of, when he took upon him likewiſe his calling) which was a convenient age for Adminiſtration: where otherwiſe God threateneth to give women, and children to reigne in his ire.
But here ariſeth a doubt upon the Chronologie of Davids reigne, in the generall it is ſaid that he reigned 40. yeares, and in the particular it is reckoned that he reigned 7. yeares and 6. moneths in Hebron, and 33. yeares in Jeruſalem. So the queſtion is of the 6. excreſſing, or odde moneths: to which the anſwer is, omitting other conjectures, that this is ſpoken after a cuſtomable forme of Scripture, by a figure called Synecdoche: where the greater number is put to comprehend the leſs; the like being, Judg. 20. 46. and elſe where.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. THe promiſe which God made to David of the kingdome is ſlowly, and after great adverſities now performed: where, as we ſee the nature of God who is true in all his promiſes, and one jo… of whoſe word ſhall not faile: ſo, this particular may be reduced to the generall: That the puniſhments againſt the wicked, and rewards temporall to the Godly are ſlowly executed, and alſo by contrarymindes oftimes; the puniſhment foregoing proſperity, and the rewards preceding adverſity: the reaſon of the one is to draw ſinners to repentance, or to make them the more inexcuſable in the day of the Lords wrath. Therefore the Scripture giveth to the Lord the Epithite of long ſuffering, and the Apoſtle ſpeaking to the ſame purpoſe ſaith,Pſal. 103. Rom. 15. 5. Rom. 3. 4. Knoweſt thou not that the long ſuffering of God ſhould lead …ee to repentance. And againe, Becauſe of his longanimity by thy obſtinate impenitency thou haſt gathered unto thy ſelfe juſt condemnation againſt the day of wrath. And …he reaſon alſo why the Lord is ſlow to performe his promiſed benifits, and that by the middeſt of adverſity, is, that thereby the faith▪ the hope, and patience of the Godly may be tryed, and by probation they may be made worthy: upon whom it may pleaſe him to ſhew his mercy and beſtow his gracious benefits: as the Apoſtle Paul, Rom. 5. 3. And S. James affirmeth, Chap. 1. …. Of the one we have examples of the delay of Gods puniſhment, before the deluge: Sodom's deſtruction, the ſuffering of Pharaobs tiranny, of Sauls impiety, Judah and Iſrael with their wicked Kings, before their captivity, of bloody Jeruſalem, and this day of Mahomet, the Pope, and others. Of the …, we have the ſlowneſs of the performing that promiſe made to Abraham of the holy Land, of his ſeed in whom all Nations ſhould be bleſſed, and multiplying thereof. Of the whole poſſeſſion of that land made to Iſrael in the deſert, deferred till the reigne of David, of the reducing of the people out of Babylon after 70 yeares; Davids inauguration here, and as in our owne daies is commonly found in the experience of the eſtate of many good men and Princes.
2. In the example of David patiently abiding the Lords leaſure, and in adverſity neither doubting, nor grudging, neither uſing any unlawfull means; we have the generall rule of the behaviour, that the Godly ſhould learne when they find themſelves in the like condition, in good cauſes which God hath promiſed to bleſs, and in following of the ſame; albeit the promiſe be ſlowly performed, and the middes be troubleſome: let them not think that God hath not a care over them, neither grudg, as do impatient men, neither doubt as do the weak in faith, neither uſe unlawfull ſeconds as do the worldlings, neither deſpaire as do the reprobate: but following the examples of David, Abraham, Moſes, Joſhua, Daniel, the Apoſtles, and ſuch: aſſure themſelves upon the concluſion of Chriſt, that heaven and earth ſhall periſh, but one jot of Gods promiſe ſhall not alter: and remember what Paul ſaith, Rom. 8. 39. That nothing whatſoever is able to ſeparate Gods choſen Children from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus: and that all things in the end ſhall work together for their good who love him.
3. Verſ. 1. The whole people are moved by Gods inſtinction to offer their voluntary obedience to David, and albeit they had the word amongſt them, yet it was not followed, becauſe they wanted the inward perſwader, till now, who is the holy Ghoſt: ſo that the kingdome of David riſeth not by violence and compulſion, but by the inward perſwaſion of the holy Spirit: whereupon we inferre in the generall literally, and then miſtically: that the hearts of ſubjects to temporall princes are in the Lords hands to harden, or mollifie them: as he thinketh expedient, to ſhew in them his favour, or his wrath to their ſuperiours: and therefore if they will have obedience of their ſubjects, let them ſubject their ſcepters to the obedience of God; for he will honour them, that honourt him: and they that deſpiſe him ſhall be deſpiſed: and therefore as the tiranny of theſe in authority is Gods puniſhment for the ſinnes of inferiours, ſo the rebellion of inferiours is a token of Gods ire againſt their Magiſtrates.
4. As this is true in Davids temporall, ſo it is true in Chriſts ſpirituall kingdome: for it is not the externall hearing that moveth the heart: albeit that thereby the incredulous be made inexcuſable: but it is the inward operation of the Holy Ghoſt which inwardly perſwadeth, and draweth the heart as the Loadſtone doth the iron, to the obedience of the Lords Word, and ſo erecteth the kingdome of Chriſt into the ſoule of man. No marvell then, that the greateſt part of the world remaine in infidelity and wickedneſs: albeit Gods Word plentifully ſounds in their eares: becauſe as a ſound only, there it evaniſheth. And as a feeling power deſcendeth not in the heart to take root downewards, and bring forth fruit upwards, as Chriſt therefore ſpoke of his body, Iohn. 6. 63. So, it is the ſpirit which quickneth the Word, without the ſame, profiteth nothing.
5. In this occaſion, and election, or inauguration of David, we inferre the generall rule of electing of Magiſtrates, as well in regard of his qualities and forme of election: as of the end wherefore he is to be elected. As for his qualities. 1. He muſt not be a ſtranger in birth, much leſs in religion: but muſt be of a conjunction naturall and ſpirituall, with them whom he governeth; otherwiſe there can be no ſympathy nor ſymbolizing between …hem. 2. He muſt be able to governe: which is called here, to leade out and in. Next, the forme of his election ſhould be by common and voluntary conſent, according to the conſtitution of the ſtate and oath or obligation of right adminiſtration; the rule whereof ſhould be the Law of God, and poſitive conſtitutions of the realme. And laſt the end ſhould be to feed the people, caring that they be ſpiritually fed in the food of life: and temporally, that they be not ſpoiled or bereft of their meanes of the life corporall, to be their guider, protector, father, patron, and to have a regard to all their neceſſities as the good paſtour hath to his ſheep, and the Father to his family.
6. By all this hiſtory it is evident that he is rather compelled and urged by the people to reigne over them, then they are urged by him to give unto him the government, for he ſaw that it was not ſo much honos as onus, teaching hereby all thoſe who are to undertake any function in Church or Commonwealth, not to runne before they be ſent; nor to thruſt themſelves in at the window, till they be lawfully let in at the doore: and as they have the inward, and effective calling of God fiting them for the work; ſo to expect the outward and declarative calling of man ſuiting them to the work. The Lord will therefore give wiſdome and skill to Bezaleel, and Aholiab, but Moſes muſt call them.
7. Verſ. 3. The covenant of mutuall obſervance of duty, which they make, it is before the Lord, who did heare not only the words of their league: but did ſee the ſincerity of their hearts therein; and whom they acknowledged not only as a ſolemne witneſs to beare record, but as a juſt judge, and ſevere revenger of the breach. So before this ſame Lord, we ought to conſider, that both we, and our ſecreteſt actions, yea the very thoughts of our hearts are patent: and as in his preſence, (whoſe al-ſeeing eye beholdeth all things) watchfully we ought to walk, fearing to ſpeak or do, either wickedly or hypocritically, ſeeing as Eliſha ſaid to Gehezi, his heart goeth ever with us, and he will make no other, but our own wickedneſs to find us out.
8. Verſ. 4. In the Chronology of Davids life, and reigne, as we ſee that the people get a great benefit from God, in having a Prince given them of ripe age, experience, and ability to governe, being 30 yeare old when he began to reigne: (where women, and Children are given in Gods wrath) ſo on the other part we ſee alſo, that long life and a proſperous government in a Princes perſon is a great bleſſing likewiſe: and old age (as Salomon ſaith) is a Crowne of Glory, when it is found in the way of righteouſneſs, therefore honour thy Father and Mother (ſaith the Lord) that thy daies may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God hath given thee: the long life is a reward, and the contrary, as a puniſhment is denounced againſt the houſe of Eli, 1 Sam. 2. 32.