The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 45
II. SAM. Chap. 20. from the 1. Verſe to the end.
IN this Chapter, we have theſe foure things. 1. The rebellion of Sheba, and defection of Iſrael of a new. 2. The Action of David, after his returne to his houſe, and ſhutting up his concubines, that had been defiled by Abſolom, till the day of their death, verſ. 3. 3. Davids imployment of Amaſa, to aſſemble all Judah together, for the purſuit of Sheba, and his followers: and Joabs treacherous killing of him, from the third verſ. to the 14. 4. Joabs purſuit of Sheba, and his beſieging of the City Abell, where he had fortified himſelfe, and by perſwaſion of a wiſe woman therein, is Sheba's tragicall end, and Joab's removall from the City in peace. Whereunto is ſubjoyned, a rehearſall of Davids chiefe officers, and prime men, both in Church and Commonwealth.
Firſt then, in the rebellion of Sheba, we have his deſcription. 1. From his name. 2. From his nature, a man of Belial, or a wicked man. 3. From his progeny, the ſonne of Bichrj a Benjamite. 4. From his Action, he blew a trumpet, for aſſembling the men of Iſrael unto him. 5. From his ſeditious ſpeech unto them, the like whereof was that of Jeroboam, 1 King. 12. 16. Diſclaiming now that they had any part in David, who before were claiming ten parts in him. And 2. Proclaiming liberty to them from royall government, by bidding them go to their tents, and houſes; that leaving David, whom contemptuouſly he calls the ſonne of Jeſs, they might think of another ſort of government. The event of which ſpeech is ſet down, verſ. 2. To wit, the defection of the men of Iſrael, from David, and their following of Sheba, but that all Judah conſtantly did cleave to their King.
The ſecond Action is Davids ſequeſtration, and ſhutting up his concubines whom Abſolom had defiled, immediatly after his returne to Jeruſalem.
The third Action is Davids imployment of Amaſa, (whom he had newly placed in Joabs roome) within three daies to aſſemble to him the men of Judah, who tarrying longer then the time appointed, and David thinking delay in ſuch purpoſes to be dangerous: ſo that Sheba if he were not ſpeedily purſued, might do more evill then Abſolom lately had done, therefore he imployes Abiſhaj to take his ſervants, and purſue after him, who when they were at the great ſtone in G…beon, Amaſa meets them, and goes before them, whom when Joab (who was with Abiſhaj in company) ſees, he kindly firſt ſalutes him calling him Brother, and askes of his welfare, but taking him by the beard with his right hand to kiſs him: as the manner of the Jews was agreeable to our joyning of hands, with his left hand, he treacherouſly kills him, with his ſword, which he had ſo cunningly girded unto him, that it might eaſily fall out of the ſcabbard, when he did ſtoop to embrace Amaſa, and ſo he might have occaſion to hold it in his left hand, after he had taken it up, without any occaſion of ſuſſpition to Amaſa: who being dead, then Joab and Abiſhaj his brother purſue after Sheba, which purſuit being retarded by the peoples ſtanding ſtill, as they came by gazing on Amaſa, who was lying wallowing in his blood, in the midſt of the high way, one of Joabs men who ſtood by him. 1. Proclaimed that all who favoured Joab, and were for David, ſhould follow after Joab. And 2. That the ſight of Amaſa, ſhould no more impeade them, he removed Amaſa out of the high way into the field, and caſt a cloth upon him, ſo that thereafter all the people followed Ioab: who alſo went through all the tribes of Iſrael, and gathered the people, till they came to Abel of Bethmacaachah, whither Sheba had gone, as David had ſuſpected he would, verſ. 6. To fortify himſelfe or eſcape, which City therefore Ioab did beſiege, and as the cuſtome was for battering the ſame, he did caſt up a bank againſt the ſame, to throw it down. Whereupon a wiſe woman of the City, calleth unto Ioab, and diſſwades him from deſtroying of the City by foure arguments. The firſt whereof is taken from military diſcipline, according to the law of Moſes: whereby it was appointed, that firſt conditions of peace, ſhould be offered to any City, which if the ſame were accepted, the matter was ſo ended, and no invaſion uſed. 2. She argues from the diſpoſition of the inhabitants of the City, who were peaceably diſpoſed as her ſelfe was, and not rebellious. 3. She reaſons from the dignity of the City, that it was a mother in Iſrael, that had bred and brought forth many inhabitants and Children. And 4. From the duty of Ioab, as a Godly Commander, and Lieutenant to a Godly King which was, not to ſwallow up the inheritance of the Lord, but rather by the right uſe of the ſword committed to him, to defend and maintaine the ſame. By which arguments, Ioab diſclaiming any ſuch cruelty or wickedneſs, ſheweth unto her, that he was come only againſt a rebell Sheba, whom if the City would deliver to him, he would ſpare the ſame. Whereupon ſhe capitulates with him, in name of the City, that Sheba's head ſhould be throwne over the wall unto him. Which being done by the people of the City, through the wiſe perſwaſion of this woman, Ioab ſounds a retreat from the City, every man to his tent, and Ioab returned to Jeruſalem to the King, who having all things now ſetled in a peaceable condition, appoints under officers, and rulers in his Court and Kingdome for the better government of all matters, both in Church and Commonwealth.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. DAvids ſtill finds new troubles to ariſe, after a rebellious ſonne, now a rebellious ſubject, a verifying of the truth of that enmity, which ſhall ever be between the ſeed of the woman, & the ſeed of the Serpent, David alſo being herein a type of Chriſt, the ſonne of David, who never did, nor will want enemies to him, even of ſuch as are profeſſed ſonnes and ſubjects, and whereby alſo is ſeen the verity of that, Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
2. Sheba is deſcribed to have been a Benjamite of Sauls kindred, as Shimej likewiſe was, and therefore carrying a lurking hatred againſt David, ſo that to ſeditious, and carnall minded malitious perſons, there wants nothing but a fit occaſion, and opportunity, to vent and make their malice manifeſt.
3. Another cauſe of Sheba's rebellion was his pride, to be the head of a faction, but which in the end, drew him on to his own deſtruction, before which pride ever goes, as before honour goes humility, which ſatanicall vide therefore every one ſhould eſchew, as the mother of much miſchiefe, and the cauſer of great ruine in the end.
4. Sheba a man of Belial, blowes a trumpet of rebellion, no marvell being ſuch a one, and as all ſeditious rebells ought to be accounted, men of Belial. But it is a ſad matter, when thoſe who ſhould be preachers of peace, are trumpets of rebellion, and who ſhould lift up their voyces only as a trumpet to ſhew Gods people their tranſgreſſions, as he ſpeaketh by his Prophet Iſaj. 58. 1. That ſuch ſhould lift up their voyces, as a trumpet, to perſwade to tranſgreſſion.
5. He who lately (with the reſt of Iſrael) claimed ten parts in David as King, diſclaimes and diſownes him now, as having no part in him at all. Thus will hypocriſy detect it ſelfe at laſt; and what lay before under aſhes in Sheba's heart, burſts forth now in flames in his words and actions. And ſo do many hypocrites now diſclaime Chriſt by their deeds: and ſhew, that they have no part in him, who profeſs him in their words, and in their tide of Chriſtians: to have the chiefe part in him, and in ſalvation.
6. David before had raiſed his hand againſt a faithfull ſubject Ʋriah, and therefore now a faithleſs ſubject raiſes his hand againſt him, as a man ſinneth ſo oftimes he is puniſhed, and in this alſo as a part is that doome denounced againſt David, for the blood of Ʋriah fulfilled, that the ſword ſhould never depart from his houſe, ſo that one …ot of Gods Word ſhall not fall to the ground, unbeing performed.
7. By way of contempt he calleth David the ſonne of Jeſs, as our Saviour was called a carpenters ſonne. Let not therefore theſe of lower degree, grudge that they ſometimes undergoe the laſh of contemptible words, or think it ſtrange that they ſuffer the ſcourge of the tongue. This being likewiſe to be adverted by thoſe in authority, that diſdainfull and mutinous ſpeeches, ſavouring of miſcontent, are the ſmoke, that goes before the flame of burſting forth in rebellion, and therefore to be heeded.
8. Sheba after diſowning of Davids government over them, bids Iſraell go to their tents to live as it were at liberty, as it is ſaid in the book of the Judges, that there was no King in Iſraell in thoſe daies, and therefore every one did as he thought good. Where we ſee the ordinary practiſe of the Authors of ſedition… is, to proclaime, and pretend the liberty of a people, from a juſt and loyall ſubjection, while as they intend to bring them under the yoke of unjuſt uſurpation.
9. Verſ. 2. All Iſraell revolts from David, and followes Sheba, as nothing then is more unſtable then a multitude, who upon every light occaſion, or irritation, are ready to affect a change: and withdraw their necks from under the yoke of preſent authority: ſo there is no levity, nor love, that can be ſecurity enough for Princes; (ſuch as David ſhew lately to this people after his victory) without the awfulneſs of power, and the feare of juſtice.
10. As Bees when they are once up in a ſwarme, are ready to light upon every bough: ſo the Iſraelites being ſtirred up by the late rebellion of Abſolom, are apt here alſo to follow a Sheba, eſpecially (as is ſaid) finding nothing but clemency, and Davids paſſing by their former revolt. It is dangerous therefore for any ſtate, that the multitude ſhould once know the way to inſurrection, the leaſt tract whereof in this kind, being eaſily made a beaten path, without timely curbing, and reſiſting beginnings.
11. Though Iſraell rebell, yet Judah continues loyall. The Godly then in their greateſt diſtreſſes or deſertions, ſhall never want ſome friends, as were Obadiah and Ebedmelech, neither ſhall the ſonne of David ever be left deſtitute, of ſome true ſubjects, in the time of greateſt Apoſtaſies, like 7000. in Iſraell, that had not bowed to Baal, and the two witneſſes in the Revelation, with the few that followed the lamb, ſuch alſo as was Athanaſius, and a few lurking perſecuted Orthodox Chriſtians, in the time of prevailing Arrianiſme: and thoſe in the time of prevailing Popery, who were to be found in the midſt of My…ticall Babylon in ſelfe, before the time of their evocation, and coming out of the ſame, and wiſhing for the truth.
12. Verſ. 3. David before he took courſe for ſuppreſſing Sheba, beginneth a reformation in his own houſe by ſhutting up, and ſequeſtrating from his company thereafter, thoſe his concubines, whom Abſolom had de…iled. The like of this did Jacob, Gen. 35. when he was commanded by God to ariſe and go to Bethel, in cauſing his houſhold to out away the ſtrange gods, that were amongſt them: leaving hereby a Godly and good example to all men, Princes and paſtours who would reforme others, to beginne the reformation of abuſes, at their own perſons and families.
13. Verſ. 4. Amaſa being reconciled to David, is imployed by him to aſſemble all Judah for the purſuit of Sheba. It is no ſmall wiſdome then to make a friend of a foe, and to ingage ſuch a one, who is newly reconciled, wherein he may be confirmed, by his own act.
14. Joab having now Amaſa, imployed by David, and ſet in his roome: he ſmarts for a loyall diſobedience in killing of Abſolom, and for his too peremptory and bold ſpeech thereafter, which he had to the King, although had been a man of great meriting before, and many atcheivments. Whereby we ſee how ſlipry are Princes Courts, how changeable is their favour, and how unſtable are places of preferment, as we ſee in Phara…h, who knew not Joſeph, in Ahaſuerus favour towards Haman, and Davids here towards his couſing Joab. O happy then are they who are in favour with God, whoſe love is Immutable and conſtant, Joh. 15. 1. And in whom there is no ſhaddow of change.
15. Amaſa is directed to aſſemble all Judah to David in three dayes. Which ſhewes that in ſuppreſſing of ſudden inſurrections there is need of ſpeed, and the leaſt delay in rebellion is dangerous, and may prove irrecoverable.
16. Verſ. 9. How friendly doth Joab ſalute Amaſa with his tongue▪ how kindly kiſſes he him with his lippes, but how cruelly killes he him with his hand, as he had done to Abner before. Whereby we ſee, that there is no enmity ſo dangerous, as that which comes like Jails to Sicera, Jud…s to Chriſt, and Joabs here to Amaſa, masked with love, for open hoſtility calls us to our guard, but there is no fence againſt a truſted treachery. Thus ſoiritually dealeth the world with our ſoules, it kiſſes us, and ſtabbs us at once, if it did not embrace us with one hand, it could not murther us with the other, the evill of whoſe temptation, like Joab his ſword we advert not, more then Amaſa took heed to Joabs ſword, God deliver us therefore from our truſt therein, and we ſhall be the ſafer from the danger thereof.
17. The cauſe of this treacherous murther in Joab, was his pride, not enduring that any ſhould be put in his roome, and his envy at Amaſa's preferment (though ſo neer in kinne unto him.) Which ſhewes unto us, what dangerous, and damnable vices pride and envy are: and what bad fruits the ſame doth produce, as we ſee they did before, in the murther of Abner. And as pride doth here in burſting all bands to God, King, Country, and kindred.
18. Amaſa likewiſe now being in peace and preſerment, and expecting no harm, receives that reward which he ſhould have received in warre, when he was following Abſolom and leader of his Army. God then the righteous judge of the world, we ſee, has his own times of puniſhing, though magiſtrates forbeare. And God is juſt in all his waies, though man be unjuſt. Neither let any who ſinne, and are on evill courſes, dreame of impunity, but that at one time or other, they ſhall ſmart for their guiltineſs: and oftimes when they leaſt ſuſpect danger.
19. Amaſa is innocent of the crime, of ſeeking Joabs place, for which he is murthered by him, yet he is guilty before God, for his ſiding with Abſolom. Whereupon we collect, that oftimes men ſuffer innocently for ſome crimes that are laid to their charge: and in reſpect of the perſons who are their purſuers, yet in Gods judgment they are juſtly puniſhed for other ſins, wherein either they have been ſpared, or elſe has not been noted to the world; & as many at the hour of their death, & execution, publickely have acknowledged. With ſhould teach all men to flie ſinne, though never ſo ſecretly committed, or by men paſt by, and where impiety is, not to expect impunity at one time, or other.
20. Verſ. 10. It is ſaid; That Amaſa took no heed to the ſword that was in Joabs hand, wherewith he killed him, and ſo foreſaw not his danger, which ſhewes, that God blinds the eyes of the wiſeſt, and benum's their judgments, when he is to cut the pillars of their ſtanding, and the thred of their lives, according to the proverb, hos dementat quos Jupiter vult perdere.
21. Joab was not puniſhed by David, for the like muthering of Abner, as he did now of Amaſa, therefore he committeth this new offence, and pollutes the Land with blood again, the guiltineſſe whereof for this toleration did lie upon the royall throne, which ſhould teach all Magiſtrates, to uſe the ſword aright which God hath put in their hands impartially, and without reſpect of perſons, otherwiſe what further ſinne is committed by their impunity of the former, they become guilty thereof, and may expect divine puniſhment for the ſame.
22. After the death of Amaſa, Joab with Abiſhai perſue after Sheba a traitour to his King, while as himſelf is a traitour to his friend, a publicke perſon, imployed by his King in a publicke ſervice, in the very execution thereof, and who was both innocent, expecting no ſuch thing, and couſen german with Joab, whereby we ſee how ready ſome are to cenſure, condemne, and puniſh that in another, whereof themſelves are guilty, as we ſee Gen. 38. In Judah, and that no bands of nature can ty to duties where grace is wanting.
23. Verſ. 12. The people paſſing by when they ſaw Amaſa lying in the high way killed, they ſtood ſtill. Which ſhewes us that the death of great men draw many eyes upon it, and many cenſures of it, whether they be in Church, or Commonwealth, therefore their life ſhould be ſo ordered, as their death may juſtly be bemoaned, as Samuell was, 1 Sam. 25. 1.
24. Joabs man ſeeing this, removes Amaſa out of the high way and covers him, not regarding ſo much the loſſe as the eyeſore of Iſraell. Thus wicked politicians care not ſo much for the committing of wickedneſſe, as the notice thereof, therefore if murthers, oppreſſions, thefts whoredomes be ſmothered, and hid from the knowledge of men, their Atheiſt, blind and obdured hearts care not for the omniſcient knowledge of the Almighty, who has power both of ſoul & body to caſt into Hell fire, whence it is ſaid by the Pſalmiſt, The fool hath ſaid in his heart, that there is no God.
25. Amaſa being thus removed out of the way, the people follow bloody Joab in perſuit of rebellious Sheba, Verſ. 13. Their leader being wicked and evill, but the cauſe which they chiefly followed being good. It is to the cauſe then, which we ought to look, and not cenſure the cauſe, or judge thereof by perſons, or their perſonall faults, who maintain the ſame, but ſeparating the precious from the vile, and diſtinguiſhing between the one and the other. Let us adhear to the cauſe, or to that which is good, whether Doctrine, forme of government, or other, and leave the perſons for their faults to God, and them who has power to puniſh them.
26. Verſ. 15. Sheba being perſued betakes himſelf, to Abell a fenced City as David had ſaid, Verſ. 6. To eſcape taking, which notwithſtanding of intended ſafety did prove his ruin, God ſo diſappointing the projects and practiſes of wicked men, that he makes their glory to turn to their ſhame, and turneth their wiſdome like Achitophells into folly, and that wherein they place their confidence and ſafety, to tend to their deſtruction. O happy then is he who is directed by God, who puts his whole confidence onelyonly in him, and makes him to be onelyonly his ſunne and his ſhield, Pſal. 84. 11.
27. Verſ. 16. For preſervation of the City, onelyonly a wiſe Woman appears and parlies with Joab. Whereby we obſerve that God uſeth weak inſtruments oftimes to effectuate great purpoſes, that the glory may be his own, and the good redound to others, as we ſee in Deborah, Jaill, Judith, this wiſe Woman here and many others: and that Gods graces, as wiſdome and the like, are not tyed to any one ſex, but are free to all on whom it pleaſes the Lord to beſtow the ſame.
28. Verſ. 18. She convinceth Joab, firſt by authority of Scripture, Deut. 20. 10. That peace ſhould be offered to any City firſt, before the invaſion thereof. Whereby we ſee, that even then Gods people were accuſtomed with Scripture, and the knowledge thereof, againſt the Popiſh prohibition of Laiks, to read the ſame, and which 2 Tim. 3. 15. Sheweth to be injurious, as alſo that Scripture ſhould be the warrant and rule of all our actions, from which whatſoever diſagreeth ſhould be eſchewed, and whatſoever agreeth with the ſame in matters intellectuall, or in matters morall and practicall, ſhould be followed, and obeyed. And as this was the Law of God, and his rule preſcribed to others; ſo is it his owne gracious practiſe towards all rebellious ſinners: he firſt offers peace and reconciliation to them by the Miniſtry of his Goſpell, in treating and beſeeching them to be reconciled to him, before ever he take any other courſe of puniſhing, or chaſtiſeing them. Where alſo we ſee what ſhould be the ſcope and end of warre, towit, peace, and procurement thereof, which if it have any other end, it turn's to publicke murther.
29. Verſ. 19. She ſhewes in her own perſon to Ioab, what was the diſpoſition of all her fellow Citizens, towit, that they were peaceable, and faithfull, or loyall, two good properties, and vertues in Citizens, and in all other ſubjects, and contrary to the diſpoſition of ſeditions, unquiet and firy ſpirited perſons, who like Salamanders delight in the fire, and flame of contention, and love ever (as we ſay, to fiſh in drumly, or muddy waters.
30. She alſo calles the City of Abell a mother in Iſraell, becauſe of the birth and breeding of the inhabitants therein, by analogy whereof all Citizens, and others are taught what duty they owe to their native Cities, and country and compatriots: for the which Moſes and Paul were ſo zealous, and for the good whereof the very heathen feared not to yield up their lives.
31. She deſires alſo, Ioab not to devoure, or ſwallow up by the ſword the Lords inheritance, it being a City of that holy Land, which the Lord ſo owned. Whereupon we note in generall the right uſe of the ſword to be as Paul deſcribes it, Rom. 13. To defend the innocent, and to puniſh onelyonly the nocent; and not to do the contrary, which ſhould be an admonition to all Magiſtrates, and thoſe who have power of the ſword.
32. Verſ. 20. Ioab in great vehemency he deprecates that imputation of any intention he had to deſtroy, or waſte that City, though having harbored a traitour, providing he onelyonly were delivered, a worthy and imitable example of a wiſe and valorous generall, as Abraham ſaid, Gen. 18. 23. Concerning the Lord; That he would not deſtroy the righteous with the wicked. How fearfull then is their condition, and what ſhall be their anſwer in the day of their account. Who upon the quarrell onelyonly of their own ambition, have not ſpared to waſte whole tribes of the Iſraell of God, and as may be ſeen in the bloody warres of Nation againſt Nation at this very day.
33. Verſ. 22. According to this wiſe Womans capitulation, and concluſion with Ioab, Sheba's head is cut off, and caſt over the wall unto him, and that moſt juſtly loſes he his head and life, who had conſpired againſt the head of his people, and to take his life from him, and no leſſe wiſely by the perſwaſion of this wiſe Woman, does the inhabitants of this City ſave their own heads by delivering of his head to Ioab. Thus does Sheba's pride and rebellion bring him in the end, & in the very place where he placed his ſecurity, to a violent and a ſhamefull end, the ſame or the like whereof may all ſuch Sheba's expect, who riſe up and rebell againſt lawfull and eſtabliſhed authority. Spiritually alſo the caſe is ours, every mans breaſt is a City incloſed, every ſinne is a traitour that lurks within theſe walls, God calls to us for Sheba's hed, to caſt it out (as Jon…s was in the Sea) and to kill the rebell by mortification, he having no quarrel to our perſon, but for our ſinne, if we be wiſe then, we will hearken to this his deſires, if we love the life of our own ſouls, and then, we cannot be more willing to part with our ſinne, then our mercyfull God is to withdraw his judgments, elſe if we love the head of his traitour better nor the life of our own ſoul, we ſhall juſtly periſh for ever.
34. Then Joab returnes with Victory, and hopes by Sheba's head to pay the price of Amaſa's blood, David hates the murther, entertaines the man, delayes the revenge, Ioab was ſo great and popular, that it was no marvell that David ſayes; The Sonnes of Zerviah are to hard for me, and that it was not ſo eaſy, or ſafe to puniſh him. Greateſt powers then we ſee have not all contentments, but at ſometimes and in ſome things, (as we ſay) muſt have patience perforce, and muſt connive at that which otherwiſe they a…horre.
35. Verſ. 23. David now being ſetled in peace, takes care of the right adminiſtration, of all the affaires of his Kingdome, and therefore appoints ſeverall perſons both in Church, and ſtate, military & civill, for their ſeverall offices. A worthy & commendable example to all Kings, and ſupreame Magiſtrates, in time of peace not to give themſelves onelyonly to their pleaſures, carnall delight, or caſe, but to appoint fit and worthy men to governe under them, and themſelves to have the ſupreame, and ſpeciall care of right adminiſtration.