for David d He that wisheth David good success against Sheba and against all Rebels Whereby he implies that though this Fact of his was done against the Kings Command yet it was for his Interest and Defence let him go after Joab 12 And Amasa wallowed e Heb. rolled himself being in the Pangs of Death yet having so much Life left as to move himself a little though not to raise himself up from his place in blood f In his own blood which was shed there in the midst of the high-way and when the man saw that all the people g To wit the Soldiers which were upon their March stood still h Wondering at the Spectacle and enquiring into the Author and occasion of it he removed Amasa out of the high-way into the field i Perceiving that it both incensed them against Ioab and hindred the Kings present Service and cast a cloth upon him when he saw that every one that came by him stood still 13 When he was removed out of the high-way all the people went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri ¶ 14 And he k Either 1. Ioab who pursued Sheba through all the Tribes as far as Abel Or rather 2. Sheba who was last mentioned who Marched from Tribe to Tribe to stir them up to Sedition and to him the following words seem best to agree went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel and to Beth-maachah l Or rather to Abel even to Bethmaachah i. e. unto Abel-beth-maachah as this place is called here in the Hebrew text ver 15. and 1 King 15. 20. 2 King 15. 29. to distinguish it from other Abels and to signifie that this was that Abel which was in the Tribe of Napthali in the Northern border of Canaan towards that part of Syria called Maachah 2 Sam. 10. 8. and all the Berites m Such as lived in the City or Territory of Beeroth of Benjamin Iosh. 18. 25. who being of the same Tribe if not City with Sheba and his greatest Acquaintance and Friends or being most Implacable against David adhered to Sheba and followed him through all the Tribes of Israel and they n to wit the Tribes of Israel i. e. a considerable Number of them as might well be expected when the discontents were so high and general were gathered together and went also after him o i. e. After Sheba 15 And they p i. e. Ioab and his Army which is easily understood both from the foregoing and following Verses came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah and they cast up a bank against the city q From whence they might either batter the Wall or shoot at those who defended it against them who should Assault it See 2 King 19. 32. Ier. 32. 24. and 33. 4. Otherwise they threw down the bank of the City which they had raised up to Defend the City on the weakest side and ‖ Or it stood against the outmost Wall it stood in the trench r i. e. The Bank stood in or near to the Trench or the Wall of the City so that the City was in great danger of being taken Otherwise the City stood within the Trench or Wall being Defended onely by a single Trench or a weak Wall the Bank which was raised up there to Defend it being thrown down and all the people that were with Joab †battered the wall to throw it down ‡ Heb. marred to throw down 16 ¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the city Hear Hear say I pray you unto Joab Come near hither that I may speak with thee 17 And when he was come near unto her the woman said Art thou Joab And he answered I am he Then she said unto him Hear the words of thine handmaid And he answered I do hear 18 Then she spake saying ‖ Or They plainly speak in the beginning saying Surely they will ask of Abel and so make an end They were wont to speak in old time saying They shall surely ask counsel at Abel and so they ended the matters s According to this Translation the sence is This City which thou art about to Destroy is no mean and contemptible one but so honourable and considerable for its Wisdom and the Wise People in it that when any differences did arise among any of the Neighbours they used Proverbially to say We will ask the Opinion and Advice of the Men of Abel about it and we will stand to their Arbitration and so all parties were satisfied and Disputes ended But there is another Translation in the Margent embraced also by some others which seems to be the best They i. e. The Citizens of this City plainly or commonly spake among themselves in the beginning to wit when Sheba and his Men first came into the City and they were informed That Ioab was pursuing him saying Surely they will ask of Abel and so make an end i. e. They will peaceably Expostulate the business with us and enquire Why we received Sheba into our City and whether we would deliver him up into their hands and would inform us of the reason of their Hostile Attempt upon us and offer to us Conditions of Peace which by Gods Law Deut. 20. 10. they were to do even to strange and much more to Israelitish Cities So she doth both modestly reprove Ioab for the neglect of his Duty and oblige him to the Performance of it 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel t Or I to wit the City of Abel in whose Name and Person she speaks this am one of the peaceable and faithful Cities of Israel Whatsoever Sheba may design whom we have innocently received into our City before we well understood the matter We of this City abhor the thoughts of Warring and Rebelling against the King as having had no hand in Absalom's late Rebellion which is probable enough considering both their Scituation in the utmost Borders of the Land very remote from the Seat of that Civil War and their open Profession of their Peaceableness and Fidelity or Loyalty to the King which had been Impudent if they had been so lately Involved in the last War and Rebellion thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother u i e. A Mother City for great Cities are commonly called Mothers as lesser Towns or Villages subject to them and depending upon them for Direction and Defence are called their Daughters as Ezek. 16. 27 46. in Israel why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD x i. e. A considerable part of that Land which God hath chosen for his peculiar Possession The Destruction which thou art about to bring upon us is an injury also to Israel and to the God of Israel 20 And Joab answered and said Far be it far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy 21 The matter is not
beards e Partly that he might compel them to bear a part in their mourning and that in such a way as was usual with them but forbidden to the Israelites Levit. 19. 27. Deut. 14. 1. which probably was not unknown to them and partly to fasten this as a reproach upon them and to make them ridiculous and contemptible Compare Isa. 20. 4. and 47. 2. and 50. 6. and cut off their garments in the middle even to their buttocks f This was worse than the former because the Israelites wore no Breeches and so their nakedness was hereby uncovered Compare Isa. 20. 4. and sent them away 5 ¶ When they told it unto David He sent to meet them g He sent them Clothes and other necessaries because the men were greatly ashamed and the king said Tarry at Jericho h Both because this was one of the first places which they came to in Canaan and because it was now a very obscure Village and therefore fittest for them in their circumstances for it was not built as a City till after this time 1 King 16. 34. until your beards be grown i For the want or loss of Beards was esteemed a reproach among the Israelites and then return 6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob k Near Hamath Numb 13. 21. and the Syrians of Zoba l Of which see 1 Sam. 14. 47. and 2 Sam. 8. 3. twenty thousand footmen and of king Maacah m i. e. Of that part of Syria which was under King Maachah for Syria was a large Country and there were divers Kings in the several parts of it This part was near Gilead See Deut. 3. 14. a thousand men and of Ishtob n Or of the men of Tob the Country where Iepthah dwelt Iudg. 11. 3. Besides these they hired others out of Aram Naharaim or Mesopotamia as appears from 1 Chron. 19. 6. and Psal. 60. title And all these were forward enough to Combine against David both to revenge their former losses and reproaches and to give check to his growing greatness twelve thousand men 7 And when David heard of it he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men o Chusing wisely to carry the War into their Country rather than to expect it in their own 8 And the children of Ammon came out and put the battel in aray at the entring in of the gate p To wit of Medeba as it is expressed 1 Chron. 19. 7. which was a frontier City See Numb 21. 30. This place they chose for the Fight that they might both defend that City and their Country whereof that was the entrance and if need were might retreat into it and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob and Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the field q That by their numerous Forces they might fall upon the Israelites on the other side 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battel was against him before and behind he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in aray against the Syrians r Which were the most valiant and expert Soldiers 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother that he might put them in aray against the children of Ammon 11 And he said If the Syrians be too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will come and help thee 12 Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people s For the preservation of our selves and all our Brethren from that utter ruin which our Enemies design for us Our War is not vainly undertaken to enlarge our Empire or Glory but for our own just and necessary defence and therefore we may hope for Gods Blessing and assistance it it and for the cities of our God s Which are devoted to his Worship and Service and therefore he will plead their cause against his Enemies and the LORD do that which seemeth him good t Let us do our parts and quietly refer our selves and the event to Gods good pleasure which we have no reason to distrust 13 And Joab drew nigh and the people that were with him unto the battel against the Syrians u He prudently falls upon them first because they were but mercenaries and not concerned so much in the Success as the Ammonites were all whose interest lay at stake and therefore not likely to venture too far in their defence and they fled before him 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled x In whose numbers and prowess they had the most confidence then fled they also before Abishai and entred into the city so Joab returned from the children of Ammon y Not judging it convenient or safe to pursue them because the Forces were not utterly ruined but onely dispersed and put to flight and so might easily rally together and came to Jerusalem 15 ¶ And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel they gathered themselves together z Partly to wipe out the stain of Cowardize which they had now contracted partly to prevent that vengeance which they supposed David would execute upon them for their last attempt and partly to shake off the Yoke that David had lately put upon them 16 And Hadarezer a The same with Hadadezer chap. 8. 3. sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river b Who having engaged themselves in the former expedition as was noted before were now obliged to proceed in their own defence being also perswaded and hired to this second Expedition v. 19. and they came to Helam and Shobach c Or Shophack 1 Chron. 19. 16. the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them 17 And when it was told David he gathered all Israel d i. e. The Chosen and Valiant Men pickt out of all Israel together and passed over Jordan and came to Helam and the Syrians set themselves in aray against David and fought with him 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots e Heb. seven hundred chariots i. e. The Men belonging to them that Fought in or with them as plainly appears 1. Because the Men onely and not the Chariots were capable of being killed as these are said to have been 2. Because it is thus explained in the Book of Chronicles which was written after this Book for this end to Explain what was dark or doubtful and to supply what was omitted here where instead of these Words are seven thousand men which Fought in Chariots 1 Chron. 19. 18. And this is a very common Metonymy of which See above Chap. 8. 4. and the Notes on 1 Sam. 13. 5. Although there might be
give him cause of further suspition Yet such might be the Questions though not here particularly mentioned concerning those Heads as every private person might not be acquainted with nor able to resolve but such onely as were acquainted with the Counsel of War 8 And David said to Uriah Go down to thy house q Not doubting but he would there Converse with his Wife and so cover their Sin and Shame and wash thy feet r As Travellers there used to do And Uriah departed out of the kings house and there ‡ Heb. went out after him followed him a mess of meat from the king s Seemingly as a Testimony of David's respect and Affection to him but really to cheer up his Spirits and dispose him to desire his Wives company 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the kings house with all the servants of his lord t With the King's Guard This he did either upon some suspition of the matter See v. 7. Or by the secret direction of Gods wise and irresistible Providence who would bring David's Sin to light and went not down to his house 10 And when they had told * Whether of their own accord or being first asked by David it doth not appear David saying Uriah went not down unto his house David said unto Uriah Camest thou not from thy journey u Wearied with hard service and Travel and therefore didst need refreshment nor did I expect or desire that thou shouldest now attend upon my Person or keep the Watch. why then didst thou not go down unto thine house 11 And Uriah said unto David The ark x Which it seems was now carried with them for their encouragement and direction as was usual See Numb 10. 35. 1 Sam. 4. 4. and Israel and Judah abide in tents and * Chap. 20. 6. my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields y To wit in Tents which are in the Fields shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife z He might possibly add these words to insinuate his apprehension of the King's Design and to awaken his Conscience to the consideration of his Sin and of the Injury which he had done him His meaning is Now when God's People are in a doubtful and dangerous Condition it becomes me to Sympathize with them and to abstain even from lawful Delights Whereby he might possibly intimate how unworthy it was for David in such a season to indulge himself in sinful and injurious Pleasures But David's Ear was now Deaf his Heart being hardned through the deceitfulness of Sin As thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 12 And David said to Uriah Tarry here to day also and to morrow I will let thee depart So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow 13 And when David had called him ▪ i. e. Being invited by David he did eat and drink before him and he made him drunk a Or he made him merry as the Word oft signifies He caused him to Drink more than was convenient and at even he went out to lie on his bed b Which it doth not appear that he did the Night before but now his Excess in Eating and Drinking might make it more necessary for him with the servants of his lord c i. e. In some Chamber in the King's Court where the Kings Servants used to take their Repose but went not down to his house 14 And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah 15 And he wrote in the letter saying Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the ‡ Heb. strong hottest battel and retire ye ‡ Heb. from after him from him that he may be smitten and die d So far is David from Repenting upon these just and great Occasions that he seeks to cover one Sin with another and to hide his Adultery with Murder even the Murder of a most Excellent Person and that in a most Malicious and Perfidious manner 16 And it came to pass when Joab observed the city that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were e Placed there to defend it because that part of the City was supposed either the weakest or the place designed for the Assault Ioab having formerly committed a base Murder upon Abner was ready to execute this wicked Command of the King that so he being involved in the same Guilt with him might the more willingly receive him into favour 17 And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab and there fell some of the people of the servants of David and Uriah the Hittite died also 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war 19 And charged the messenger saying When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king 20 And if so be that the kings wrath arise and he say unto thee Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall 21 Who smote * Judg. 9. 53 Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth ▪ Called also Ierubbaal Iudg. 9. 1. See the note on 2 Sam. 2. 8. did not a woman cast a piece of a milstone upon him from the wall that he died in Thebez why went ye nigh the wall then say thou Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also f Which he knew would be acceptable news to the King and therefore allay his Wrath. This indeed might make the Messenger suspect that David had an hand in Uriah's Death and possibly Ioab might say so for that very reason that these matters by degrees being known David might be hardned in Sin and so Ioab might have the greater interest in him 22 So the messenger went and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for 23 And the messenger said unto David Surely the men prevailed against us and came out unto us into the field and we were upon them even unto the entring of the gate g We beat them back and pursued them even to the Gate 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants and some of the kings servants be dead and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also 25 Then David said unto the messenger Thus shalt thou say unto Joab Let not this thing ‡ Heb. be 〈◊〉 in thine 〈◊〉 displease thee h Be not dejected or discouraged by this sad occasion for the sword devoureth †one as ‡ Heb. So 〈◊〉 such well as another make thy battel more strong against the city and overthrow it and encourage thou him i i. e. Ioab to proceed in the Siege 26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead she mourned
is dead 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered David perceived that the child was dead therefore David said unto his servants Is the child dead And they said He is dead 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel and came into the house of the LORD n i. e. To the Tabernacle to confess his Sin before the Lord and to own his Justice in this stroke and the other threatnings and to deprecate his great and just displeasure and to acknowledge Gods rich mercy in sparing his own Life and to offer such Sacrifices as were proper and required in such cases Nor did David transgress that Law Numb 19. 14. in going thither before the Seven Days were expired For neither is there the same reason of a Tent and of a dwelling House where the several Rooms of the House are as distinct as several Tents nor is it here said that David was in the same Room or in the same House where the Child died and worshipped then he came to his own house and when he required they set bread before him and he did eat 21 Then said his servants unto him What thing is this that thou hast done thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive but when the child was dead thou didst rise and eat bread 22 And he said While the child was yet alive I fasted and wept * See Isa. 33. 1. Jon. 3. 9. for I said Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live o For God's threatning of the Child's Death might be conditional as that was of Ninevehs Destruction Ionah 3. 4. 23 But now he is dead wherefore should I fast p Seeing Fasting and Prayer cannot now prevail with God for his Life can I bring him back again I shall go to him q Into the state of the Dead in which he is and into Heaven where I doubt not I shall find him but he shall not return to me 24 And David comforted Bath sheba his wife r Who was now much dejected both for her former Sin which she truly Repented of as may be gathered from Prov. 31. 1 2 3 c. and for the loss of that Child which was very dear to her and which might seem to be the onely tie of David's Affection to her which being now dead she might think that David would utterly cast her off and leave her to that Shame and Punishment which she had deserved and went in unto her s To wit into her Chamber or Bed and lay with her and * Matt. 1. 6. she bare a son and * 1 Chron 〈◊〉 9. he called his name Solomon and the LORD loved him t i. e. The Lord declared to David that he loved his Son notwithstanding the just cause which David had given to God to alienate his Affections from him 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet and he called his name ‖ That is beloved of the Lord. Jedidiah because of the LORD u Either because of the Lord's love to him as the Name signifies or because the Lord commanded him to do so 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon and took the royal city x i. e. That part of the City where was the Kings Palace where he ordinarily resided though now it seems he was retired to a strong Fort. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the city of waters y The same Royal City so called because it either stood beside the River or was encompassed with Water both for defence and delight Although the Words are by some Learned Men rendred thus I have taken or intercepted or cut off water from the city Which well agrees both with the words eth being here put for meeth which is frequent as Gen. 4. 1. and 44. 4. Exod. 9. 29 c. and with the Relation of Iosephus the Iew who saith The Conduits of Water were cut off and so the City was taken And with a Relation of Polybius concerning the same Ciry which was taken afterwards by Antiochus in the same manner by cutting off Water from the City 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it z For having taken one part of the City he concluded the remaining part of it could not long stand out lest I take the city and ‡ Heb. my name be called upon it it be called after my name a Lest I have the Honour of taking it Thus he seeks to engratiate himself with the King by pretending great care for his Honour and Interest 29 And David gathered all the people together b Either because Ioab needed more help for the Storming of the City or at least for the Prosecution of the Victory and Execution of Justice upon the whole Land or because he would have them all to partake of the spoil of the City which was there in great abundance v. 30. the rather because they were all exposed to the hazard of utter Ruine in case the Ammonites had prevailed against them and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it 30 * 1 Chron. 20. 2. And he took their kings crown from off his head the weight whereof was a talent of gold c Or rather the price whereof c. For as the Hebrew Shekel signifies both a Weight and a piece of Money of a certain price so also may mishkal as proceeding from the same Root And in general the same Words both in Hebrew Greek and Latine are promiscuously used to signifie either Weight or Price as is well known to the Learned And the addition of pretious stones which are never valued by the Weight of Gold makes this signification here most proper and probable Moreover the Weight might seem too great either for the King of Ammon or for David to wear it upon his Head Although if this were meant of the Weight it might be said that this was not a Crown to be worn ordinarily but meerly to be put on upon the King's Head at his Coronation or upon Solemn occasions as here where this was done in token of the Translation of this Kingdom to David and it may be it was held up or supported by two Officers of State that it might not be too burdensome to him and after a little while taken off with the precious stones and it was set on Davids head and he brought forth the spoil of the city ‡ Heb. very great â—… in great abundance 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein d The words are indefinite and therefore not necessarily to be understood of all the people for it had been Barbarous to use Women and Children thus but of the Men of War and especially of those who had been the
and in all probability be Victorious and then the storm would fall most heavily upon his head as the main Author and Pillar of the Rebellion and the contriver of those two pernicious Counsels above mentioned and died and was buried in the sepulchre of his father 24 Then David came to Mahanaim h A place in the Countrey of Gilead bordering upon the Land of the Ammonites v. 27. See Gen. 32. 2. and 2 Sam. 2. 8. and Absalom passed over Jordan i Not speedily but when all the men of Israel were gathered together according to Hushai's counsel who are said to be with him here as it follows and all the men of Israel with him 25 ¶ And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab which Amasa was a mans son whose name was Ithra an Israelite k Obj. He was an Ishmaelite 1 Chron. 2. 17. Ans. Not Amasa but Ithra or Iether Amasa's Father is there so called because he was such either by his Birth from such Parents or by his long habitation among them or for some other reason now unknown Compare 2 Sam. 15. 18. And Amasa is here called an Israelite either because he was a Proselyte or in opposition to Ioab who was of the Tribe of Iudah as Amasa was of one of the ten Tribes or rather to intimate that although he or his Parents were called Ishmaelites for some reason yet as to their extraction they were indeed Israelites Which if Amasa had not been it is not probable that he could have had so powerful an influence upon the Tribe of Iudah as he had chap. 19. 14. that went in to Abigail l i. e. Lay with her whether being first Married to her or not is uncertain the daughter of Nahash m Nahash is either another name of Iesse or rather the name of Iesse's Wife by whom he had this Abigail as he had Zeruiah by another Wife so they were sisters by the Father but not by the Mother and Nahash is here named to signify so much sister to Zeruiah Joabs mother 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead 27 ¶ And it came to pass when David was come to Mahanaim that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon n Who as it may seem disliked and disowned that barbarous action to the Embassadors and therefore when the rest were destroyed was left King or Governor of the residue of the Ammonites and * Chap. 9. 4. Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar o See above ch 9. 4. and * Chap. 19. 31. 1 King 2. 7. Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim 28 Brought beds and ‖ Or cups basins p i. e. All sorts â—…of Houshold-stuff as well as other proviâ—…ons all which David now wanted and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentiles and parched pulse 29 And honey and butter and sheep and cheese of kine for David and for the people that were with him to eat for they said The people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness q i. e. Having been in the wilderness Which is an easie and common Ellipsis Or because of so the Hebrew Particle hath is oft used the Wilderness which they have passed thorough in which provisions are very scarce CHAP. XVIII AND David numbred the people that were with him a Which flocked to him thither so as to make up a small Army and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab b To wit for his especial conduct and management in the â—…attel otherwise Ioab was the General of all the Forces nor had David yet taken away that power from him nor was this a time to do it But such distributions of Forces are usual in Battels and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah â—…oabs brother and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite and the king said unto the people I will surely go forth with you my self also c That by my presence I may put life and courage into my Soldiers and because it is fit I should run the same hazards with you which you do for my sake 3 But * Chap. 21 〈◊〉 the people answered Thou shall not go forth d For this was Absalom's great error into which he was drawn by a Divine infatuation and by Hushai's craft to go to Battel in his own person which was the utter ruin of him and of his Cause for if we flee away they will not ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 their heart on us care for us neither if half of us die will they care for us but now thou art ‡ Heb. aâ—… ten thousand of us worth ten thousand of us e Not onely for the Dignity of thy Person but also for the importance of our common cause and concern which if thou art slain is irrecoverably lost 〈◊〉 now it is better that thou ‡ Heb. be to succour succour us out of the city f By sending us Supplies of Men and Provisions of all sorts as we have occasion and by securing our retreat if we be defeated Or thus not go along to the Battel with us but onely go out with us or accompany us out of the City to incourage the Company and then retire for thy own safety And so it seems by the next Verse 4 And the king said unto them What seemeth you best I will do And the king stood by 〈◊〉 gate-side g i. e. Between the two Gates of the City as it is expressed below v. 24. and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying Deal gently for my sake with the young man even with Absalom h If you Conquer which he presaged they would by Gods Gracious answer to his prayer for the turning of Ahitopbel's counsel into foolishness take him Prisoner but do not kill him Which desire proceeded partly from his great indulgence towards his Children partly from David s consciousness that he himself was the meritorious and procuring cause of this Rebellion Absalom being given up to it for the punishment of David's sins and therefore did indeed deserve some pity from him partly from the consideration of his youth which commonly makes men foolish and heady and violent and subject to ill counsels and partly from his Piety being loth that he should be cut off in the act of his sin without any space or means for repentance whereby both his Soul and Body would be in danger to perish for ever And all the people i To wit the Citizens and others who stood with the King in the Gate when the Army Marched forth heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom 6 ¶ So the people
themselves and will not allow us any share in him let them therefore enjoy him alone and let us seek out a new King every man to his tents e An Expression of Contempt implying their Rejection of him that he was no more to be owned as their King but as a private Person as the Son of Iesse f Let us all desist from this unthankful Office of bringing the King back and go each to our homes that we may consider and then meet together to chuse a New King O Israel 2 So every man of Israel f i. e. The generality of those Israelites who were present went up from after David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri but the men of Judah clave unto their king from Jordan even to Jerusalem 3 ¶ And David came to his house at Jerusalem and the king took the ten women his * Chap. 15. 16. and 16. 22. concubines whom he had left to keep the house and put them in ‡ Heb. a house of ward ward g Partly because they had not vigorously Opposed Absaloms Lustful Desire as they should have done even with the hazard of their Lives and partly lest the sight of them should renew the Memory of Absalom's Filthiness and of their own and David's Reproach which it was fit to bury in perpetual Oblivion and partly because it might appear Incestuous to have to do with those who had been defiled by his own Son and partly because as David would not so it was not now convenient that any other man should have any Conjugal conversation with them and sed them but went not in unto them so they were ‡ Heb. bound shut up unto the day of their death ‡ Heb. in widowhood of life living in widowhood 4 ¶ Then said the king to Amasa ‡ Heb. Call Assemble me the men of Judah h And March in the Head of them as their General as I have promised thee Chap. 19. 13. within three days i Which he supposed Amasa having been their late General could easily do and the business required haste and be thou here present k Within that time to receive Orders and Instructions from me 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time l Either because the people being wearied out by the late Civil War were not forward to Engage in another or because the Soldiers had more Affection to Ioaâ—… than to their new General to whose ill Conduct possibly they might impute their unsuccessfulness in the last Battel Or because Amasa for his own Interest might seek delays to render himself more necessary and useful to the King and to keep up his Honourable and Profitable Employment which is the common Policy of such Men. which he had appointed him 6 And David said to Abishai m Not to Ioab lest by this means he should recover his Place and Amasa be discontented and David's Fidelity in making good his Promise to Amasa be questioned Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom take thou * Chap. 11. 11 thy lords servants n i. e. My Guards that attend upon my Person and the other Soldiers who are now present with me He speaks of himself in the Third Person as is very frequent For it is not probable he would now call Ioab his lord whom he had lately Deposed nor Amasa who had not yet taken actual Possession of his Place nor had the Command over the King's Guards and pursue after him lest he get him fenced cities and ‡ Heb. deliver himself from our eyes escape us 7 And there went out after him Joabs men o The remainders of Ioab's Army who were there present with whom also Ioab might go as a Reformade watching an opportunity to do what he designed and the * 〈…〉 Cherethites and the Pelethites p Of whom see on Chap. 8. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mighty men and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of 〈◊〉 8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon Amasa went before them q Having gathered some Forces and given due Orders for the rest to follow him he returned to Ierusalem and by the Kings Command went after those mentioned ver 7. and being come up to them at the place where they waited for him he put himself into the Head of Ioab's men and the Cherâ—…thites and the Pelethites and such as he had brought along with him and Marched before them as their Chief and General and Joabs garment that he had put on was girded unto him r After the manner of Travellers and Soldiers and upon it a ‡ Heb Girdle or belt of a Sword girdle with a sword fastned upon his loins in the sheath thereof and as he went forth s To meet and Salute Amasa who was coming towards him to do him Honor. it fell out t Things having it is likely been so contrived by Ioab that upon the least Motion of his Body his Sword should drop out and he might take it up without raising Amasa's Suspition 9 And Joab said to Amasa Art thou in health my brother And Joab took Amasa by the beard u As the manner of Ancient times was when they kissed and saluted one another with the right hand to kiss him 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joabs hand x Which falling out as it seemed casually he supposed that Ioab intended onely to put it into its Scabbard and therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib y See on Chap. 2. 23. and shed out his bowels to the ground and ‡ Heb. doubled not his stroke strook him not again z He dispatched him at one stroke or gave him his Deaths Wound at the first blow and needed not to smite him again and he died so Joab a Who now boldly resumed his former Place and Marched in the Head of the Army It is not strange that Amasa's Soldiers did not fight to Revenge his Death partly because not many of them were yet come up but came by degrees as the following Verses â—…hew and partly because Ioab's Interest and Authority with the Military-men was very great especially with David's Guards who were here present and who had no kindness for Amasa as having been the General of the Rebellious Army and as they might think was not fit to be put into a Place of so great Power and Trust. and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri 11 And one of Joabs men b Left there on purpose to deliver the following Message stood by him and said He that favoureth Joab c He that would have Ioab to be General rather than such a Perfideous Rebel and Traytor as Amasa and he that is
so but a man of mount Ephraim y Qu. How can this be so when he is called a Benjamite ver 1. Answ. Either he was a Benjamite by Birth but dwelt in the Tribe of Ephraim as many did upon several occasions dwell out of their own Tribes or mount Ephraim was a place in Benjamin which might be so called either because it was upon the Borders of Ephraim and looked towards it or from some notable Action or Event of the Ephraimites in that place Comp. Chap. 18. 6. Sheba the son of Bichri ‡ Heb. by 〈◊〉 Name by name hath lift up his hand z i. e. Taken up Arms or raised Rebellion against the king even against David deliver him onely and I will depart from the city And the woman said unto Joab Behold his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall a Which she undertook because she knew the present temper and great fears of the Citizens and Soldiers too and that considering their evident and extream Danger they were generally desirous of Peace from which they were restrained onely by Sheba's Authority and Interest and therefore did not doubt by God's Blessing upon her Wise Counsel to effect it as indeed she did And it is not unlikely that this Woman might be a Governess in that City For though this Office was commonly performed by Men yet were not the Women wholly Excluded but sometimes Imployed in the Government As we see in Deborah who Judged Israel Iudg. 4. 4. And Queen Athalia 2 King 11. 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom b Prudently Treated with them about it either severally or joyntly as she saw fit representing to them the certainty and nearness of all their Ruine if they did not speedily comply with her Desires and certain Deliverance if they did and they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and cast it out to Joab and he blew a trumpet and they c Ioab and his Army which Besieged them †retired from ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 scattered the city every man to his tent and Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king 23 ¶ Now * Chap. 〈◊〉 Joab was over all the host of Israel d The good success of this and of former Expedition under the conduct of Ioab had so fixed his Interest in the Army and others of David's fastest Friends that the King could not without danger to the publick weal displace him and Benajah the son of Jehoiadah was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites 24 And Adoram was over the tribute e The receiver and manager of the Kings publick Revenue See on 1 King 4. 6. and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was ‖ Or remembranceâ—… recorder f See 2 Sam 8. 16. 25 And Sheba was scribe and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests g See 2 Sam. 8. 17. and 15. 35. 26 And Ira also the Jairite h So called from his birth or dwelling in the Countrey of Iair in Gilead Numb 32. 41. Iudg. 10. 4. was ‖ Or a prince a chief ruler i Either the President of the Kings Council or his Chief Minister as the Hebrew word Cohen signifies of State instead of Ahitophes or in some other very high place near the Kings Person Compare 2 Sam. 8. 18. where this title is given to David's Sons the Chief of which were now cut off And these things are here repeated with some alteration to shew that David was now fully reestablished in his former Estate about David CHAP. XXI THen a When Either First After Absalom's and Sheba's Rebellion as it is here related Or rather Secondly In some other time before It is well known and confessed that the Particle then doth not always note that the thing was done in that order in which it is mentioned but is oft of an indefinite signification as also that the Scripture in its Histories and Relations doth not always observe the order of time but the order of things putting that after which was done before as occasion requires And so it seems to be here The things related here and chap. 24. are by the most and best Interpreters conceived to have been done long before Absalom's Rebellion And this opinion is not without sufficient grounds First This Particle then is here explained in the days i. e. during the Life and Reign of David which general and indefinite words seem to be added as an intimation that these things were not done after the next foregoing passages for then the Sacred Writer would rather have added after these things or some such expression as it is 2 Chron. 32. 1. and in many other places Secondly Here are divers passages which it seems very improbable to ascribe to the last Years of David's Reign such as these First That Saul's sin against the Gibeonites should so long remain unpunished And indeed that this was done and Saul's seven Sons hanged by David's order before that time seems plainly to be intimated by that passage 2 Sam. 16. 8. where he is charged with the blood of the house of Saul for which there was not the least colour till this time Secondly That David should not remove the Bones of Saul and Ionathan to their proper place here v. 12 13 14. till that time Thirdly That the Philistines should wage War with David again and again v. 15 c. so long after he had fully subdued them chap. 8. 1. and that David in his old age should attempt to fight with a Philistine Giant or that his people should suffer him to do so Fourthly That David should then have so vehement a desire to number his people chap. 24. 1 c. which being an act of youthful heat and vanity seems not at all to agree with his old age nor with that state of deep humiliation and great affliction in which he then was And the reason why these matters are put here out of their proper order is plainly this because David's sin being once related it was very convenient that David's punishments inflicted for it should immediately succeed this being very frequent in Scipture-story to put those things together which belong to one matter though they happened at several times And this is the more considerable because it tends to the clearing of that great difficulty 2 Sam. 15. 7. there was a famine in the days of David three years year after year and David ‡ Heb. sought the face of c. enquired of the LORD b Concerning the reason of his displeasure and this judgment And the LORD answered It is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites c Which was not onely an act of cruelty but also of perfidiousness and perjury because it was a direct and publick violation of that Solemn Oath given to them for their security by Ioshua and the Princes in the name of all the Israelites of that
26. 19. and to turn the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people Psal. 105. 25. and to make men to err from his ways Isa. 63. 17. and to send strong delusions c. and to harden their hearts All which Expressions are not so to be understood as if God did work these sinful Dispositions which neither was necessary because they are naturally in every man's heart nor possible for the holy God to do but because he permits them and withdraws his grace and all restraints and hindrances from them and giveth occasions and advantages to them and directs their thoughts to such Objects as may indeed be innocently thought of which yet he knows they will wickedly abuse and give them up to Satan who he knows will deceive and entiâ—…e them to such and such Sins which being tempted to do by Satan and being effected by their own Wicked hearts he so orders and over-rules that they shall be Punishments for their former Sins against them c i. e. For Israels Punishment to say d Or saying For this may be referred either 1. to God of whom the same Expression is used 2 Sam. 16. 10. The Lord said to Shimei Curse David Which in both places is not to be understood of any command or impulse of God but of his secret Providence disposing things in manner here above expressed Or 2. to David he moved David to say to wit to Ioab as he did ver 2. Go number Israel and Judah 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host which was with him ‖ Or Compass Go now through all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba and number ye the people that I may know the number of the people e Which Expression points at David's Sin in this matter that he numbred them not by direction from God nor for any important business of the Church or Kingdom but out of meer curiosity and pride and vain-glory accompanied either with a secret distrust of God's Promise or rather with a carnal confidence in the Numbers of his People All which were great Sins and were so manifest that not onely God saw them and all the degrees and aggravations of them in David but even Ioab and the Captains of the Host were very sensible of them ver 3 4. 3 And Joab said unto the king Now the LORD thy God add unto the people how many soever they be an hundred fold and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing f What reason or necessity is there for this Action It is to no purpose and will be burdensome to thy People and may offend God and produce ill Effects 4 Notwithstanding the kings word prevailed against Joab g Ioab perceiving the King bent upon it would not hazard the King's favour by further disputing or disobeying his Command and against the captains of the host and Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel 5 ¶ And they passed over Jordan h They began their Computation in the Eastern part of David's Dominions which were beyond Iordan and pitched i Or encamped For Ioab carried with them divers of his Commanders and others partly for his Honour and the credit of the Work partly to assist him in that troublesom Work and partly to overcome the People in case they should Oppose it as sinful or burdensome or favouring of some Evil Design which David might have upon them in Aroer on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the ‖ Or Valley river of Gad k i. e. Of the River which lay in the Tribe of Gad or upon the borders of Gad and Reuben which was called Arnon Deut. 2. 36. and toward Jazer l Or near Iazer which also was upon the River Arnon 6 Then they came to Gilead m To Mount Gilead which lay Northward from Arnon and to the ‖ Or Nether land newly inhabited land of Tahtim-hodshi n A Place so called Or the low-land lately gained i. e. not given by Ioshua but taken lately from the Hagarens by Saul which was near Gilead 1 Chron. 5. 10. and they came to Dan Jaan o i. e. Probably the Famous City of Dan as it is called Iosh. 19. 47. Iudg. 18. 7. for this was in the Northern Border of the Land and in the way from Gilead to Zidon and about to Zidon p i. e. To the City and Territory of Zidon but not into it because it was not in the Power and Possession of the Israelites and the like it to be thought concerning Tyre and the Cities which the Hivites and Canaanites yet Possessed in the Neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites and they went out to the south of Judah even to Beer-sheba 8 So when they had gone through all the land they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days 9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand q Obj. In 1 Chron. 21. 5. They are Numbred 1100 thousand Answ. The sum here Expressed is onely of such as were not in the ordinary and settled Militia waiting upon the King which being 24000 for every Month as is largely related 1 Chron. 27. amounts to 288 Thousand which either with their several Commanders or with the Soldiers placed in several Garisons might very well make up 300 Thousand Or 288 Thousand may pass in such accounts for 300 Thousand it being frequent in such great Sums to neglect a smaller number But in the Book of the Chronicles which was to gather up the Fragments omitted in the former Books both sorts are put together and so they amount to 1100 Thousand valiant men that drew the sword and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand r In 1 Chron. 21. 5. but 470 Thousand Answ. Either 1. they were exactly no more but are called 500 Thousand in a round sum as is usual in Scripture and other Authors Or 2. the Garison-Soldiers and such as were imployed in other Services about the King are here included which are there excluded Or 3. They were 500 Thousand when Ioab gave up the Number to the King though presently after that they were but 470 Thousand 30000 being slain by the Plague in the Tribe of Iudah which being David's own Tribe it was but just and fit it should suffer more than the rest for this Sin And though it be true that Ioab gave up the Sum before the Plague begun yet the Sacred Penman of the Book of Chronicles thought fit to make a defalcation of them who had been swept away by the Plague that the Judgment of God therein
over Israel according to the word of the LORD †Heb. by the hand of by * 1 Sam. 16. 13 Samuel 4 And David and all Israel * 2 Sam. 5. 6. went out to Jerusalem c Of this and the three following Verses see the Notes on 2 Sam. 5. 6 c. which is Jebus where the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land 5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David Thou shalt not come hither Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion which is the city of David 6 And David said whosoever smiteth the Jebusite first shall be †Heb. head chief and captain So Joab the son of Zerujah went first up and was chief d Before this he was one of Davids Chief Captains 2 Sam. 3. 22. 23. and General of the Forces of Iudah but now he is made Captain-General of all the Forces of Israel and Iudah 7 And David dwelt in the castle therefore they called ‖ That is Zion 2 Sam. 5. 7. it The city of David 8 And he built the city round about even from Millo round about and Joab †Heb. revived repaired the rest of the city 9 So David †Heb. went in going and increasing waxed greater and greater for the LORD of hosts was with him 10 * 2 Sam â—…â—… These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had who ‖ Or held 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom e Who helped him with all their Might to settle him in his Kingdom and with all Israel f In conjunction with all those Loyal Israelites who joyned with David of whom see the next Chapter to make him king according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel 11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had Jashobeam ‖ Or sâ—… of 〈◊〉 an Hachmonite g Called the Tachmonite and Adino the Eznite 2 Sam. 23. 8. the chief of the captains he lift up his spear against three hundred slain by him h Towit by his own Hand 500 more being slain by others then joyning with him who pursued the Victory that he alone got and in the Pursuit slew 500 both which Sums make up the 800 numbred 2 Sam. 23. 8. the slaughter of all which is justly ascribed to him because it was the Effect of his Valour But concerning that and other differences about these Persons or Things see my Notes on 2 Sam. 23. at one time 12 And after him was Eleazer the son of Dodo the Ahohite who was one of the three mighties 13 He was with David at ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Sam 1â—… â—… Pasdammim and there the Philistins were gathered together to battel where was a parcel of ground full of barley and the people fled from before the Philistins 14 And they ‖ Or 〈◊〉 set themselves in the midst of that parcel and delivered it and slew the Philistins and the LORD saved them by a great ‖ Or 〈◊〉 deliverance 15 Now ‖ 〈…〉 three of the thirty captains * 2 Sam 〈◊〉 went down to the rock to David into the cave of Adullam and the host of the Philistins encamped in the valley of Rephaim 16 And David was then in the hold and the Philistins ‖ Or 〈◊〉 garison was then at Beth-lehem 17 And David longed and said O that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem that is at the gate 18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistins and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David But David would not drink of it but poured it out to the LORD 19 And said My God forbid it me that I should do this thing shall I drink the blood of these men †〈…〉 that have put their lives in jeopardy for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it therefore he would not drink it These things did these three mightiest i Heb. these three mighties to wit last mentioned whereof one was Abishai v. 20. For the Acts of two of the first three are here passed over being recorded 2 Sam. 23. 20 And Abishai the brother of Joab he was chief of the three for lifting up his spear against three hundred he slew them k He vanquished them all and slew a great number of them though it be not said that he slew them all at one time as it is said of Iashobeam above v. 11. and had a name among the three 21 * 2 Sâ—…â—… 19 c Of the three he was more honourable than the two for he was their captain howbeit he attained not unto the first three l He did not equal them in Valiant Exploits 22 Benajah the son of Jehojada the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel †Heb. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 who had done many acts he slew two lion-like men of Moab also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day 23 And he slew an Egyptian †Heb. â—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 a man of great stature five cubits high and in the Egyptians hand was a spear like a weavers beam and he went down to him with a staff and pluckt the spear out of the Egyptians hand and slew him with his own spear 24 These things did Benajah the son of Jehojada and had the name m Or had a name i. e. was greatly reputed For though he did not equal Abishai one of these three as appears by v. 20 21. yet he did excel the third of them and all the thirty here following among the three mighties 25 Behold he was honourable among the thirty but attained not to the first three and David set him over his †â—… hearing 〈◊〉 guard n Heb. his hearing or obedience i. e. those that were always ready to hear and obey or execute his Commands to wit the Guards of his Body 26 Also the valiant men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem 27 Shammoth the ‖ â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 23. 25 Hararite Helez the Pelonite 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite Abiezer the Antothite 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite Ilai the Ahohite 30 Mahari the Netophathite Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah that pertained to the children of Benjamin Benajah the Pirathonite 32 Hurai of the brooks o Or of the valleys i. e. of one of them the Plural Number for the Singular so called because he was born or bred there of Gaash Abiel the Arbathite 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite Eliahba the Shaalbonite 34 The sons of Hashem p Or or Iashem to wit Ionathan here following and Shammah here omitted but expressed 2 Sam. 23. 32 33. the Gizonite Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite Eliphal
God †Heb. hast uncovered the eaâ—… of thy servant hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee 26 And now LORD thou art God and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant 27 Now therefore ‖ Or it hath pleased thee let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant that it may be before thee for ever for thou blessest O LORD and it shall be blessed for ever CHAP. XVIII 1 NOw after this * 2 Sam. 8. 1 c. it came to pass that David smote the Philistins a All this Chapter is explained on 2 Sam. 8. and subdued them and took Gath and her †Heb. daughters towns out of the hands of the Philistins 2 And he smote Moab and the Moabites became Davids servants and brought gifts 3 And David smote ‖ Or Hadadeâ—… 2 Sam 8. 3. Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Humath as he went to establish his †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… â—… dominion by the river Eâ—…phrates 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand footmen David also houghed all the chariot horses but reserved of them an hundred chariots 5 And when the Syrians of †Heb. Darmesek Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men 6 Then David put garisons in Syria-damascus and the Syrians became Davids servants and brought gifts Then the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer and brought them to Jerusalem 8 Likewise from ‖ 〈◊〉 in the book of Sam. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Tibhath and from Chun b For which 2 Sam. 8. 8. Betah and Berothai are mentioned Either therefore they were the same places called by several names as is usual Or they were four neighbouring places out of all which the Brass was taken whereof two places having been named there and omitted here and the other two Places there omitted are here remembred cities of Hadarezer brought David very much brass wherewith * 1 Kin. â—… 〈◊〉 2 Chr. 4. 15. Solomon made the brazen sea and the pillars and the vessels of brass 9 Now when ‖ Or Toi 2 Sam. 8. 9. Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah 10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David ‖ Or Ieram 2 Sam. 8. 10. to enquire of his welfare and ‖ Or to salute to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten †Heb. to bless him for Hadarezer †Heb. was the man of wars had warred with Tou and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass 11 Them also King David dedicated unto the LORD with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations from Edom and from Moab and from the children of Ammon and from the Philistins and from Amalek 12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zerujah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand 13 And he put garisons in Edom and all the Edomites became Davids servants Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went 14 So David reigned over all Israel and executed judgment and Justice among all his people 15 And Joab the son of Zerujah was over the host and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud ‖ Or remembrancer 2 Sam. 8. 17. recorder 16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub and ‖ Called Ahimelech in Sam. Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests and ‖ Called Serajah in Sam. 1. and Shisha 1 Kin. 4. 3. Shausha was scribe 17 And Benajah the son of Jehojada was over the Cherethite and the Pelethite and the sons of David were chief †Heb. at the hand of the King about the king CHAP. XIX 1 NOw * 2 Sam. 10. 1. c. it came to pass after this that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died a Of all the Contents of this Chapter see the Notes on 2 Sam. 10. where we have the same things and almost the very same words and his son reigned in his stead 2 And David said I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash because his father shewed kindness to me And David sent messengers to comâ—…ort him concerning his father so the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him 3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun †Heb. in thine eyes doth David Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father that he hath sent comforters unto thee are not his servants come unto thee for to search and to overthrow and to spie out the land 4 Wherefore Hanun took Davids servants and shaved them and cut off their Garments in the midst hard by their buttocks and sent them away 5 Then there went certain and told David how the men were served And he sent to meet them for the men were greatly ashamed and the king said tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown and then return 6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves †Heb. â—… 〈◊〉 odious to David Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out of Syria-maachah and out of Zobah 7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots b i. e. 32000 Men fighting from or with Chariots as that word is elsewhere used of which see my Notes on 1 Sam. 13. 5. And this Interpretation seems the more probable by comparing this place with 2 Sam. 10. 6. where this Army is said to consist of 2000â—… footmen and 12000 men of Ishtob which make up these 32000 men who fought partly from Chariots and partly on Foot with Chariots or attending upon the Chariots as the Ancient Manner of fighting was And here v. 6. this Army it made up of Chariots and Horsemen where except the chariots be understood there were no Footmen in the Army which is unusual and incredible and the king of Maachah and his people who came and pitched before Medeba And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and came to battel 8 And when David heard of it he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men 9 And the children of Ammon came out and put the battel in aray before the gate of the city and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field 10 Now when Joab saw that †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the battel was set against him before and behind he chose out of all the ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 choice of Israel and put them in aray against the Assyrians 11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of
†Heb. 〈◊〉 Abishai his brother and they set themselves in aray against the children of Ammon 12 And he said If the Syrians be too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will help thee 13 Be of good courage and let us behave our selves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight 14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battel and they fled before him 15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled they likewise fled before Abishai his brother and entred into the city Then Joab came to Jerusalem 16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the ‖ That is â—… 〈◊〉 river and ‖ Or 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 1â—… 〈◊〉 Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them 17 And it was told David and he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan and came upon them and set the battel in aray against them so when David had put the battel in aray against the Syrians they fought with him 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots and forty thousand footmen c How this agrees with 2 Sam. 10. 18. see in the Notes on that place and killed Shophach the captain of the host 19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel they made peace with David and became his servants neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more CHAP. XX. 1 ANd * Sam. 11. 1. 〈◊〉 â—…t the 〈◊〉 of the â—… it came to pass that †after the year was expired at the time that kings go out to battel Joab led forth the power of the army and wasted the country of the children of Ammon a Of this first verse see my Notes on 2 Sam. 11. 1. and of v. 2 3. on 2 Sam. 12. 30 31. and of the rest of this Chapter on 2 Sam. 21. 15 c. where also an Account is given of the seeming Differences between this and that Relation and came and besieged Rabbah but David tarried at Jerusalem and Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it 2 And David * â—… Sam. 11. 12 â—… took the crown of their king from off his head and found it †Heb. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to weigh a talent of gold and there were precious stones in it and it was set upon Davids head and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city 3 And he brought out the people that were in it and cut them with saws and with harrows of iron and with axes even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem 4 And it came to pass after this * 2 Sam. 21. 18. that there ‖ Or 〈◊〉 †Heâ—… 〈◊〉 arose war at ‖ Or Geâ—… Gezer with the Philistins at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew ‖ 〈◊〉 Sippai that was of the children of ‖ 〈◊〉 21. 18. the giant and they were subdued 5 And there was war again with the Philistins and Elhanan the son of ‖ Or Raâ—…es 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 21. 19. â—… 〈◊〉 â—…1 20. 〈◊〉 slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite whose spear-staff was like a weavers beam 6 And yet again * 〈◊〉 â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there was war at Gath where was †a man of great stature whose fingers and toes were four and twenty six on each hand and six on each foot and he also was †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the son of the giant 7 But when he ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defied Israel Jonathan the son of ‖ Shimea Davids brother slew him 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 16. 9. they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants CHAP. XXI 1 ANd * â—… Sam 24. 1 â—… ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 22. 〈◊〉 Satan stood up a Heb. stood to wit before the Lord and his Tribunal to accuse David and Israel and to beg Gods permission to tempt David to number the People Standing is the Accusers posture before Mens Tribunals and consequently the Holy Scripture which useth to speak of God and of the things of God after the manner of men to bring them down to our Capacities elsewhere represents Satan in this posture as 1 King 22. 21. Zech. 3. 1. And so this agrees with 2 Sam. 24. 1. where the Lord is said to move David i. e. to give Satan Commission or Permission to move him for otherwise God tempteth no man Jam. 1. 13. But of this and of this whole Chapter and of the Variations and seeming Contradictions between this Narrative and that in Samuel see my Notes on 2 Sam. 24. against Israel and provoked David to number Israel 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people Go number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan and bring the number of them to me that I may know it 3 And Joab answered The LORD make his people an hundred times as many mo as they be but my lord the king are they not all my lords servants why then doth my lord require this thing why will he be †〈◊〉 â—… tresâ—… Gr. a cause of trespass to Israel b Or why will he be or why should this be a trespass or a cause of trespass or an occasion of punishment for Hebrew words signifying sin are oft used to note the punishment of Sin or a desolation or a cause of desolation or destruction for the verb whence this noun proceeds is oft used in that Sense to or against Israel Why wilst thou provoke God by this sin to punish Israel Thus he speaks because God commonly punisheth the People for the sins of their Rulers because they are for the most part guilty of their sins in one kind or other or at least God takes this occasion to punish People for all their Sins 4 Nevertheless the kings word prevailed against Joab wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem 5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and one hundred thousand men that drew sword and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword 6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them c Partly for the following Reason and principally by Gods special and gracious Providence to these two Tribes to Levi because they were devoted to his Service and to Benjamin because they were the least of all the Tribes having been almost extinct
Iudg. 21. and because God foresaw that they would be faithful to the House of David in the division of the Tribes and therefore he would not have them diminished And Ioab presumed to leave these two Tribes unnumbred because he had specious Pretences for it for Levi because they were no Warriours and the Kings Command reached onely to those that drew sword as appears from v. 5. And for Benjamin because they being so small a Tribe and bordering upon Ierusalem their Chief City might easily be numbred afterward for the kings word was abominable to Joab 7 †Heb. and it was evil in the eyes of the LORD concernning this thing And God was displeased with this thing d Because this was done without any colour of necessity and out of meer Curiosity and Oftentation and carnal Confidence as Davids own Conscience told him which therefore smote him as it is related 2 Sam. 24. 10. therefore he smote Israel e Which is particularly related in the following verses 8 And David said unto God * 2 Sam. 24. 10. I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing * 2 Sam. 12. 13. but now I beseech thee do away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly 9 And the LORD spake unto Gad Davids seer saying 10 Go and tell David saying Thus saith the LORD I †Heb. stretch out offer thee three things chuse thee one of them that I may do it unto thee 11 So Gad came to David and said unto him Thus saith the LORD †Heb. take to thee chuse thee 12 Either three years famine or three months to be destroyed before thy foes while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee or else three days the sword of the LORD even the pestilence in the land and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel Now therefore advise thy self what word I shall bring again to him that sent me 13 And David said unto Gad I am in a great strait let me fall now into the hand of the LORD for very ‖ Or many great are his mercies but let me not fall into the hand of man 14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men 15 And God sent an * 2 Sam. 24. 16. angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it and as he was destroying the LORD beheld and he repented him of the evil and said to the angel that destroyed It is enough stay now thine hand And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of ‖ Or Araâ—…nah 2 Sam. 24. 18. Ornan the Jebusite 16 And David lift up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem then David and the elders of Israel who were clothed in sackcloth f i. e. In mourning Garments humbling themselves before God for their Sins and deprecating his Wrath against the People fell upon their faces 17 And David said unto God Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbred even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed but as for these sheep what have they done let thine hand I pray thee O LORD my God be on me and on my fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued 18 Then †Heb. an angel the * 2 Chr. 3. 1. angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad which he spake in the name of the LORD 20 ‖ Or when Orâ—…nan turned back and saw the angel then he and his four sons with him hid themselves And Ornan turned back and saw the angel and his four sons with him hid themselves g Or And Ornan turned back i. e. turned his face from the Angel for or when for the Hebrew vau is frequently used both those ways he saw the angel and so did his four sons with him hiding themselves partly because of the Glory and Majesty in which the Angel appeared which mens weak and sinful natures are not able to bear and partly from the fear of Gods Vengeance which was at this time riding circuit in the Land and now seemed to be coming to their Family Now Ornan was threshing wheat 21 And as David came to Ornan Ornan looked and saw David and went out of the threshing-floor and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground 22 Then David said to Ornan †Heb. give Grant me the place of this threshing-floor that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD thou shalt grant it me for the full price that the plague may be stayed from the people 23 And Ornan said unto David Take it to thee and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes â—…o I give thee the oxen also for burnt-offerings and the threshing-instruments for wood and the wheat for the meat-offering I give it all 24 And king David said to Ornan Nay but I will verily buy it for the full price for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD nor offer burnt-offerings without cost 25 So * 2 Sam. 24. 24. David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight 26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings and called upon the LORD and he answered him from heaven by fire h Heb. by fire sent from Heaven which was the sign of Gods Acceptance See Levit. 9. 24. 1 King 18. 24 38. 2 Chron. 7. 1. upon the altar of burnt offering 27 And the LORD commanded the angel and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof 28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite then he sacrificed there i When he perceived that his Sacrifice there offered was acceptable to God he proceeded to offer more Sacrifices in that place and did not go to Gibeon as otherwise he should have done 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD which Moses made in the wilderness and the altar of the burnt-offering were at that season in the high place at * 1 King 3. 4. Ch. 16. 39. 2 Chr. 1. 3. Gibeon 30 But David could not k i. e. Durst not go before it l i. e. Before the Tabernacle where the Altar stood to enquire of God m Heb. to seek God i. e. humbly to beg his Favour by Prayer and Sacrifice for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD n i. e. When he saw the Angel stand with his drawn Sword over Ierusalem as is related above v. 15 16. he durst not go away thence to Gibeon