Commentary on the Holy Bible

Verse 13. And fasted seven dai/s.] To testify their sincere regret for his unfurlunate death; and the public calamity that had fallen upon the laud.

Thus ends the troublesome, and I had almost said, the useless, reign of Saul..\ king was chosen in opposition to the will of the Most High; and the government of God, in elVect, rejected, to make way for this king.

Saul was, at first, a very humble young man, and conducted himself with great propriety; but his elevation made him proud, and he soon became tyranrtical in his private conduct, and in his political measures. His natural temper was not good: he was peevish, fretful, and often outrageous; and these bad dispositions, unchecked by proper application to the grace of God, became every day more headstrong and dangerous. Through their violence, he seens at limes to have been wholly carried away, and deranged: and this derangement appears to have been occasionally greatly exacerbated by diabolical influence. This led him to lake his friends for his foes, so that, in his paroxysms, he strove to imbrue his hands in their blood; and more than once to attempt to assassinate his own son! and most causelessly and inhumanly ordered the innocent priests of the I>ord at Nob to be murdered. This was the worst act in his whole life.

Saul was but ill (|ualified for a proper discharge of the regal functions. The Reader will remember that he was chosen rather a- general of the armies, than as civil governor. The adminl>tration of the alTairs of the slate was left chiefly to Samuel; and Saul led forth the armies to battle.

As a general, he gave proof of considerable capacity: ha was courageous, proDipt, decisive, and persevering: and, ex- cept in the last unfortunate battle, in which he lost his life, generally led his troops to vicfory.

Saul was a weak man, and very capricious: this is amply proved by bis unreasonable jealousy against David, and his continual suspicion that all were leagued against him. It is also evident, in his foolish adjuration relative to the matter of the honey, (see ch. xiv.) in which, to save his rash and nonsensical oath, he would have sacrificed Jonathan his son!

The question, " Was Saul a good king?" has already, in effect, been answered. He was, on the whole, a good man, as far as we know, in private life; but he was a bad king; for he endeavoured to reign independently of the Jewish constitution: he, in effect, assumed the sacerdotal office and functions, and thus even changed what was essential to that constitution. lie not only offered sacrifices which belonged to the priests alone; but, in the most positive manner, went opposite to the orders of that God whose vicegerent he was.

Of his conduct, in visiting the woman at En-dor, I have already given my opinion; and to this I must refer. His desperate circumstances imposed on the weakness of his mind; and he did, in that instance, an act which, in his jurisprudential capacity, he had disapproved by the edict which banished all witches, &c. from Israel. Yet, in this act, he only wished to avail himself of the counsel and advice of his //-j'enrf Samuel.

To the question, " Was not Saul a self-murderer?" I scruple not to answer, " No." He was, to all appearance, mortally wounded, when he begged his armour-bearer to extinguish the remaining spark of life; and he was afraid that the Philistines might abuse his body, if they found him alive; and we can scarcely say how much of indignity is Implied in this zcord; and his falling on his sword was a fit of desperation, which, doubtless, was the issue of a mind greatly agitated, and full of distraction. A few minutes longer; and his life would, in all probability, have ebbed out: but, though this wound accelerated his death, yet it could not be properly the cause of it, as he was mortally wounded before; and did it on the conviction that he could not survive.

Taking Saul's state and circumstances together, I believe there Is not a coroner's inquest in this nation that would not have brought in a verdict of derangement; while the pious and the humane would every where have consoled themselves with the hope, that God had extended mercy to his soul.

As tliis is a continuation of the preceding- history, without any interruption, it can scarcely be called another Book. Originally this and the preceding made but one I)()ok; and they have been separated without reason or necessity. For a general account of both, see the Preface to the First Book of Samuel.

It is generally allowed that this Book comprehends a period of 40 years, from about A. M. 29it9 to 2989. See the prefixed Chronological account.

It has been divided into three parts: in they?rs(, we have an account of the happy commencement of David's reign, chap, i — x. In the second, David's unhappy fall, and its miserable consequences, chap, xi — xviii. In the (hircl, his restoration to the Divine favour, the rc-establisiinient of his kingdom, and the events which signalized the latter part of his reign, cliap.

Year from (lie Crratloii, 2U 19. — Year bpforo the Incarnation, 1055.— Year before the first OI)m|jiad, 27<J Year t)erorp the building of Uome,.«)■>. — Year of the Julian IVrlod, 3fI59. — Year of (he UIoiiy,ian I'etiwd, 1G7.— Cycle of the Sun, lU. — Cycle of the Muon, II.

Jn Amakhitc comes to David, ami informs him thai the Philistines had routed the Israelites; and thai Saul and his sons xer( slain, 1—4. yind pretends that he himself had dispatched Saul, faidinir him rtadj/ to fall alize into the hands of the Philistines, and had hrought his cronn and braeilels to David, 5 — 10. David and his men mourn for Saul and his sons, 11,12. He orders the Amalehite to be slain, icho pnfesstd that he had killed Saul, 13 — If). David's funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 17 — 27.

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, "a man came out of the camp from Saul 'with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when lie came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him. From wiience comest thou? And he said unto him. Out of N l)choId. 'Saul leaned ujjoii "his spear; and, lo, the camp of Israel am I escaped. I the chariots and horsemen followed hard after

4 And David said unto him, '' How went the him.

the people also are fallen and "'^"P" ^^- dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5.\ih1 David said unto the youn"^ man that lold iiim, How knowcst thou that Saul and Jonatliaii his son be dead '

6 And the young- man that (oM him. srU,.\s 1 happened iiy ciiancc upon ' mount Gilboa,

Verse 2. A wan fume out of the vdiiip^ The wh^le account which tliis jouiig man gives is a fabrication: in many of the pailioulais it is -jros'ly self-contradidory. There is no J'uct in the case but the bringing of the croicn or diadem, aiid bracelets of SauT; which, as he appears to have been a plunderer of the sLiin, he found on the 6eld j of battle: and he broui;ht them to Ditirl, and told the

I lie of having di.-patched >aul, merely to ingratiate himself

9 He said unto me ag;ain. Stand, 1 pray thee, upon me, and slay nie: for ''anguish is come upon me. because my life is yet whole in me. }

10 So I stood upon him, and "slew him, be- 1 cause I was sure that he could not live after, that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon liis head, and the bracelet that laas on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

115 Then David took hold on his clothes, and ■^ rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: i

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by; the sword.

13 %. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. j

14 And David said unto him, " How wast thou not "^ afraid to 'stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15 And '' David called one of the young men, and said. Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16 And David said unto him, ' Thy blood be thy head; for '' thy mouth hath testified

17 H And David lamented with this lamen- tation over Saul and over Jonathan '\i_ c.' ^*l' his son: ad. Exod. isr.

18 ('Also he bade them teach the Anno ante i. children of Judah the use of ihe bow: —^-l*'- ' '. behold, it is written "in the book "of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: "how are the mighty fallen!

?0 ■■ Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest ""the daughters of 'the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye " mountains of Gilboa, ' let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the I mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as! thous^h he had not been " anointed with oil. I 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, "^the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned ntH empty. 1 28 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and •' pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were ^ stronger than lions.

1 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.! 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of 1 the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine j high places.

i 26 1 am distressed for thee, my brother Jona- I than: very pleasant hast thou been unto me:

""thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love

of women. 27 ""How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons

* Ilel). Jifhold me. '' Or, my coat of mail, or, my embroidered coat

Verse 8. / am an Amalekite] Dr. Delaney remarks \ tliat an Amalekite took that crown from oft' the head of Saul, which lie had forfeited by his disobedience in the case of Amalek. |j

Verse ]0. The croicn — tivil the hracelet] The crown j was probably no more than a royal Jillet, or tlhiclem, both beiiif; the ensigns of royalty. It is sometimes cuslomary in || the East, for a sovereign prince fo give a croxcn and bracelets, T when investing others with dominion or authority over cer- | tain provinces. Had Saul thci-e in token of his being God's '! vicegerent? and that he held the kingdom froiii Him i, alone? 11

Verse 16. Thy blood be upoti thy head] If he killed Saul, as he said he did, then he deserved death: at that time it was not known to the contrary; and this man was executed on his own confession.

Verse 17, David lamenlcd] See this lamentation, and the Notes on it, at the end of this chapter.

Verse IS. The use of ihe boio] The use of h not in the Ilebrew; it is simply the bow, that is, a song thus intituled. See the observations at the end.

Anointed tc/th oil.] See the observations at the end.

f'hnp. i. TPr. 18, &c. — Ife bade them tcadi the children nf Judith (he use of the bow, nipp kmhclh.

'I'bo rtriid kanhclh is »o Im uiidcrstooil oT llio (illc of lliisoiic «lii<h Ininipdiiilcly follons, and not of tlii' osc i>f ihibow, as our tiiiiii.larKiii iiiliiii;i|ps.

IJiit especially respectiiif; the buic of Jomlhaii, "which returned not bacit from the blood of the slain," as the song itsrlf expresses. And David could not but remember the buio of Jonathan, out of «hich "the arrow was sliot lieyoiid the lad," 1 Sam. xx. 36. It was the time when that covenant was made, and that affoction expressed between thrill, " which was greater than (ho love of women."

On these accounts the SdMi; was intituled hinhilh; or, 7Vifi Song of the Jinic; and David commanded the chief musiciuns, Ethan, lleman, and Jeduthun, to teach the children of Judah liow to sini; it.

" It is written in the IJook of Jasher," tm /3ifXl0U Ton tvdws,.SV/rf. " In the Book of the upright."

The Arabic says, " Behold it is written in the Bonk of Ashee; this is the Book of Samuel;" the interpretation of which is, " book of songs, or canticles."

This lamentation is justly admired as a (ilcture of distress, the most tender and tlie most striking; uneciually divided by grief into longer and shorter breaks, as Nature could |)our them forth from a mind interrupted by the alternate recurrence of the most lively images of luve and greatness.

llis reverence for Saul, and his love for Jonathan, have their strongest colourings; but their greatness and brai'cri) come full upon him, and are expressed with peculiar energy. Being himself a zcarrior, it is in that character he sees their greatest excellence; and, though his imagination hurries from one point of recollection to another, yet we hear him at tirst, at last, every where, lamenting — Ilozc are the tnighti) fallen!

It is almost impossible to read the noble original without finding every word sicnllcn with a.sigh, or broken with a svb. A heart pvignant with distress, and striving to utter expressions descriptive of its feelings, (wliich are repeatedly interrupted by an excess of grief,) is most sensibly painted throughout the whole. Even an English reader may be convinctd of this, from the following >pecimen, in Kuro pean characters: —

19. Uatsbi Yishracl al hamothccha chalal; Kich naphelu Gibborim.'

Al tcbassru bcchulsoth Ashkelon; Pen tismachnah lunolh Pe/islUim, Pen tauluznah bcnvth huurelim.

21. Hare baghiltjoA al tal,

Ki $ham niniil magrn (itbburini.

Keshilh ythonulhan lo nathog athor f

Fe-chertb.Shaul to tnthub rct/kum.

Iliinnechahim vrhanncimim bcchaii/iheni,

24. Henoth Viihrael el Shaul bckenah; Ilammulbithkent thani iin adardm, llammaatih udi zaliub 61 Ubuihken.

25. Kich najihclu Gibborim betoch hammilchamah I 1 'chunathan 61 bamotccha chalal!

} ehunalhiiUy naumla li meod,

Aiphkalhah aliablicha li mealiabath noihim! 27. Eich naphelu Gibborim, f'ujjobedu kcle Mildtawah!

The three last verses in this sublime lamentation hare sense and sound so connected as to strike every reader.

Dr. Kcnnicott, from whom I have taken several of the preceding remarks, gives a line I^tio vcrsioo of this song, which I here subjoin: —

(jiiomodo ceciderunt iortes!

iXolitc indicare in (latho, Nolite indicare in plateis.Vscalonis: Ne Ixtentur (ilia: Fhilislxorum, Ne cxultent {]\:x incirrumrisorum.

Montes (jilboani, super tos Nee ros, nee pluvia, neqoe agri primitiarum; Ibi enim nbjectus fu't clypeus fortium, Clyppus Siulis, arma inuncti oleo!

Sine sanguine militim,

Sine adipe foiitii m, Arcus Jonathanis non retrocesserat; Ctladiu-qup Saulis non rcdierat incassum.

ShuI Pt Jon.Uh. II Amabiles erant et jucundi in vitis suis, Et ill morte sui non separati.

Prae aquilis velnces!

Pra; leonibus fortes! Filia; Israelis deflete Saulem; Qui coccino cum deliciis vos vesfirif. Qui veslibus vestris ornamenta imposuit aurea! Quoinoilo ceciile'uni forics, in medio belli! O Jonathan, «uper exceisa ton miles! Versor in angusliis, tui C'iu~a,

Frnfer n.i, Jonathan 1 Mihi fuisti admodum jurundu! Mihi tuus amor admodum mirabilit,

Mulierum exuperans araorem! Quomodo ceciderunt fortes, Et perierunt arma belli!

Dissertation I. pag.

In Terse 21,1 have inserted 'Vj keley, for -hz beli. Dr. Delaney rightly observes that the particle '"73 beli, is not used in any part of the Bible in the sense of quasi non, as though not; in which sense it mu't be used here, if it be retained as a genuine reading: the shield of Saul us though it had not been anointed with oil.

In a MS. written about the year 1200, numbered 30 in KennicoWs Bible, '"73 keley, is found; and also in the Jirst edilion of (he zchole Hebrew Bible, printed Soncini 14S8. Neither the Syriac nor Arabic versions, nor the Chaldee paraphrase, acknowledge the negative particle '^3 beli, which ihey would have done had it been in the copies from which they translated. It was easy to make the mistake, as there is such a similarity between 2 beth, and 3 capA/ the line, therefore, should be read thus — The shield of Saul, teeapons anointed with oil.

In ver. 22, 3Vjj nashog, to obtain, attain, seems to have been written for 31DJ nasog, to recede, return. The former destroys the sense; the latter, which our translation has followed, and which is supported by the authority of 30 MSS. makes it not only intelligible but beautiful.

In verses 19, 22, and 25, hhn and a'V'jn chalal and challim occur, which we translate the slain, but which Dr. Ken' nicott, I think, from good authority, renders soldier, and soldiers; and thus the Version is made more consistent and beautiful.

"^bn chalal, signifies to hore, or pierce through; and this epithet might be well given to a soldier — q. d. the i'iercer, because his business is to transjix^ ot pierce his enemies with sword, spear, and arrows.

If it be translated soldiers, in the several places of the Old Testament, where we translate it slain, or woundeb, the sense will be much mended: See Judg. xs. 31, 39. Psa. Ixsxix. 11. Prov, vii. 26. Jer. li. 4, 47, 49. Ezek. xi. 6, 7. xxi. 14. In several others it retains its radical significatioa of piercing, mounding. Sic.

After these general observations, I leave the particular beauties of this inimitable song to be sought out by the intelligent Reader. Much has been written upon this, which cannot, consistently with the plan of these Notes, be admitted here. — See Delaney, Kcnnicolt, Lomlh, &c.; and, above all, let the Reader examine the Ilebreza text.

Da-dd, hy the direction of God, goes up to Hebron, and is there anointed king over the house of Judah, 1 — 4. He congratulates the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead on their kindness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines, 5 — 7. Abner anoints Ishbosheth, SauVs son, king over Gilead, the Ashurites, JeZ' reel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel,• over whom he reigned two years, S — 10. David reigns over Judah, in Hehron, seven years and six months, 11. Account of a battle between Abner, captain of the Israelites, and Joab, captain of the men of Judah; in which the former are routed, with the loss of three hundred and sixty men: but ylsahel, the brother of Joab, is killed by Abner, 12 — 32.

2 So David went up thither, and his " two wives also, Ahiiioam the Jez-

Annoantp I. LouD, sayipg, Shall I go up into any "'>'"''• ^'^- of the cities of Judah? And the Lord

said unto him. Go up. And David said,

shall I go up? And he said, Unto "'Hebron.

Verse 1. David enquired of the Lonu] By means of Abiathar, the priest; for he did not know whether tht diff'^reiil tribes were willing to receive him, though he wa> fully persuaded tbat God had appointed him king over Ibiael.

reeliless, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite. 3 And '' bis men that loere with

him did David bring up, every man with his household:

Unto Hebron] The metropolis of the tribe of Judah, one of the richest regions in Judea. The n^.ountnins of Hebron were famed for fruits, heibage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, olives, and difl'nrent kinds "I' grain, abouudinij in springs of excellent water, as the most accurate travellers have asserted.

5 % And Duvid sent inessfn^ers unio tlic men of Jabcs!i-f]fiU'ad, and said iinio lliem " Hk-sscd he yc of the Loud, tlial ye have shewed this; kindness unto your lord, <vcii unto Saul, and have huried liini. |

0 And now '' tlic liOitn sliow kindness and Irntli unto you: and I also will rr(|nil<' \nn this kindness, because ye have done this thinj;.

7 Therefore now let your liands be slren<^llicned, and 'be ve valiant: lor yf)ur piaster Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me kin<»' over them.

10 Ish boshelh Sa ill's son xcas forty yearn old when he bef;an to reiijn over Israel, and rei';iied two yearo. I Jut the house of Judah followed David.

11 And 'the Mime that David was kinj^ in Hebron over the house of Judah was Hcven years and six months.

\'.i And Joab, the son of /eruiah, and the servants of David wenl out. and met "" toffc-

Verse 4. Anolnlcd Duvid hing"] He was anointed before by Samuel, hy wliicli he acquired./'(« ad rfi^niiin, a right TO the kingdom: liy tiie present anointing he had jus in retinn, authority ovir tiie kingdom. The other parts of the kingdom were, as yet, attached to the family of Saul.

Verse 5. David sent messengers unto — Jubes/i-gilead'] This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of tiavid's mind. He re.«pected Saul as his once legitimate sovereign; he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend. The former had greatly injured him, and sought his destruction; but even this did not cancel his respect for liini as the anointed of (lod, and as the king of Israel. '1 his brings to my rcniembrance that line speech of M. Saurin, when speaking of the banishment of the Protestants from France, by the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He thus at the Hague apostrophizes I.ie\»is XIV., their persecutor: El tui,piinee redoubtable., (/uejlioiiurui Judis comine moil rot, ct que j': rtspecte encore commc lejieau du Seigneur. " And thou, O formidable prince, whom 1 once honoured as my king, and whom [ still reverence as the scourge of the Lord!"

Verse 7. A'ow let your hands be strengthened^ D.ivid certainly wished to attach the men of Jubesh to his interest: lie saw that they were generous and valiant; and must be of great service to him whose part they espoused; and he was, no doubt, afraid that they would attach themselves to the house of Saul, in consideration of the eminent services Saul liad rendeieil them, in rescuing ll'.cm from ^Jahash, king of the Amu'.ouitfs.

Verse 8. Abner the son of Ner] This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul's army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions: he was probably envious of David's power, by v^hom he had often been outgeneraled in the field.

Verse 9. Made him king over Gileadl These were placet beyond Jordan; for, as the Philistines had lately routed tha Israelites, they were, no doubt, in posse-sion of some of the principal towns; and were now enjoying the fruits of their victory. Abner was, therefore, afraid to bring the new king to any place where he was likely to meet with much retistancr, till he had got his army well recruited.

\\'ho the Ashurites were, Is not generally agreed: probably, men of the tribe of Ashur.

Verse 10. Ifh-bosheth — reigned ttco I/ears'] It is well observed, that Ish-bosheth reigned nil the time that Da-id reigned in Ihbron; which was seven i/ears and «'x monthf. Perhaps the meaning of the writer is this: Ish-bosheth reigne<l two years before any but the tribe of Judah had attached themselves to the interest of David. Some think, that Abner in effect reigned the five la-t year«of Uh-bo>heth, who had only the name of king after the two tirst years.- Or, the text may be understood thus: t\'hcn Ifh-bosheth had reigned (iso years ovrr Israel, he seas forty years of use. Huubigant, dis-a'isfied with all the common modes of solution, proposes to read r:j',->U"J shcshith shanah, si^ years; for the z:-yj D'nc, shetim shanim, tvo years, of the text, which, he contends, is a folecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the wordb would be r:'£ ~'.—^, at they are everv where read in

■^B.c.' W53.' ther by * the pool of Gibeon: and Aa- Exoti. isr. they sat down, the one on tlie one Aoniantei. sidc of the pool, and the other on

14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said. Let them arise.

15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, wliich pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David,

16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called *" Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 T And there were "three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was ""as light ^ of foot '^as^ a wild roe.

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left ^ from following Abner.

the first Book: and nji:? is the reading of eleven of Kennicott's MSS. and nine of De Rossi's; but the number tico is acknowledged by all the ancient Versions, and by all the MSS. yet collated. The critical reader may examine Iloubigant on the place. After all, probably the expedition mentioned in the succeeding verses, is that to which the ■writer refers, and from which he dales. Ish-bosheth had reigned two years without any rupture with David, or his men, till under the direction of Abner, captain of his host, the Israelites passed over Jordan, from Mahanaim to Gibeon; and being opposed by Joab, captain of David's host, that battle took place which is described in the following verses.

Verse 14. Let the young men — plaj/ before us.^ This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-foui, (twelve on ■ each side,) fell down dead together! but this was the signal for that sanguinary skirmish which immediately took place.

Verse IG. Caught every one his fellozc by the /tear/] Probably by the beard, if these persons were not too young to have one; or by the hair of tiie head. Alexander ordered all the M,icfd3iiiins to shave their beards: and being asked by Parraenio, wiiy they should do so? answered, " Dost

20 Then Abner looked behind him, B.c.faw.' and said. Art thou Asahel? And he ^"- ^""^^ i^"'-

21 And Abner said to him. Turn "'^"P" "'" thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his 'armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should 1 smite thee to the ground? how then should 1 hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him '' under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner; and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 1[ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became

Helkulh-hazzurim] " The portion of the mighty;" or, " The inheritance of those who were slain," according to the Targum.

Verse 18. Asahel was as light of foot as a zcild roe.'\ To be sisift of foot, was deemed a great accomplishment in the heroes of antiquity: roSx; uikv; A;^(AXfuj, the snifl-footed Achilles, is an epithet which Homer gives to that hero no less than thirty times ifi the course of the Ilias. It was a qualification also among the Roman soldiers: they were taught both to run szciftiy, and to szcim v:ell.

Verse 21. Take thee his armour^ It seems Asahel wished to get the armour of Abner as a tropliy; this also was greatly coveted by ancient heroes. Abner wished to sj-'aro him, for fear of exciting Joab's enmity; but, as Asahel was obstinate in the pursuit, and was swifter of foot than Abner, the latter saw that he must either kill, or be killed; and therefore he turned his spear, and ran it through the body of AsaheL This turning about, that he might pierce him, is what we translate the hinder end of his spear. This slaying of Asahel cost Abner his life; as we shall find in the next chapter.

ever? kno\v('s( llioii no! tliiil i( will hf ImIIciiiohh in tlio liiUcr j-iuI '■: iiow loiif^' sluill il in' then, i-rc thou i)i(l llic people return iVoui followin^j their brethren?

y? And Joiil).said, ^4.s- (lod lived), unless ' (hou hsulst spoken, surely then '"in ihe inorninj;' the people had " f^r)ne up every one IVoin rollowiiig jiis hrodier.

iJH So Joiib blew a trumpet, and ull the people stood still, and |)ursue(l after Israel no more, neillicr l(iui;ht they any more.

Verse '27. And Juab.t«///] Ttie menninf; of tlii-; verse appears to be this: If Aimer liad not provoked the hiiltle, (see vi'r. 1-4.) Joab would not liavp iittarked tin- i-raelites thut dny; as his orders were probably to act on the defon-ive. Therefore, tlie bhunc fell upon Israel,

.'}() S And.liial) retunieil from follo-.sin? Abner: and when he had {•iilhercrj all llie [noplc topelher, there laeked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

;il Kut the servants of David had smiltrn of nenjamiu, and of Abner's men, »o ihal three hundred and threescore men died.

.'i'i 1i And thev ti'ok tip Asalul, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which wan in lieth-lehcm. And Joab an<l his men went all nij^ht, and tiicy came to Hebron at break of day.

the place whence they set out. — See ver. 12. This w«« the commeiicenient of the ciwi »ari between Israel and Judah: and properly the commcncemfnl of the division of the two kingdoms; through which both nations were deluged with blood.

Recount of the children born to David in I/cbron, I — 5. yll}ner being accused hy Ish-boshcth of famitiarities uilh Rizpnh, Saul's coiirtihine, he is enraf^rd; offers his services to David; f;oes to Hebron, and makes a liasriic icith him, G— 22. Joob, through enmilij to Abner, pretends to David that he came as a spj/, and should not be permitted to return, 23 — 25. J/e folloics Abner, and treacherous/i/ slays him, 26, 27. David hearing of it, is greatly incensed against Joab, and pronounces a curse upon him, and upon his family, 28, ^. lie commands a general mourning for Aimer, and himself follo-^s the bier xcceping, 30—32. David's lamentation ovtr Abner, 33,31. The people solicit Dmid to take mtat; but he fasts the zcholc day,■ and complains to them of the insolence and intrigues of Joab and his brothers; the people are pleased xcilh his conduct, 35 — 39.

ONV tliere was ions: war | between the house of Saul j aiiil the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stnuigerj

NOTES ON CHA1>. III. Verse 1. There zcas long s:ar] Frociueiit battles and skirmishes took place between the followers of David and

and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2 *1 And ' unto David were sons born '■ in Hebron: and his firstborn

the followers of Ish-bosheth, after the two years mentioned above, to the end of the fifth year, in which Ish-bosheth was slain by Kcchab and LJaaiuh. 7 P

Ish-bosheth, revolts lo David.

°'>"P—"- Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carniehte; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of "Geshur;

4 And the fourth, '' Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifths Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the sixth, Ithreani, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 H And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name ivas ' Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-hosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou '^gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Jni I ^ a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that tliou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this Avoman?

Verse 6. Abner made himself strong] This strengtlieoing of himself, and going in to the late king's concubine, were most evident proofs that he wished to seize upon the gOYernnient. — See 1 Kings ii. 21, 22. xii. 8. xvi. 21.

Verse 8. Am / a dog's head] Dost thou treat a man with indignity who has been the only prop of thy tottering kingdom; and the only person who could make head against the house of David r

Versc 9. Except, as the Lord hath suborn to David] And why did he not do this before, when he knew that God had given the kingdom to David? Was he not now, according to his own concession, fighting against God?

Verse Jl. He could not ansxccr Abner a tsord] Miserable is the lot of a king, who is governed by the general of his army; who may strip him of his power and dignity ■whenever he pleases! AVitncss the fate of poor Charles 1. of England, and Lewis XVI. of France. Military men, above all others, should never bo entrusted witi\ any civU power; and should be great only in the field.

9 " So do God to Abner, and more il.alas.' also, except, ' as tlie Lord hath ad. v.xoi. ut.

10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up t!ie throne of David over Israel and over Judah, ''from Dan evan to Becr-sheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

to David on his behalf, saying. Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

13 ^ And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, ' that is, ■" Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring " Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying. Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me ° for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines,

15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from •" Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 And her husband went with her ' along

already six zsives at Hebron; and none of them could have such pretensions to legitimacy as Michal, who had been taken away from him, and married to Phaltiel. However distressing it was, to take her from a husband who loved her most tenderly, (see verse 16.) yet prudence and policy required that he should strengthen his own interest in the kingdom as much as possible; and that he should not leaie a princess in the possession of a man, who might, in her right, have made pretensions to the throne. Besides, she was his ow n lawful wife; and he had a right to demand her w^hcn he pleased.

Verse 14. Deliver me my Kj/l-] It is supposed tliat be iTieant to screen Abner; and to prevent that violence which he might have used in carrying off Michal.

Verse 16. Weeping behind her] If genuine affection did not still subsist between David and Michal, it was a pity to have taken her from Phaltiel; wlio had her to wife from the conjoint authority of \\Qr futlier SlwI her king. Nevertheless David had a legal right to her, as she had never been divorced: for she was taken from him by the hand of violence.

18 Now IIkmi <1o i(: ' Inr llio Loun lialli s])ok(Mi of David, sayiiii;-, IW <Ih' IkiikI <d" my servant David i \\\\\ save my people Israel out of the liniid of tlic Pliili.slines, and out of (lie Imnd of ill! (heir eneniies.

I!) And.Vhneiaiso spake in llie ears of ' Ilenjainin: And Al)ner went also in spenk in the vnva of David in Hebron all that seemed ^ood to Israel, and that seemed ^ood lo the whole house of 15enjamin.

'20 So Ahncr came to David to Hebron, and twenty nicn vvilli him..And David made,\bncr and the men that were with him a feast.

21 And Abner said unto David, 1 will ari-e and pjo, and " v\ill gather all Israel unto my lord the i kini;-, that they niay make a league with thee, and (hat thou mayest ' reiftii over all that thine i heart desireth. And David sent Abner away;' and he went in peace.

'22 If And, behold (he servants of David and Joab came from ptirsititii^ a troop, and brought in a iireat spoil with them: but Abner ira^ not Avitii David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. '

'2',i When Joab and all the host that ica>^ with liim were come, they told Joal), saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he bath went him away, and be is gone in peace.

2.") 'Fhou kn«)wc»l Abner the Hon of Ner, that be came to dereivc thee, and to know * thy going out and thy enniing in, and (o know all that thou doost.

2<i.\nd when iloab \v;is (nup- mil liom David, he sent messengers after Abner, wliicli brought him again from (be well of Sirah: but I>dvid knew it not.

'^7 And when Abner was relumed to Hebron,.Joab ''took him aside in tlie gate to speak with him ' f|uietly, and smote him there ' under the lifdi rif), that he died, for the blood of ' Asahcl his brother.

28 '1.\nd afterward when David heard //, be said, I and my kingdom arc guiltless before the Fjonn for ever from the '" blood of Abner tbe.son of Ner:

29 " Let it rest on the bead of Joab, and on all bis fathers house; and let (here not "fail from the house of Joab one '' that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leanetli on a stafl". or that falleth on the sword, or that lackcth bread.

30 So Joab and Abisbai bis brdher slew Abner. because be had slain their brother ■■ Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 H And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with bim, 'Rend your clothes, and "gird you witli sackcloth, and moura before Abner. And king David himself followed the ' bier.

32 And they buried.\bner in Hebron: and

Verse IS. The Lord hath spohen of David] }l'here is this rpolvoi)? Such a promise is not extant. Perhaps it means no more than, " Thus, it may be presumed, God hath determined."

Verse '21. fic::eiit in peace] David dismissed liim in good faith, having no sinister design in reference to him.

Verse 47, And smole him there] Joab feared that, after having rendered such essential services to David,.\bner would be m;\de captain of the host: he, therefore, determined (o prevent it, by murdering the man, under pretence of avenging the deatli of his brother Asahel.

The murder, however, was one of the most unprovoked and wicked: and sucii was the power and influence of this nefarious general, that the king dared not to bring him to justice for his crime. In the same way he murdered AmatOj a little lime afterwards. — See ch. xx rer. 10. Joab was a cool-blooded, finished murderer. — " Treason and murder ever keep together, like two yoke-devils."

Verse 29. Lei it rest on the haul] All these verbs may he rendered in the future tense: it iciU rest on the head of Joab, &c. Thi^ was a prophetic declaration, which suniciently shewed the displeasure of God against this execrable man.

Verse 31. David said to JoaO] He comm.indcd him ti> take on him the part of a priscipal monruer.

■*B.c'.wl8.' t'le king^ lifted up his voice, and wept A"- K|wi- 1*"^- at the grave of Abner; and all the

Anno ante I. people Wept.

31 Thy hands vcere not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before '' wicked men, so fel'.cst thou. And'all the people wept again over him.

35 And when all the people came " to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, ^ So do God to me, and more also, if 1 taste bread, or ought else, " till the sun be down.

3i} And all the people took notice of it.

Verse 33. The king lamented over Abner'] This lamentation, tliough sliort, is very patlielic. It is a liigh strain of poetry; but the jncnsure cannot be easily ascertained. Our own translation may be measured thus: —

Died Abner as a fool dieth?

Thy hands were not bound,

Nor thy feet put into fetters.

As a man falletti before the wicked,

A death like to a villain's?

Nor were the fetters to thy feet applied.

Like as one fills before the sons of guilt, lie was not taken away by the hanil of jus/ice, nor in battle, nor by accident: he died the death of a culprit, by falling into the hands of a villain.

This song was a heavy reproof to Joab; and must have galled him extremely, being sung by all the people.

Verse 36. The people took notice] They saw that the king's grief was sincere, and that he had no part nor device in the murder of Abner: see ver. 37.

and it ' pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38 And (he king said unto his servants. Know

ye not that there is a prince fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I am this day anointed king'; and these Zeruiah '' he too hard for shall reward the doer of his wickedness.

though sons of tlie Lord to tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government.

T/ioiigh anointed king] I have little else than the title: Jirst, having only one tribe under my government; and, secondly, the sons of Zeruiah, Joab, aud his brethren, having usurped all the power, and reduced me to the shadow of royalty.

The Lord shall rezcard the doer of evil] That is Joab, whom he appears afraid to name.

We talk much of ancient manners, their simplicity and iti' genuousness; and say, that the former days were better than these. But who says this who is a judge of the times? In those days of celebrated simplicity, &c. there were not so many crimes as at present I grant: but what they wanted in number, they made up in degree; deceit, cruelty, rapine, murder, and zcrong of almost every kind, then flourished. JVe are refined in our vices; they were gross and barbarous in theirs: they had neither so many tcays, nor so many meansy of sinning; but the sum of their moral turpitude was greater than ours. We have a sort of decency and good breeding^ which lay a certain restraint on our passions; they were boorish and beastly, and their bad passions ever in full play. Civilization prevents barbarity and atrocity; mental cultivation induces decency of manners: those primitive times were generally without these. Who that knows them would wish such ages to return?

Some account of Rrchnb and Baanafi, two of Jsh-bosheth's captains; and of Mcphi-boshelh, the son of Jonu' than, 1 — 4. Rechab and Baanah murder Jsh-hosheth, and escape; and bring his head to David, 5 — 8. Dalid is grealli/ irritated, and commands than to be slain, 9 — 12,

2 II And Saul's son had two nn ii that icrrc cnplains of bands: tlic name ol llic one tiy/.s Haanali, and the nairic of tlic ' otiicr Ilcrliah, tito sf>ns of Himnion a liccrolliitr, of the cliildreMi of lirnjiimin: (for '' Ik'crolli also was rcckonc<l to 15i iijainin:

3 And till' Ik'orolliitrs lied to ' (Jillaini, and were sojournors there until this da}.)

4 And 'Jonathan, Saul's son, had a 8f)n t/iat •wan hnue of hin tcet. lie was five years old Avhen the tidings came of Saul and.lonathan "out of Jezreel, and his nurse look him np, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and hecanic lame. And his name zcas '' Me|)hil)oslu th.

5 And the sons of Himmon the Bccrothite, Rechab and Baanah, nent, and came about (he! heal of llie day to the house of Ish-bosheth, uho lav f'U a bed at noon.

6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched

Verse 1. All (lie Israelites tcere troubled.'] Abiier was their preat support; niul ou him thpy depended: for, it appears that l>h-bosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a so»ere!:;ii.

Verse 2. Captains of bands'] Principes leUronum, captains of banditti, -^ays the I'ulgalc: the.S^r/V/c is the same. Whether Ish-boslieth kept bands of marauders, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry oil" grain, provisions, cattle, &c. we know not: but such persons would be «tll (lualified lor the bloody ■work in which those two nu n wpre afterwards employod.

Verse 3. The lieerothiltsjkd to Uittaim] Probably the same as Goth: as Ramathaim is the same as Rama.

Verse 4. He felt, and became lame] Dislorated his ancle, knee, or tlugh; which was never after reduced: and thus lie became lame. Lovely Jonathan! unfortunate in thy life, and in thy progeny.

Verse 5. Lay en a bed at noon.] It is a custom in all hot countries, to travel or work very «'«/■/»/, and very /o/e/ and rest at tiocn day, in wliich the Iteut chittly prevails.

Verse 6 As i!io«gh tlici) tcould hare fetched liheat] The king's stores were probably near his own dwelling; and these

7 For when he came into the "'>"»••"«• house, he lay on his bed in his bedehainber, and they Kiiiole him, and slew him, ami beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them auay through the plain all night.

H.And they brought the head of Mihoslielh unto David lo Hebron, and said to the king, IJelioid tin bead of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, 'which sought thy hfe; and the Loud hath avenged my lord the king tliis day of Saul, and of his seed.

y f And David answered U*'chab and Haaiiah his brother, the sons of llinimou the IJeerothite, and said unto them. Ah ilic Lord livetli, ' who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10 \\hen '"one told me, saying. Behold, Saul is dead, "thinking to have brought go(»d tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, "who thought that 1 would have given him a reward for his tidings:

men were accustomed to go thither for prori-lrns for (hem. stives, their cattle, and their men. Thi- M.,po.iiion, which is natural, renders unnecessary all the emendations of Houbiganl and others.

As these men were accustomed to bring wheat from lhe?e stores, from which it appears there was an ea-y passage to Ihe kine's chamber, cspe. ially if we ccnlder this a summerhouse, as it most probably was; no man would suspect their present errand, as they were in the habit of going frequently to that place.

Verse S. They brought the head— unto Dasid] They ihpuglit, as did me poor i^infi Amalekile, to ingratiate themselves with David, by this abot;iinable act.

V^erse 9. fVho hath micemed my soul out of aU adrersi/y] This was, in David's case, a vrrj pro(>er view of the goodness and watchful Providence of Gcd towards him. llis life was frequently in danurr: D^^urderers had often laid wait for it; but Ciod, the living Gi.d, had always redeemed that life frcm all adversity; and called on him now to punish such evil-minded iiiid I Uod-thir«tv men.

Verse U). A record for his liaihgt] 'il thi fj-c h-jreu 1-ja.yyckix, Septuagml. here is a proof that ftayyfAjer, e-cangelium, or goqiel, siguibes the reaard which the bringer

11 How much more, when wicked

hlood of your hand, and take you away from the

12 And David '" commanded his young men.

of good tidings is entitled to receive. See my Preface to St. Matthew 's Gospel.

Verse 11. //ojo mucli more] Here are several things which aggravated the guilt of those wicked men. 1. Ishbosheth was an innocent?nan, and therefore none could have any ground of quarrel against him. 2. He was in his ozsn house, which was his sanctuary, and none but the worst of men would disturb him there. 3. He was upon his bed, resting in the heat of the day, and so free from suspicion that he was not even attended by his guards; nor had he his

and they slew them, and cut olT their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the ' sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

doors secured. To take away the life of such a man,!a such circumstances, whom also they professed to hold as their sovereign, was the most abandoned treachery.

Verse 12. And they slew them] None ever more richly deserved death: and, by this act of justice, David shewed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destructioa of Saul's family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with condign punishment, lu all these cases I know not that it was possible for David to shew more sincerity, or a stricter regard for justice.

The elders of all the tribes of Israel came and anointed David king over all Israel, 1 — 5. lie goes against the Jebustles, and lakes the slrong-hokl ofLion, and aflerzcards the city itself; which is called the citij of David, G — 9. David's prosperity, and friendship u)ith Hiram, king of Tj/re, 10 — 12. He takes more concubines, and begets several sons and daughters, 13 — 16. The Philistines gather together against him in the valleij of Rephaim; he defeats them; they abaitdon their idols, and David and his men burn them, 17 — 21. They assemble once more in the -alley of Rephaim, and David smiles them from Geba to Gazer, 22 — 25.

3 * So all the elders of Israel came to the

Hebron ^ before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4? David was thirty years old when he began to reign, '' and he reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah ' seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he

THEN 'came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying. Behold, '' we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over xis, ' thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, "^ Thou shall feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

Verse 1. Then came all the tribes of Israel] Ish-bosheth the king, and Abner the general, beliij; dead, they had no hope of maintaining a separate kingdom, and therefore thought it br'ltPr to submit to D.ivid's authority. And tlioy founded their resolution on /Arec ^ood nrguincuts: — 1. David «as their own couDlrymau; ice are tlij/ bone, and thy Jlesh.

2. Even in Saul's time David had been their general; and had always led them to victory: Thou least he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel. 3. God had appointed him to the kingdom, to govern and protect the people — The Lord said to thee. Thou shalt feed my people, and be a captain oner oiyH.i..272. ^^,^.,,^.,,^, Jcnisali-m uiilo "(lic.Icbusilcs, (lie iiiliiiliidinls of the land: which '-piikr unto David, s;i.\iiii;', Ivvrcpt tlinii takeaway (he hhnd and tlic lame, tlioit shall not come in liither: ' tliinkin^j^, David cannot conic in liilhcr

7 Novel lIuU'ss David took tlic slronj^ hold ol' Zion: '' the same is the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever gcttcth U|) lo (he f;iitt('r, and sniitcth tlic Jchiisites, and the lame and (lie l)liiid, thai arc haled of David's soni, 'he shall he chirf rnul raplnin. ' Whcrerore they said. The blind and the lame shall not romc into the house.

i) So David dwelt in the fori, and called it 'the city of David. An<l David hiiilt round about from Miilo and inward.

time that David was anointed, having now taken possession of the Khole kingtlom.

Verse G. The king and his men tcent lo Jerusulcnt'] This city was now in the hands of the Jebusites: but how they got possession of it is not known; probably tlicy took it during the wars lictween Ish-l)osiieth and David. After Jo-.shua's death, wliat is called the hzcer cilj/, was taken by the Israelites: and it is e vidriit (hat the whole city was in their possession in the time of Saul; for David brought the head of Goliatli thither, 1 Sam. xvii. 54. It appears to have been a very strong fortress; and, from what follows, deemed imprcgiialile by the Jebusites. It was right that the Israelites should repossess it: and David very properly began his reign over the whole country by the siege of this city.

Except thou fake aicai/ the blind and the lame'] Scarcely a passage in the Sacred Oracles has puzzled commentators more than this. For my own part I do not think that it is worth the labour spent upon it; nor shall I ei\cumber these pages with the discordant opinions of learned men, From the general face of the text, it appears that the Jebusites, vainly confiding in the strength of their fortress, placed lame and blind men upon the walls, and thus endeavoured to turn into ridicule David's attempt to take the place. Thou shall not come in hither, except thou take aicnjj the blind and the lame / nothing could be more cutting to a warrior.

Dr. Kennicolt has taken great pains to correct this passage; as may be seen in his First Dissertation on tlie Uehrezc Text, pag. '27 to 47. I shall insert our present Version with his amended text, line for line; his translation being distin-

!.'{ ':.\nd 'David (m.k hii/i more roiicnbinek and wives out of Jernsalem. after he was come IVoin llel'ron: and there were yet sons and daiij^hters horn to D.ivid.

14 And '" these be the names of thos« that were born unto him in Jerusalem; " Shammuah, and Sliobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

Verse 0. And the king and his men wont to Jcrus.ilem unto K. — And the king and his men zccnt to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; who.<pakc unta K. the Jebusites, the inhabitants uf the land i uho sjmke unto

David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and tha K. David, saying; Thou shall not come in hither; for the lame, thou shall not come in hither; thinking, David K. blind and the lame shall drive thee au:ay by saj/ing, " David cannot come in hither. Ver. 8. And David said —

K. shall not come in hitlwr.'' Ver. 8. And David said —

Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebn- K. ll'hosocvcr smiteth the Jebusites, and through the subterra- sites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's K. neous passage, reacheth the lame and the blind, zclto hale the soul, wherefore they said. The blind and the lame K. life of David, {because the blind and tlie lame said, " He shall not come into the house. ♦ • • • K. shall not come into the house,") shall be chief and ctpiain.

Verse 11. Jliram king of 7yre] He was a very fricodly man: and, no doubt, a believer in the trac God. He was not only the friend of David, but also of his son Solomon; to whom, in building the temple, he afforded the most important assistance.

Verse 13. David took him more concubina'] He had, in all conscience, cnnw before: he had, in the whole, ei^ht

heard of it, ''and went down to the hold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in ^the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David ^ enquired of the Lord, saying. Shall I go up to the Piiilistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine band? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Ph'listines into thine hand.

20 And David came to ^Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said. The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the

teives, and ten concubines. That dispensation permitted /jo/^/- gamy; but from the beginning it was not so: and as, upon an average, there are about/ou/Veen males born to thirteen females, polygamy is unnatural, and could never have entered into the original design of God. j

Verse 14. These be the names'] Eleven children are here enumerated in the Hebrew text; but the Septuaginl has no less than twenty-foar. I shall insert their names; and the Reader, if he please, may collate them with the text — | Sammus, Subab, Nathtin, Solumon, Ebear, Elisue, Naphek, Jephifs, Elisaina, Eiiilae, El/phetath, Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galiinaan, Jebaur, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Napheic, Jonathan, Leasamus, Baalewalh, and Eliphaath. There is, no doubt, some corruption in these names: there are two of the name of Nathan, two of Eliphelath, and two of Naphek; and probably Sammus and Samae are the same. I

Verse 17. The Philistines came up to seek David] Ever since the defeat of the Israelites, and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now. finding that David was chosen king by the whola nation, they thought best to attack him before his army got too numerous, and the affairs of the kinj^dom properly settled.

Verse 19. David crKjuircd of the Lord] He considered himseli only tiie captain of the Lord's host; and, therefore, would not strike a stroke without the command of his! Superior. 1 name of that place '' Baal-perazim.

21 And there they left their images, and David and his men 'burned''

22 T ' And the Philistines came again, and spread themselves in the Rephaim.

23 And when '" David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shailt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24 And let it be, when thou " hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then "shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines frorq ■" Geba until thou come to '^ Gazer.

Verse 20. The Lord hath broken forth] He very pro.t perly attributes the victory to Jehovah; without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing.

Baal-perazim] The plain, or chief of breaches, because of the breach which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commemorated the Interference of the Lord.

Verse 21. Thei/ left their images] It was the custom of most nations to carry their gods with them to battle; in imitation of this custom the Israelites once took the ark, and lost it in the field. — See 1 Sam. iv.

Verse 23. Fetch a compass behind them] When they may be had, God will network without using human means. By this he taught David caution, prudence, and dependence on the Divine strength.

Verse 24. fVhen thou hearest the sound of a going] If there had not been an evident supernatural interference, David might have thought that the sleight, or ruse de guerre, which he had used, was the cause of his victory — By the going in the tops of the mulbern/ trees, probably only a rustling among the leaves is intended. The Targum savs a noise; the Arabic has it, the noise nf horses' hoofs.

Verse 25. And David did so] He punctually obeyed the directions of the Lord, and then every thing succeeded to his wish.

How is it that such supernatural directions and assistances are not communicated now? Because they are not asked for; and they are not asked for, because they are not ex- pPCtod; niiil llipy nri- no! rxpoclcd, hnrause mPn hiivo not fuilli: mill tlio) liiiTC mil fiiidi, hccau'C llicy nrc under:i refilled it|iiiit "I AlliPiiin; mid havf no ii|iirituul iiifereoufe vilh tlioir Milker. W'lin bclicTCit thiit God apcii all tilings, an<l is pvpry where? Wlio su|)[)i)iP>i tlial lie concprii'i Iliiiisi'lf Willi ihp allftirs of His ricature'i? Who in know ll■llf;e^ iliiii In nil Ills wayi? \V Im |iiil'> not his ntvii w JMloin, prudtnco, niul strrnnlli, in the pincc of God Alniif^lity? — lleiulpr, Imst lliutt fiiiili in (<iid? Thru exorcise il, cultivntp il, mid lliou mnyest ri'mon' inountains.

ll is worthy of leiiiark, thai D.ivul was, hy Ihp nppoinlinent of (Jod, to Jml tin: ]>cv/>ic: us hp had forniprly the cure (if II (lock of sliP""]!, wlileh In' was to watch over, defend, |pad in and onl, uiid fur which ho wan to find pasture; now he is to watch over, defend, lead in and out, feed, and pro. led, the IsraelilPs. IJe i^ to he //if shrjilicrd of the ]>ci>j)le; not the tyrant or oppressor.

In ancient times, amoiii' llip (jreeks, kings were denoniiiiatp*! Koiij-eves.Vaou, shrphcnh of the people; and all good kings were roiilly such: hut, in |>ro(P5s of time, this plpaiing title was changed for /3a<ri>.tuj and rvpciyyo!, sovereign;iMd Ijraitt; in neither of which names does any thing of the t'rii;iiial title exist. And such arc thediflerrnt p<dilical cnnstituliiMis of the kingdoms of the earlh; that il i^ iinpossihle that ill aiiv of llieni, the liri/ish excepted, the king can he the sliephenl and Julhcr of his people. All tl'C other regal constiiulioiis under the sun pprniit the sovereign to he despotic; and, consi'iinpnlly, cyiyi/T.vsiVc and /^ratitiical, if he plcasr. TliP Ihitiih alone gi>ei no power of this kind to the

I prince: hy the ronstilution he is a jxilriotic king; and, by ' till- iiiHuencp of tho'.c maxim* of mate which are conlinuslly I preienled to hii view, and nccording to nhich all m.U of go- I rernniont arc formed, he bccomcH hiihitiiiilti/ iUefathtr of hii people; and in this light along do tl.e llritihb people behold the llritisli king.

David, hy hii own iiulhority, uithuul any furin of lun, I cuuld slay the Amalekite who taid hp had killed Saul; and could cut nfl' the heado of Rechnh and Baanah, who murdered Ish-bosheth: but, in the governinenl of Hrilain, the culprit is to be heard in hit t indicaliou, wilncet are to be ei> I uniined, the factn viewed hy an upright judge in the light of; the Uw; and then the alleged criminality n left to the de- ' citinn of twelve honest mcD| the rquaN of the accused, who I are bound hy a solemn oalh to decide weorJin;; to the evidence brought before them. The Israalili'h conslitulion wa* radically good; but the lirilith constitution is much belter. { 111 the former, while the king ruled according to the ipiril of the coiiAlilution, he could do no wrong, because he was only the i'/cc^'crc;i/ of the Almighty; in the latter, thp king can do no wrong, because he is hound both by the spirit anil letter oi the law, to do nothing but what is according to the rules of eternal justice and equity, laid down in that law: nothing is left to iiipre rpgal power or authority; and oothing trusted to human fickleness or caprice. In all his acts he it directed by his nobles and commons; who, being the representatives of all classes of the people, are always supposed to -peak their mind. Well may it be said. Blessed are the people who are in such a case!

])inid goes, zcilh tliirly tlioiisand dkii, to bring tlie urk from Kirjalh-jcarim to Jerusalem, 1 — 5. The oxen slumhliiig, Vzzali, iclto drove the cart on tiliich the ark icas placed, put forth his hand to saze it from falling: the I^ord nas displiascd, and smote him so that he died, 6, 7. David, being alarmed, carries the ark to the house of Obid-idom, 8 — 10. Here it remained three months; and God prospered Obed-cdom, in zihose liottse it Zk'iis deposited, 1 1. David, hearing of this, brings the ark, zcilh sacri/iees and sutemn rejoicings, to Jerusalem, I'J — i.7. Miehal, seeing David dance before the ark, despises him, 10. Jle offers burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and deals among all the people, men and n'omen, a cake of bread, a good pitce of /lesh, and a flagon of ivine each, 17 — 19. Miehal coming to meet him, and seeing him dance extravagantly before the ark, reproaches him for his conduct: he vindicates himself, reproves her, and site dies childless, 20 — 2J.

AG.VIN, David jjathcrcd t(>gether all the chosen men of Israel^ thirty thousand. 2 And 'David arose, and went with i name is called by tlie name of the

Verse 1. Thirti/ Ihousand.l This is supposed to have been a new levy; and thus he augmented his army by 30,000 fjesh troops. The Septuagiiit has 70,000.

Verse 2. From Baale of Judah"] This is supposed to be the same city which, in Josh. xv. 60. is called Kirjath-baal, or Kirjath Jcarim: see I Cbrou. xiii. 6.; or Baalah, Josh.

3 Atid they "set the ark of God " upon a new cart, and brought it house of Abinadab that loas in ^Gi- Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abi-! nadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of * the house of Abinadab which icas at Gibeah, ' accompanyin"- the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. I

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instru7nenls made of fir-wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. i

6 H And when they came to ^ Nacon's tlireshin""-floor, Uzzah ■■ put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen ' shook it.

7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled i against Uzzah; and '' God smote him there for | his ' error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the Lord

had *" made a breach upon Uzzah: ^b.c.ioiI!' and he called the name of the place An. Exod. Ur. ° Perez-uzzah to this day. Anno antei.

9 And "David was afraid of the o'y°^'J^ Lord that day, and said. How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-cdom p the Gittite.

1 1 '^.\nd the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord ' blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.

Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and a\\ ihdt pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. ' So David went and Ijrought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into tlie city of David with gladness.

13 And it was so, that when * they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone si.\ paces, he sacrificed "oxen and fatlings.

14 And David " danced before the Lord with

Whose name is called by the name of the Lord] That is, the ark is called the ark of the Lord of hosts. But this is not a literal yersion: the word aur shem, name, occurs twice together; probably one of them should be read Sw sham, TUF.RE. There the name of the Lord of hosts was invoked, &c.

Verse 3. A nea cart] Every thing used iu the worship of God was hallowed, or set apart for that purpose: a new i cart was used through respect, as that had never been applied to any profane or common purpose. But this was not sufficient, for the ark should have been carried on the shoulders of the priests; and the neglect of this ceremony ' was the cause of the death of Uzzah.

Verse 5. On all manner o/' instruments made of /ir-zcooil] This place should be corrected from the parallel place, 1 Chron. xiii. 8. — " All Israel played before God, with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, &c." Instead of 'i-y hD2 hecnl ct.icij, "with all woods," or " trees;" the parallel place is ij; ^33 becol az, " with all their strength:" this makes a good sense, the first: makes none. The Sepluagint, in this place, has the same I reading; ev in'yyi, tcith might. I

Verse 7. Smote hint therefor his error] Uzzah sinned through ignorance and precipitancy: he had not time to reflect; the oxen suddenly stumbled; and, fearing lest the ark should fall, he suddenly sti etched out his hand to prevent it.; Had he touched the ark with impunity, (he populace might have lost their respect for it, and its sacred service; the example of Uzzah must have filled them with fear and sacred reverence: and, as to Uzzah, no man can doubt of his eternal safety. lie committed a sin unto death; but, doubtless, the mercy of God was extended to his soul.

Verse 10. But David carried it aside] The house of Obed-edom appears to have been very near the city: they were about to enter it, but were prevented by this accident, and lodged the ark with the nearest friend.

Verse 11. The Lord blessed ObcJ-cdom] And why? Bocause he had the ark of the Lord in liis house. Whoever entertains God's messengers, or consecrates his house to the service of God, will infallibly receive God's blessing.

Verse 12. So David — lirought up the ark] The f^ulgate adds to this verse: And David had seven choirs, and a calf fur a sacrifice. The Septuugint make a j^reater addition: " And he had seven choirs carrying the ark, a sacrifice, a ir» And "^ as (In- ark of the Loko (anic into tlie city of Davul, Miclial Saul's dan;;lil(r looked tlu'oni;!) a window, and saw kinf;' David lca|)inf;- and dancinj; brlorc the Loiin; and slii; despised him in her heart. |

17 H ''And they hronglit in (he aik of (he I/onn, and set it in ' his plare, in the midst of the tahcrnacle that David had 'pitched for it: and David "odered hnrnt-ofl'crini^s and peace-! oIleringH before the l^niu). I

18 And as soon a.s David had made an end of offcrinj;^- 1)urnt-olVerini;H and peacc-od'erin^s, 'he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19 ' And he dealt anionpf all (he |)eople, even amow^ the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of

calf, and iambs. And Duvid played on harmonious organs before tlic Lord; and UaTid was clothed with ii (•o^lly tunic; and David, and all the hou>e of Israel, brought the ark of the Lord with rejoicin<;, and the sound of a trumpet." Nothing of this is found in any MS.; nor in the Clialdce, the Si/riac, nor the Arabic; nor in the parallel place, 1 Chron. XT. 25.

Verse IG. She despised him in her heart.'] She did not blame him outwardly; she thought he had dii^graced himself, but she kept her mind to herself.

Verse IS. lie Messed the people in the name of the Lord'] David acted here as priest, for it was the general prerogative of the priests to bless the people: but it appears, by both David and Solomon, that it was the prerogative of the kings also.

Verse 19. A cake of bread] Such as those which are baked without leaven, and arc made very thin.

A good piece of llesh, antl ajlagon of wine] The words ofjiesh, and of zciiw, we add; they are not in the Hebrew. The Chaldec translates one part, and one portion; but all the other Versions understand the Hebrew as wc do.

Verse "20. To bless his household] This was according to the custom of the i>atriarchs, who were priests in their own families. It is worthy of remark, that David is called patriarch by Stephen, Acts ii. 29.; though liring upwards of four hiindrcdye^TS after the termination of the (latriarchal age.

20 "J ' 'i'hen David returned (o blchs hiu household Anil.Miihal the daughter <.f Saul (ame out to meet David, and said. How i:lorious was the king of Kracl to-day, who

' uner)vered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the "" vain fellows " hhamelcssly uncovereth himself

yi.\n(l David said unto.Mk hal, ll wan beOjre the liORD, " which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people oi' the Loko, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Loud.

2'2.\nd i will yet he more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and •■ of I the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

y.'> 'I'lierefore.Mic hal the daughter of Saul had no child '' unto the day of her death.

irony. From what Michal says, it is probable that David used some violent gesticulations, by means of which some parts of his body became uncovered. But it is very probable that wc cannot guess all that was implied in this reproach.

Verse 21. It tk^s before the Lord, shich chose me] David felt the reproach, and was strongly irritated; and seems to have spoken to Michal with sulTicient asperity.

Verse 22. I icill yet be more vile] The plain meaning of these words appears to be this: '' 1 am not ashamed of humbling myself before that God who rejected thy father because of his ohstinacj/ and pride, and chose me in his stead to rule His people: and even those maid-servants, when they come to know the motive of my conduct, shall acknowledge its propriety, and treat me with additional respect; and as for thee, thou shall find that thy conduct is as little pleasing to God as it is to me." Then it is said, Michal hud no child till the datj of her death: probably David never more took her to his bed; or God, in liis Providence, might have sabjectcd her to barrenness, which in Palestine was coodidered both a misfortune and a reproach. Michal formed her judgment without reason; and meddled with that which she did not understand. AVe should be careful how we attribute actions, the reasons of which we cannot comprehend, to motives which may appear to us unjustifiable or ab'urd. Kash judgments are f/ouft/i/ pernicious; they hurt those who form them, and those of whom they are formed.

David consults the prophet Nathan about building a temple for the Lord, and is encouraged brj him to do it, I — 3. That night Nathan receives a revelation from God, stating thai Solomon, not David, should build the temple, 4 — 16. Nathan delivers the Divine message; and David magnifies God /or J£is mercies, and makes prai/er and supplication, 17 — 29.

ND it came to pass, * when the king sat in his house, and the LoKD harl given him rest round about from a!i his enemies;

2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet. See now, 1 dwell in ""a house of cedar, 'but the ark of God dwellefh within ■* curtains.

3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is ' in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

4 f And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying,

5 Go and tell ^ my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, ^ Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?

6 Whereas I have not dwelt in ani/ house ^ since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day; but have walked in ' a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 In all the places wherein I have '' walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word

Verse 1. JVhen the Icing sat in his housel That is, when he became resident in the palace which Hiram, king of Tyre, had built for him.

J lid the LoBD had given him restl This was after he had defeated the Philistines, cast them out of all the strong places in Israel which they had possessed after the o?erthrow of Saul; but before he had carried his arms beyond the land of Israel, against the Moabites, Syrians, and Idumeans. See chap. viii.

Verse 2. / dzcell in a house of cedar'] That is, a house whoFC principal beams, ceiling, and wainscot, were cedar.

Dzcellelh mlhin curtains.'] Having no other residence but the tabernacle, which was a place covered with the skins of beasts, Exod. xxvi.

Verse 3. Nathan said to the king] In this case he gavt his judgment, as a pious and prudeni man, not as a prophet: for the prophets were not always under a Divine afflatus: it was only at select times they were thus honoured.

with ' any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded "" to feed my people Israel, saying. Why build ye not me a house of cedar?

8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Loud of hosts, ° I took thee from the sheepcote, " from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

9 And ■■ I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, ''and have cut oif all thine enemies ■■out of thy sight, and have made thee 'a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will ' plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; "neither shall the cliildren of wickedness afflict them any more, as bet'oretime.

11 And, as ^ since the time that I commanded

that thou dost; and this pious design of thine will most certainly meet with His approbation.

Verse 5. Shalt thou build me a house?] That is. Thou shalt not: this is the force of the interrogative in such a case.

Verse 7. IVilh any of the tribes] " Spake I a word to any of the judges,''^ is the reading in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xvii. 6.; and this is probably the true reading. — Indeed, there is but owe letter of difference between them; and letters which might easily be mistaken for each other: 'Cac shibtcy tribes, is almost the same iji appearance, with 't2Si:f shophtey judges; the 3 beth, and the 3 phe, being the same letter, the apex under the upper stroke of the s phe excepted. If this were but a little effaced in a MS. it w^ould be mistaken for the other, and then we should have tribes instead of judges. This reading seems confirmed by ver. II.

Veise 11. The Loud — tcill make thee a house.] Thou hast in thy heart to make tne a house; I have it in my heart to make Ihce a house: thy family shall be built up,

VI • And ' wluMi (liy days lie riiiliilid, Jiiid (liou ' slialt sleip with thy latheri; ' I will ""et up thy seed after tiicc, which shall |)mcecd out of thy Ixiuels, and I will estahli.-h his kiiif^dom.

I.'{ ' lie shall huild a house tor my iiaiiie, and 1 will '■ stablish the throne of his kiii-^-dom for ever.

I f '' I will be his father, and Ik; siiall Ite my son. ' If he commit initjuity, I will chasten him wilh the rod of men, and with the stripes of the ehililreii of men:

\[i Hut my mercy shall not depart away from hini, '"as I took (7 from Saul, whom 1 put auay before thee.

K) And ' thine house and thy kini;(lom shall be established tor ever before thee: thy throne khall be established for ever.

and shall prosper in the throne of Israel; and tliy spiritual posterity slinll remain for ever. CJod is the Author of all our holy pur|)0^cs, us well as of our good works: He first excites them; and, if we be workers together with Iliiw, lie will crown and reward them as though thoy wore our own, though He is their sole.\nthor.

Verse 13. lie shall build] That is, Solomon shall build Biy temple, not thou; because Ihou hast shed bloud abundantlij, and hast made great zcars, — See 1 Cliron. x.xii. H.; and sec the Observations at the end.

The throne of his kingdom for ever.'] This is a reference to the government of the spiritual kingdom; the kingdom of the Messiah, agieeably to the pre<lictions of the prophet long after, and by which this passage is illustrated: " Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end; upou the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it aud establish it with judgment and justice, from henceforth, even fou kveii." Isa. ix. 7.

Verse I I. //' he, (Solomon,) commit iniquity'^ Depart from the holy commandment delivered to him: / icill chasten him icilh the rod of men: he shall have allliction, but his government shall not be utterly subverted. I3ut this has a higher meaning. — See the Observations at the end.

\'crse 16. Hut nii/ mcrct/ shall not depart azcayfrom him, us 1 took it from Saul] His house shall be a lasting house,

Is ■.. 'riirii went kiii^ David ill, " '""Pand ual before the liOiiD, and he said, '* Who am I, (> I. OKI) Ciod ^ and what is my IiouhCj tiiat llioti |ia><l brought me hillierlo?

I<.).\nd this waw yet a small tiling; in thy '■i^bl. () IiOUi> (lOi); " but thou hast H|>oken also of tliy servant's house for a ^reat wlidc tr) c oiiie "Ami is this the ''manner of man, O i.ouu fiod -

20.\nd what can David say more unto thee ' for thou, Loiin (iod, ''knowcst thv servant.

21 l"'or thy word's sake, and acroidiii"^ to thine own heart, hast ihou done all these great things, to make thy servant know ihern.

22 Wherefore ' thou art };reat, O [..oiin fiod: for * l/icrc is none like thee, neither ix l/urc ani) (lod beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

and he shall die in the throne of Israel, his children succeeding him; and the spiiitual Seed, Chiist, possessing and ruling in that throne lo the end of time.

The family of SjuI became totallj extinct: the family of Da\iJ remained till the incarnation. Joseph and.Mary were both of that family; Jesus was the only llcir to the kingdom of Israel: He did not choose to fit on the secular throne, He ascended the spiritual throne; and now He is exalted to tha right hand of Ciod, a I'ui.sce and a Saviour, ts give repentance and remission of sins.^-See the Oboervatioos at the end of the chapter.

Many have applied these verses and thair paraUcIt to support the doctrine of unconditional final perseverance: but with it the text has nothing to do; ar.d were we lo prc<i5 it, because of the antitype, Solomon, the doctrine would most evidently bo ruined; because there is neither /j/oo/" nor evidence of Solomon's salvation.

Verse 19. And is this the manner of man~l Literally: And this, O Lord God, is the laxc of Adam. Does he refer to the promise made to Adam, The seed of the soman shall bruis€ the head of the serpent.-' From my line shall the.Messiah spring, and be the spiritual and triumphant King, for ever and ever? — See the additions at the end.

Verse ^0. ll'hat can David say more'] How can I express my endless obligation to tbce

■'ij.c.'foi'l.' thy people, even like Israel, whom *"• ^^°''- 1*""- God went to redeem for a people to Annoantei. liimself, aiid to make him a name,

^'"^'.' and to do for you great things and

terrible, for thy land, before " thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, frotn the nations and their gods?

24 For '' thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: * and thou. Lord, art become their God.

25 And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying. The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant

Verse 25. And do as thou hast said.'] David well knew that all the promises made to himself and family were condilional,- and therefore he prays that they may be fulfilled. His posterity did not walk with God; and, therefore, they were driven from the throne. It was taken from tliem by the neighbouring nations; and it is now in the hands of the Wohamniedans: all the promises have failed to David and Yi'xs, natural posterity; and to Christ and His spiritual seed alone are they fulfilled. Had David's posterity been faithful, they would, according to these promises of God, have been sitting on the Israelitisli throne at this day.

It is worthy of remark, how seldom God employs a soldier in any spiritual work; just for the same reason as that given to David: and yet there have been several eminently pious men in the army, who have laboured for the conversion of sinners. I knew a remarkable instance of this: I was acquainted with Mr. John JIaime, a well-known preacher among the people called Methodists. He was a soldier in the queen's eighth regiment of dragoons, in Flanders, in the years 1739 — 46. He had his horse shot under him at the battle of Fontenoy, May 11, 1745; and was in the hottest fire of the enemy for above seven hours: he preached among his fellow-soldiers frequently, and under the immediate patronage of his royal highness the duke of Cumberland, commander-in-chief; and was the means of reforming and converting many hundreds of the soldiers. He was a man of amazing courage and resolution, and of inflexible loyalty. One having e.xpressed a wonder " how he could reconcile killing men with preaching the gospel of the grace and peace

David be established before thee. 27 For thou, O Lord of hosts.

4iy. God of Israel, hast * revealed to thy Annoantei.

house: therefore hath thy servant found in his

heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

28 And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and " thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

29 Therefore now ' let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed ^ for ever.

o/ Christ.?" He answered — I never killed a man. — " How can you tell that? Were you not in several battles?" — Yes; but I am confident I never killed nor wounded a man. — " How was this? Did you not do your duty?" — Yes, with all my might; but, when in battle, either my horse jumped aside, or was wounded, or was killed; or my carabine missed fire, and I could never draw the blood of the enemy. — " And would you have done it if you could?" — Yes; I would have slain the whole French army, had it been in my power: I fought in a good cause, for a good king, and for my country: and though I struck in order to cut, and hack, and hew, on every side, I could kill no man. — This is the substance of his answers to the above questions; and we see from it a remarkable interfering Providence: God had appointed this man to build a spiritual house in the British army, in Flanders; and would not permit him to shed the blood of his fellow-creatures.

" This chapter is one of the most important in the Old Testament; and yet some of its most interesting verses are very improperly rendered in our translation: it therefore demands our most careful consideration. And as, in the course of these Remarks, I propose to consider, and hope to explain, some of the prophecies descriptive of The Messiah, which Mere fulfilled in Jesls Christ; amongst which prophecies, that contained in this chapter is worthy of particular attention: I shall introduce it, with a general state of this great argument.

" It having pleased God that, between the time of « Messiah being promised, and the time of His coming, there should be delivered by the prophets a variety of marks, by which the Messiah was to be known, and distinguished from observations on the promiacK ovpry otlier niuii; it was iinjiosiiiljlc for any one (o prove liinmclf //if Mrs.uiili, v,ho»c character <liJ not annwor to these vKtrks: uiid, of course, it wus nrccs'ary, lliiil all Ihesc cyi- /i,77'(i, llius (liviiirly 7bri7o/(/, sliDuld Uc Jul /tiled U\ tlie cliariictfr of Ji-siis Christ. That these |)i()|)hcli<: <lcscri|ilioiis of tlie Messiah were numerous^ n|)|>eiirs from Clirist nnd Mis uposiles ( I.iike xxiv. 27. 1 J. Arts xvii. '2, 3.; xxviii. 23, &c.) who referred the Jews lo the Old 'ri'vliinieiit, n» conlaiiiiiii; ubiiiidimt evid.iice of His luiiig Tmk Mi>m mi, because //.■ I'alfilkil all the i>roiiliccies drucriplivc of that!,iiti^ul<ir (,'hiirnrler. The chief of (hf':e propliecies related to His being 111 iraciiloiiilii burn o/avirtiin; l\n' time and /ilaa o( ilis birth; the frili'\ and fami/i/, fioin which Me was to descend; (he tiiiruclra He wns to perfoini; the manner of His preaching; His hiimiliti/, and mvuii appearance; tlie perfect innocence of His life; the greatness of His siifferini^s; the trcachvri) of His betrayer; the circumstances of His trial; (he nature of His ilcallt, and burial; and (o His miraviiluus rcsurrciliun. i\o», amongst all the circumstances wiiicii form this chain of prophecy, the first reference, made in the New Testament, relates to His ih-xcent: for the New Testament begins with asserting, that Ji:srsCiiuisr ic(/s the son vf David, the son of Abraham. As to the descent of Christ from Aiikaiiam; every one knows that Christ was born a Jew; and, consequently, descended from Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. And we all know, that the promise given to Abraham concerning (he Messiah is recorded in the history of Abraham's life: in Gen. xxii. 18. Christ being also to descend from David; there can be no doubt (hat this promise, a>< made to David, was recorded likewise in the hi'.lori/ of David. It is remarkable that David's life is given more at large, than that of any other person in the Old Testament; — and can it be supposed, that the historian omitted to record that promise, whiih was more honourable to David than any other circumstance? The record oi this promise, if written at all, must have been written in this chapter; in the message /rom God by Nathan to David, which is here inserted. Here (I am fully persuaded) the promise was, and still is, recorded: and the chief reason why our divines have so fre. (jueiitly missed it, or been so much perplexed about it, is owing to our very improper translation of the 10th and 14th ver.-cs.

" This wrong translation, in a part of Scripture so very interesting, has been artfully laid hold of, and expatiated upon splendidly, by the Dcistical:iiithor of The Grounds and Reasons oj the Christian Religion; who pretends to demonstrate, that the promise of a Mes>iah could not be here recorded. His reasons (hitherto I believe unanswered) are three: — 1. Because, in ver. 10, the prophet speaks of the future prosperity of the Jews, as to be afterwards Jixed, and no more aJjUeted; which circumstances are totally repugnant to the fate of the Jews, a^ connected with the birth and death of Christ, i. Because the Son here promised, was; (ver. \\i) to build a house; which house, it is pretended, j must mean the temple of Solomon; and of course Solomon ni

KuppoiCi, that lliis Son miglU commit inir/uilij; which could not bo <up|ioyed of The Meiiiah. 'I'he fir«t of ihew! ohjec. tioiiH i-i founded on our wroivg (r»n«laiioii of ver. 10, whero the word» nhoulil be exprcitcd n» relating to the time pa*t or present. I'm the prophet i<i there declaring whit great things (Joi) had already done for Ditidaiid hit |H-ople; that He /)»(/ raised Divid from (he kheepfold lo the throne; and that He had planted the IiraclitCH in a place of safety, at rest from nil those enemies who had no often before afllic led them. That the veib'- tcC'i vc^amti and '.-p-jr unatali may be rendered iit tUv time paU or present, is allowed by our own translators; who here (ver. II.) render \"vrjni vehanichti and have caused thee lo retl, and also render 1^17\^ vchiggid andtelleth: which construction, made necessary hero by Iho context, might be confirmed by other proofs almost innumerable. The translation, therefore, should run (hut: I took lltce from the sherprote; and hare made thee a e^rcat name; and I iiAvi; Ai'i'oisri.n a place fur mij people I tract; and iiavit i'i.A\ii;n them, that they may daellin aplacco) Iheir ortn, and move no more. Neither no the children of tcickcdneit afflict them any more; as before time, and us since the time that I commanded judges to be over Israel: and I iiavl lAistn thee lo rest from all thine enemies.

" Objection the second is founded on a mistake in the sense. David indeed had proposed (o build a hoose to Gon, which Goi) did not admit. Vet, approving (he piety of David's intention, (ion was pleased to reward it by promising that He would make a house for Da> iu; which house, to be thus erected by God, was certainly not material, or made of stones; but a spiritnul house, or family, to be raided up for the honour of doD, and the salvation of nnnkind. And this house, which Gon would make, was to be built by David's Seed; and this Seed was to be raised up, after David slept tcith his fathers: which words clearly exclude Solomon, who was set up, and placed upon the throne, BEFORE David zcas dead. This building, promised by Gon, was to be erected by one of David's descendants, who was also to be «;i everlasting King: and indeed the house, and the kingdom, were both of them to be established for ever. Now that this house, or spiritual building, was to be set up, together with a kingdom, by the Messiah, is clear from ^- chariah; who very emphatically says, (ch. vi. 12, 13.) Behold the man ichose name is the Branch; he «hall blild THE TEMPf.E of the Lord. Kven iii; shall blild tmc TF.Mn.r. of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne, &c. Observe also, the language of the Neic Testament. In 1 Corinth, iii. 9 — 17. St. Paul says, Vc are God's biildinc — Knoa ye not that ye are tite temple of God? — the temple of God is holy, shich temple ye are. And the author of the ICpistle to the Hebrc:cs seems to have his eye upon this very promise in Samuel, concerning a Son to David, and of the house which he should build; when he says (iii. 6.) Christ, as a Sov, over his own house; w hose house are we.

ust be the son here promised: and,;j. Because ver. IJ. [ removed, by a more just traniladon of ver. 14.; for the He- brew words do not properly signify what they arc now made to spealv. It is certain that the principal word iniynD behaaoto, is not the active infinitive of leal, which would be irii'^; but rij'n from mj' is in Niphal, as r.lSjn from rhi. It i*; also certain that a verb, which in the active voice signifies to commil iniqutly, may in the passive signify to suffer for iniquity: and hence it is, that Bouns from such' verbs sometimes signify iiiiquilj/, sometime? punishment. See Lowth's Isa. pag. 187. with many other authorities, which shall be produced hereafter. The way being thus made clear, we are now prepared for abolishing our translation, if he commit iniquity f and also for adopting the true one — even in his suffering for iniquity. The Messiah, who is thus the Person possihly here spoken of, will be made still more manifest from the whole verse thus translated. / zcill be his father, and he shall be my son: evev i!^ iiis suffering for iniquity, / shall chasten him zcith the rod of men, (with the rod due to men,) and zcith the stripes (due to) the children of Adam. And this construction is well supported by Isa. liii. 4, 5. He hath carried our sorrows, (i. e. the sorrows due to us, and which we must otherwise have suffered,) he zcas wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. — See Note p. 479, in Ilallet, on Heb. xi. 26. Thus, then, God declares Himself the Father of the Son here meant; (See also Heb. i. 5.) and promises that, even amidst the sufferings of this Son, (as they would be for the sins of others, not for Ilis own,) His mercy should still attend Him; nor should His favour be ever removed from this King, as it had been from Suul. And thu'^ (as it follows) thine house (O David,) arid thy kingdom shall (in Messiah) be established for fcer, before Me, (before God): thy throne shall be established for ever. Thus the angel, delivering his message to the virgin-mother, Luke i. 32, 33. speaks, as if he was quoting from this very prophecy — The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end. In ver. 16. "j^jaS lipaneyca, is here rendered as ':2V lipeni, on the authority of three Hebrew MSS., with the Greek and Syriac Versions; and, indeed, nothing could be establislied for ever, in the presence of David, but in the presence of God only.

" Having thus shewn that the words fairly admit here the promise made to David, that/ro//i bis seed should arise Messiah, the everlasting King; it may be necessary to add that, if the Messiah be the Person here meant, as suifering innocently for the sins of others, Solomon cannot be; nor can this be a prophecy admitting such double sense, or be applied properly to two such opposite characters. Of whom speaketh the prophet this? o/' jiimself, or 0/ some other man? Tliis was a question properly put by the /Ethiopian treasurer, (Acts viii. 34.) who never dreamt that such a description as he was reading could relate to different persons: and Philip shews him that the Person was Jesus only. So here it may be asked, Of whom speaketh the prophet this? ■of Sulumon, or of Christ?■ It must be answered, of Christ:

one reason is, because the description does not agree to Solomon; and therefore Solomon, being necessarily excluded in a single sense, must also be excluded in a double. Lastly, if it would be universally held absurd to consider the promise of Messiah made to Akkaiiam as relating to any other person besides Messiah; why is there not an equal absurdity in giving a double sense to the promise of Messiah thus made to David?

" Next to our present very improper translation, the cause of the common confusion here has been — not distinguishing the promise here made, as to Messiah alone, from another made as to Solomon alone: the first brought bv Nathan, the secondhy Gad; the ^^r^/ near the beginning o( David's reign, the second near the end of it: t\\e first, relating to Messiah's spiritual kingdom, everlasting without conditions; the second, relating to the fate of the temporal kingdom of Solomon, and his heirs, depend4ng entirely on their obedience ov rebellion. 1 Chron. xxii. 8 — 13. xwiii. 7. Let the first message be compared with this second, in 1 Chron. xxii. 8 — 13. which the Syriac Version (at ver. 8.) tells us, was delivered by a prophet, and the Arabian says, by the prophet Gad. This second message was after David's many wars, when he had shed much blood; and it was this second message that, out of alt David's sons, appointed Solomon to be his successor. At the time of thefirst message Solomon was not born; it being delivered soon after David became king at Jeru'^alem: but Solomon was born, at the time of this second message. For though our translation very wrongly says (1 Chron. xxii. 9.) a son shall be born to thee — and his name shall be Solomon; yet the Hebrew text expressly speaks of him as then born — Behold a son (nSlJ nalus est) is BORN to Ihee: and, therefore, the words following must be rendered, Solomon is his name, and I will give peace in his days: he shall build a house for my name, Sfc.

" From David's address to God, after receiving the message by Nathan, it is plain that David understood the Son promised to be The Messiah; in whom his house was to be established for ever. But the words, which seem most expressive of this, are in this verse now rendered very unintelligibly: And is this the manner of man? Whereas the words nxTi ~nNn mm vezeoth toruth ha Adam, literally signify, and this is (or must be) the law of the man, or of the Adam, i. e. this promise must relate to the law, or ordinance, made by God to Adam, concerning the Seed of the woman; the man, or the second Adam; as the Messiah is expressly called by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 45, 47. This meaning will be yet more evident from the parallel place, 1 Chron. xvii. 17. where the words of David are now miserably rendered thus: and thou hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree: whereas, the words nbyan an«n -iinj 'Jn'Kii ureitani ketor ha Adam hammaalah, literally signify, and thou hast regarded me, according to the order of the Adam that js future, or the man that is from above (for the word nS^jnn haramailah, very remarkably signifies hereafter as to time, and from above as to place): and thus St. Paul, including both senses — tue second man is the Loub fuom

IIEAVKN — Diid Adumii the Jlf^arr. of him fliiif icas lu come, or the /iihire, Koiii. v. 11. — StfO tlic I'lr/iKc iif IIip liiJn li'iiim-d Mr. I'eler.i, o\\ Job; referrril to, uml < nfiririniMl iis to tliis iiitoretting point, in a Note nuljjuiupd lu my Sermon on a viHciN siiAi.r. loNCKin:, iVr. \m^. 4S) — -b'l. Kvo. 17()5. A piirt of that Noto Iiit<' follows: — ' 'I'lin spi-i'rli of Darid ('2 Sam. »ii. 1H — 'i!).) in siiih iis one ininlit niiliinilly pxprcl from 11 pprsoii overwlifhiiod with llic «»'!'•"•''''> "f lli" promised blessing: for it U abrupt, full of wonder, iind fmuj^lit witli repetitions, ytiid note, ichal Kin Diiviil stiij iiiitii thve y Wlint, inileed! h'nr llmu, I,(iiiii (ii>i>, Knnursl tin/ serviint: tliou knoweit the lieiirls of nil men, niid hocsI liow full my own lieurt is. I'nr llu) uuridi mikc, for tlin 'iiku of former propliecics; nnd according to thine own hearty from the mere motive of Tliy wisdom and |;ooiliic-^t; hatt thou diini- all Ihisc f^rcut lhin;it, lu make tin/ tervant knoic them. I now perceive the reason of tho<i« niiracul'>u« providence* which have allended me from my youth up; Inken from fulloisini; thr ihrrp, nnd conducted through all difTicullies lu be ruler of llnj pcajde: and •.hall I diitruit the promise novr niiidn me.' 'J'hi/ uuidt be true. If the preri-dinj; remarks ou thii whole pitiaxe he JuM, and well-grounded; then mtj vtt sec clearly the chief foundation of what St. Peter telli us (Arts ii. 30.) c«n(ernin({ Dwio: that, being a prophet, and KNOW iN(i that dud had luurn jcilh an oath to him, that nj the fruit of hit loini, nccurding tu theJUth, he aould raise up CiinisT, to lit on hii throne. lie teeing thit before, spoke of the reiurrectiun ofChriity tfc.' "

David subdues I hr Philistines, 1. ylnd Ihc MoaliiUs, 2. ^Iiid the hivg of Zolinh, 3,4. And the Sijiians in gcnrral, 5 — 8. Toi, king of JIamal/i, sends to coiigraluliitr him on his victories over Ihc king of Zobah, and sends him rich presents, 9, JO. David dedicates all the spoils to God, 11 — 13. lie garrisons Edom, 14. And reigns over all Israel, 15. An account of his chief officers, 16 — 18.

Verse 1. David look Mclheg-ammah'\ This is variously translated. The Vulgate ha?, tulit David frccnum tribuli: David removed the bondage of the tribute which the Israelites paid to the Philistines. Some think it means a fortress, city, or strong town; but no such place as Metheg-ammah is known. Probably the Vulgate is nearest the truth. The Versions are all diflerent. — See the following comparison of the principal passages here collated with the parallel place in 1 Chron.

2 And " he smole Moab, and

A'erse 2. And measured them aith a line — even aith tzco lines'\ It has been generally conjectured, that David, after he had conquered Moab. consigned t~o-thirds of the inhabitants to the sicord: but I think the text will bear a meaning much more respectable to that king. The fir*t clause of the verse seems to determine the sense: he measured them 7 H b'. c.'fofo.' ^^'t^h two lines measured he to put An. Exod. isr. {q death, and with one full line to

S f David smote also ' Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of ^ Zobah, as he went to recover ^ his border at the river Euphrates.

4 And David took ' from him a thousand ^ chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thou.sand footmen: and David ■■ houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of themy^r an hundred chariots.

5 ' And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand

() Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians '' became servants to David, and brought gifts. ' And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.