CHAP. “XIV.
& = David's inclination to bring back Adjalom, employed a wife woman of Tekoah to lay before him a feigned cafe of hers, drawn up by oad, whereby this point was gained from the king, that murder might be difpenfed with in her cafe, y¥. i—z2o0. which being applied to the cafe of 4d alom, and the king finding out that the hand of Foab was in this, fent for him, and ordered him to bring Abfalom again, though as yet he would not fee his face,. 21—24. and after fome notice being taken of the beauty of 40/a/lom’s perfon, particularly of his head of hair, and of the number of his children, ¥. 25, 26, 27. it is related, that after two full years, Ab/alom was uneafy that he might not fee the king’s face,. and fent for oab, who refufed to come to him, till he found means to oblige him to it, who, with the king’s leave, introduced him to him, ¥. 28—33.
¥. 1. Now Foab the fon of Zeruiah, &c.] The general of David's army: perceived that the king’s heart was towards Abjalom, and longed to have him returned, though he knew not how to bring it about with credit to himfelf, his crime being fo foul and worthy of death. ‘This Yoab perceived by fome words he now and then dropped, and by his conduct, not feeking by any ways and means to bring him to juftice, and being now reconciled to the death of Amnon; wherefore Foab deviled a way to make known to him his own mind, and the fenfe of the people, which would ferve to encourage pofed to the king at fome diftance, that it might not foon and eafily be enquired into 2 and fetcht thence a wife woman; one much advanced in years, as Fofephus fays “, whofe years had taught her wifdoin by experience; a woman of good fenfe, and of a good addrefs, apt at expreffion and reply, and knew how to manage an affair committed to her 5 and among other things, perhaps, was famous for acting the part of a mourner at funerals, for which fometimes women were hired; however, fhe was. one that was talked of for her wifdom and prudence, and Yoab having heard of her, fent for her as one for his purpofe:. The Hews *fay, that Te koab was the firft place in the land of J/rael for oil, and becaufe the inhabitants were much ufed to oil, wifdom was found among them: and faid unto ber, I pray thee, feign thyfelf to be a mourner; a woman of a forrowful {pirit, and in great diftrefs, and fhew it by cries and tears: and put on now mourning-apparel; black clothes, fuch as mourners ufually wore: and ancint not thyfelf with oil; as ufed to be done in times of feafting and rejoicing, to make them look fmoth, and gay, and chearful,vand of which there might be much ufe at Tekeab, if fo famous for oil; dut Leas a woman'that bad a long time mourned for the dead, her countenance pale and foul with weeping, her mourning clothes almoft worn out, &e. ed ¥. 3. And come to the king, &c.} At his palace, in the above condition and.circumftances: and [peak on this manner unto him, fomething to the follow-.
ing purpofe he dictated to. her: fo Foab put the
_ him to reftore him; and the rather Foab was. inclined to take fuch a ftep, as he knew it would words into ber. mouth; the fubftance of what fhe fhould fay; the fable fhe was to deliver as her own cafe, might'be framed by oab, and which fhe de- — eftablifh him in the king’s favour, and ingratiate him into the affection of Ab/alom, the next heir to the crown, as well as pleafe the people, whofe darling he was. Though Abarbinel is of opinion that Yoad proceeded upon another view of things, not becaufe he faw the heart and affection of David were towards Abjalom, but the reverfe; that tho’ David reftrained himfelf and his fervants from going out after db/alom, yet Foab knew that the heart of the king’ was again{ft him, and that his heart was to take vengeance on him, though he did not go out to feek him; he perceived there was ftill enmity and hatred in his heart to take vengeance on Abjalom, and therefore he took the following method to remove it, and reconcile his mind to him, and fo the Targum, ‘‘ and Foad the fon of Zeruiab knew that the heart of the king was to go out againft db/alom;” and it may be obferved, that when Joad had fo far prevailed upon him as to admit him to bring him back to Feru/falem, he would not fuffer him to fee his face, nor did he for two years after.
y. 2. And Foab fent to Tekoah, &c.} Which Kimchi fays was a city in the tribe of Aber, and others inthe tribe of Benjamin, but it feems. rather to be in the tribe of Fudah, 2 Chren. xi, 5, 6, according to Jerom*, it was twelve miles from Ferufalem, though in another place ‘ he fays it was, but nine; of this place was Amos, and fome think * the woman after-mentioned was his grandmother. | It was proper to lay the fcene of the affair to be pro-
5. not one that was feparated from. her huf livered word for word exaétly as he put it, and the application of it; but as he’ knew not what queftions the king would afk her, fo he could not dictate to her what to reply, unlefs he fuppofed this and the other, and fo formed anfwers; but this he left to her prudence, and for the fake of which he chofe a. wife woman to manage this affair, ~~
¥. 4. And when the women of Tekoah fpake to the king, &c.].Or after fhe had fpoken to him, being introduced by oad, as is probable; when fhe had faluted him with God fave the king, ‘or may the king live, or fome fuch like expreffions: foe fell on ber face to the ground, and did obeifance; to him. as her king, in reverence of his majefty: and fata, Help, O king; fignitying that fhe was m= great diftrefs, and came to him for affiftance and deliverance. + ip i Be
¥. 5. And the king faid anto her, What aileth. thee? &c.} Or what is thy cafe? What is the art in, which require help and. affiftance® intimating that, he was ready to.grant a no. thereof; however, he was ready to hear w had to fay:: and fhe anfwered, I am indeed a woman; of a truth a widow,’ as the Targus was really one, a widow indeed, asin 1 Tim, he being, alive, or divorced fromhim on any ac count; and therefore fhe adds, and mine hufb NG is dead and has been a long times this th e faid t ai Chu xivs & Ont ds MS AUB L, move the pity and compaffion of the king, who as the fupreme magjitrate in God’s ftead, was a fajfhe had reprefented it, he would give orders that fhe fhould not be difturbed, or be obliged to deli- ther of the ‘fatherlefs, and the judge of the widow.; 1 oat.
¥. 6. And thy handmaid had two fons, &c.| Two are obferved, that her cafe might {uit with Amnon and Abfalom? and they two firove together in the field; they quarrelled and fought in the field, where there were no, witneflés of what they did to each other; whereby fhe would fuggeft that Amnon was killed inthe Geld, of which there were no witnefits, and therefore 4/a/om ought not to die; whereas it was in 4d/alom’s houfe, at his table, and where
_ the reftof the king’s fons were; prefent, and witnefles of it: and there was none to part them, which had there’ been, might have. prevented the fad difafter; this, as darbinel thinks, is pointed at David, who when muon forced Tamar, did not correct him for it, nor feek to make peace between the brethren, and hence followed what had happened: but the one fmote the other, and flew him; as fay the accufers of him that is living; for the fable fuppofes there was none with them; however, fhe fuggetts, as theabove writer obferves, that one gave the firft- blow, and fo was the aggreflor; and that he that was fmitten’rofe up in his own ‘defence, and in his paffion flew him that fmote him; which is obferved to leffen the crime, and to intimate that 4mnon was the agerefier, who firft began the-fin and quarfel, in ravifhing Tamar, and fo reproaching 44/alom; and therefore his blood was upon his own head, '
¥. 7. And behold the whole family is rifen. againfi thine handmaid, &c.] Who had fheltered her fon, that flew his brother, from the avenger of blood; and not only the next akin, the avenger of blood, but even all the kindred and relations of the deceafed, thofe of her hufband’s family rofe up as
_ One man, demanding juftice: and they faid, deliver him that {mote his brother, that we may kill bim for the life of bis brother whom he flew; pretending great regard to the deceafed, and a zeal for juftice, when the main thing aimed at was to get the inhe- ver up her fon, and that he fhould be fafe from thofé that fought his life.
¥. 9. And the woman of Tekoab faid unto the king, my lord and king, &c.] With much vehemence, and yet with great refpect, fearing an inquifition into her cafe; which it would not bear, being a fable, and being very defirous of having fentence on it immediately pronounced: the iniquity be on me and on my father’s boufe; let the crime be imputed to me and my family, and punifhment inflicted on us for it, if I have mifreprefented the cafe; told lies, and deceived the king: ad the king and bis throne be guiltlefs,; let neither he nor his kingdombe charged with any fin, or fuffer anydamage on that account: or elfe the fenfe is, fuppofing that the king through much bufinefs fhould forget and neglect this affair; and her fon fhould be put to death, through the violence and rage of the family; then fhe wifhes, that the fault and punifhment of fuch negleé&t, might not fall upon the king and his kingdom, but upon her and her family:.in this form fhe put it, for the honour of the king, and becaufe fhe'would not be thought to wifh illto him and his kingdom; yet tacitly fuggefts, that fhould this be the cafe, he and his kingdom muft expect to anfwer and fuffer for it.
¥.10. And the king faid, whoever faith ought unto thee, &c.| Demanding her to deliver up her fon to juftice, and reproaching her for not doing it: bring bim tome; give him in charge to a proper officer to be brought before me, and Pll chaftife him for it: and be foall not touch thee any more; give her any farther trouble, by words or deeds. _ y. 11. Then faid foe, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, &c.) Who is a God gracious and merciful, and imitate him in fhewing mercy to the diftreffed; pityingtheir cafe, having compaffion upon them, and relieving them, as fhe hoped he would.commiferate her cafe, and provide for the fafety of her fon. » Some think fhe defires not only to give his word, but his oath, for her
«Iwill give charge concerning thee, intimating that “he would enquire into her cafe; and if it was ritance into theirown hands, as appears by what follows: and we will deftroy the heir alfo; hereby fhe would infinuate to the king, that the reafon why the reft of the king’s fons fpake again{t Abjalom to him, and ftirred him up to punifh him with death, was becaufe he.was heir to crown, and they thought by removing him tojone make way for themfelves: and fo they fhall quench my coal that is left; fhe had but one fon, as fhe reprefents her cafe, who.was like a coal left afhes, in the ruins of her family;
- ¥.8. dad the king faid to the woman, go to thine boufe, &c.} Go home and make thyfelf eafy; and fon’s fafety; remember ‘the Lord thy God; i. e. andjmake mention of him, as men do when they fwear by him; fwear to me by the Lordthy God: shat thou wouldft not fuffer therevengers of blood to deftroy any more, left they deftroy my fon, or, from multiplythemg the avenger of blood °; that there might not rife after another to deftroy her fon; her meaning is, that the king would fwear to her, and give out a general prohibition, an univerfal edict, that no amongjone fhould flay her fon; otherwife if only the the only one tojavenger of blood that was next of kin was forbidden, others would rife up one after another, fo that he would never be in fafety: aud be faid, as the Lord veth; if fhe defired an oath, he granted her requeft, and {wore by the living God: shere fhail not one bair of thy fon fall to the earth; fo far fhall his life be from being touched, or taken away, that the leaft hurt fhall not be done him, as this proverbial expreffion fignifies.
fupport her, keep alive her family, and bear up and continue her hufband’s name; and as the Zargum, ‘they feek to kill the only one that is| left;”’ and fo” the family be extinét: and foal not leave to my bufband neither neme nor remainder upon the earth; fhould he be delivered’ up to them and lain; but herein the fable or apologue. differed greatly from the cafe it was intended to reprefent; “for had Ab/alom been put to déath, as the law re- “quired, David had ions enough to inherit shis rone, and keep up his name.
. ¥ 12. Then the woman faid, let thine handmaid, I pray thee, [peak one word.unto my Lord the king, &c. | Having gained her point, and gotten a decreefrom _ him confirmed by, an oath, that her fon though he had killed his brother fhould not die; fhe proceeds to accommodate the parable, and apply it to the ale of Abfalom, and improve it in his favour: and 1 ewe
582. Ue SAMUEL Chex. y.13- he faid, fay on; gave her leave to fay what fhe had farther to obferve to him; fee Luke vii. 40. - condemns himfelf, in fwearing that her fon who bad killed his brother fhould not die, nor an hair of his head be hurt, but fhould be in the utmoft fafety; and yet he fought to put his own fon to death for a like crime, as the next claufe explains it: in that the king doth not fetch home again bis meaning Ab/alom, who was in a foreign country, an exile, andin danger of falling into idolatry; not daring to come home, left his father fhould order him to be put to death; and which he might juftly fear ke would, fhould he return without leave, fince he fought not by any means to fetch him and perhaps fhe may tacitly have refpect to David bimfelf, who had been guilty both of murder anc ajadultery, either of which deferved death > and et. God had not taken away his life, but in his great — mercy had fpared him; and therefore fince he hac received mercy, he fhould’ fhew it: or Goe ot taken away his foul or life; the life of who gives it as the he had not cut him off himfelf by his imm 6 hand, nor fuffered the king’s fons to take away his life, nor any other to feize upon him, and bring him to juftice, whom David might have employ; but had’ by his providence protected and preferve him; fo that it feemed to be his will and pleafure, him- that he fhould not be put to death: yet doth he de é means that bis banifbed be not expelled from bits 5 wit from his word, worfhip, and ordinances, as 4b= /a/om was; and by protecting him by his providence, it looked as if it was his will, and he would — find out ways and means for bringing him back to. his country, his father’s court, and the fanctuary of f the Lord; even as by the law concerning the cities of refuge for the manflayer, provifion was father’sjmade that at thedeath of the high-prieft the exile perfon might return to his-country, ~ a, and ¥. 15. Now therefore that I am come to foeak of this thing unto my lord the king, &c.| Of thecate the of Ab/alom, under a feigned one of hers’: itis e= caufe the people have made me afraid; having heard he contradiéts and of their whifperings, murmurings, and uneafinefs ” among them, becaufe Ab/alom was not fent for home,' fearing there’ would be an infurre€tion inthe nation, or an invafion of it by Abjelomatthere=. queft of his friends; in which he might be fup-— ported by the king of Ge/bur; or however that. banifhed,|difputes would arife about the.fucceffion, at the — death of David; on thefe accounts fhe determined — to fpeak to the king, and hint them to him in the — manner’ fhe had done; though fome underftand” this of the difcouragement the people Jaid her under,’ telling her the king would not hear her; neverthe= lefs fhe was refolved to make trial: and thy band-
¥. 13. Wherefore then baft thou thought fuch thing againft the people of God, &c.] That they would be fo wicked as to flay my fon, or that they are the people of God that would flay Adfalom; people fo cruel could not be reckoned fuch, as the king’s fons; fo Abarbinel;
{-nfe of Epbodeus, that by the people of God are meant Adfalom, and his. men; or Abfalom only, one man being fometimes called people, Exod. xxi. $. and fhe expoftulates with the king how he could entertain {uch a thought, as to feek to take away his life, when he had fo fully expreffed felf in her café on behalf of her fon, who had] vi flain his brother: or rather the meaning is, why ‘he fhould think of doing fuch a thing as this, fo contrary to the will of the people of J/rael, the people of God, who would be greatly offended and grieved at it; fo contrary to their wifhes, which were to fee him fetched back from an heathenifh court and country, where he was in danger of be ing corrupted, and to be reftored to his favour and to his country, that he might beupon the fpot at his death, to fucceed in the throne kingdom; for the provocation that Ab/alom had to kill Amnon, had greatly leffened the evil in efteem of the people: for the king doth fpeak this thing as one which is faulty;
back. maid faid, I will now fpeak unto the king, it- may
y.14. For we muft needs die, &cc.] As all muft, herfelf, the king, and his fons, ‘and indeed all men, this.is the common cafe and lot of men; particularly fhe infinuates that David muft ‘die, and that there muft be a fucceffor named, and perhaps a difpute would arife about one; which might be fatal, if 4b/alom was not recalled in his life-time, and that.4mnon mut have ‘died in a little time if he had not been killed by his brother; and Abjalom, he mutt die alfo quickly, and therefore what fignifies taking away his life; he may as well live'a little longer; this however plaufible, was but bad reafoning in the cafe of a malefactor: ‘amd are as evater fpilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up agein; which finks into the earth, and can’t be got out of it again; fo men when they die, are buried in the earth, and can’t be gathered’ or reftored to life again, until the refurre€tion of the dead; and fince muon is dead, and he can’t be} brought to life again, itis beft to be eafy, and not feék to take away the lifé of another; which is to bring him into the fame irrecoverable ftate and condition: neither doth God refpet? any perfon; the words in the original are, God doth not take away ihe foul or life?; of every offender, but fpares them notwithftanding the crimes they have committed; and therefore it became the king to be fparing and merciful to offenders, and particularly to his own fon; 2e the king will perform the requeft.of bis handmaids not only with refpect to her own fon, as feigned 5 — but with refpect to Abjalom, the grand thing ihe view.» ew, OO eg i, ¥. 16. For the king will hear, 8c.) She was ful- sy ly perfuaded of it, as now he had heard her: #0 de= 4 4ver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would deftroy_me and my fon together out of theinberitance of God; he had given his word and his oath, that he would deliver her fon from the aven=\ _ ger of blood, that neither he nor any other fhouldi — deftroy him; which would have been the deftrucs tion of her and her whole family out of the land! ~ of Irael, the land which God had chofen for hist inheritance, and had given to the people of J tobetheirs; and fince the king had heard her, granted her this favour, fhe doubted not but he would deliver his own fon from death, and tore him to the inheritance of the land, might worfhip the Lord God of his which’ he was now deprived. Pine
¥. 17. Then thine handmaid faid, the « lord the king fhall now be eomfortable, 8 ret; what will give eafe and fatisfaction j to her, but to all che people of Trael, v fhall’ hear of the king’s intention and r bring back Abfalom: for asvan angel of my lord the king; as they are very wile, kn and underftanding creatures, fo was David: cern good and bad; to hear both the one and other, and to difcern the difference between them, and chufe and purfue what is right, as inall other things, fo in the prefent cafe:
¥. 18. Then the king anfwered and faid unto the woman, 8.1 Underitanding plainly what fhe}ground, meant by all this, that the cafe fhe brought was feigned one, and that the intention of it was let him Know the fenfe of the people with to Abjalom, and the recall of him:\ hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I fhall afk thee, he fufpected that this was not a fcheme of her own, but fome confiderable perfon had formed it, and made ufe of her to execute it, which was what he defired'to know: and the woman faid, let my lord the king now foeak, afl what queftion he to dif jmind of the people with refpect to Abfalom, or to thejreprefent to me the propriety of fending for him home: go therefore bring the young man Abfalom again; I give ‘my confent to it, and you may fend therefore the Lord for him, or fetch him as foon as you pleate; it is thought he calls him a young man, to extenuate his crime, that it was done in youthful heat and paffion, and therefore he fhould pafs it over. And Foab fell ta the ground on his face and bowed bim/elf, &c.] Or bowed fo low as. to the in reverence of the king: and thanked the alding; for giving him leave to fetch 4/2/om home, tofas if it was a favour done to himfelf: or biefed* him; refpectiwifhed all happinefs and profperity might attend him, in confequence of this grant, which he knew would be acceptable to the people: and Foab faid, to-day thy fervant knoweth that I have found grace in thy fight, my lord, O. king, in that the king hath fulflled the reque/t of bis fervant; he might prefume upon this, that as the king had given orders at his pleafes, Ijrequeft to recal 4d/alom, who had murdered his thy God fhall be with thee; as to counfel and advife, fo to affift in performance, and to profper and fucceed; the Targum is, ** the Word of the Lord thy God fhall be for thine help.” ¥. 22.
am ready to anfwer. brother, which was tacitly giving him a pardon;
¥.19. And the king faid, is not the band of Foab| with thee in. all this? &c.|] That is, is not doné by the advice, affiftance, and direction of Foab? did not he form this fcheme for thee, and! dire&t thee to this method, and put thee upon profecuting it 2 and the woman anfwered and faid, as thyfoul liveth, my bord the king; whatlam about to fay is as fure as thou art alive; though this may be only a with, that he might long live and bejof happy; nothing is more defireable than thy valuable life: mone can turn to the right hand or the left from ought that my lord the king hath fpoken, he has hit upon the truthof the matter; there is no diffimulation or prevarication to be ufed; the thing cannot be denied: for thy fervent Foab he bade and put all thefe words in the mouth of thine bandmaid; he fent for me, and laid his commands on me, and directed me what to fay to the king, and how to conduét this affair. fled to Gefhur;
yy. 21. And the king foid unto Foab, &c.] ‘was prefent, or but at a little diftance, waiting the iffue of this affair: dehold now I have done this thing; have agreed to recal Abjalom, at the fuit of this woman, which thou haft put her upon; cording to the textual reading, thou baft done thing; contrived this {cheme, to let me know fo he would forgive him the murder of Abner, and this!think no more of it; fince he perceived now, which he had not fo clearly perceived before from that time, that he found grace in his fight, or fhared in his favour and good-will, as now -he faw he did.
y..23. So Foab arofe and went to Gefbur, &c.] Where 4d/alom was with his grandfather, the king the place; fee ch. xiii. 37, 38. and brought Ab- /a/om to ferufalem, from thence, which according to Bunting‘ was the diftance of 88 miles from it, y. 24. And the king faid, &c.] Very probably to ¥oab, when he informed him of Abfalom’s being me,icome to Ferufalem: let him turn to bis own houfe; depart from the king’s palace, where Foab had brought him, and go to his own houfe, which was in Yerufalem, for here he had one, before he fee ch. xiii. 20. and let him not fee my face, which he ordered, partly to fhew his deajteftation of the crime he had been guilty of, and fome remaining refentment in his mind at him on’ account of it; and partly for his credit among: fome of the people at leaft, who might think it phrafe,was a crime fo great as not to go unpunifhed, the though others were of a different mind; andalfo for the greater humiliation of b/2lom, who, the king might think, had not been fufficiently humbled for his fin, or had not truly repented of it: /o Abjalom returned to bis own boufe, and faw not the king’s face; in obedience to his father’s orders.
y. 20. To fetch about this form of fpeech bath thy fervant Foab donz this thing, 8cc.| Feigned ftory in fuch form and manner, as had been delivered to'the king, that it might be accommodated and applied to the cafe of Abjalom, and to transfer it in a figure to the king, to ufe the apoftle’s 1 Cor. iv. 8. and my lordis wife, according to wifdom of an angel of God; as not only to underftand the defign of this fable or parable, but of fuch fagacity and penetration, as to find out the author of it; and even 70 know all things that are in the earth, either in the whole world, or rather in the land of Hrael; and it isto be underftood not of all aétions natural and moral done by menin it, which would be to afcribe omnifcience tohim; of all political things, all things refpecting civil government; that he had fuch a fpirit of difcerning of men and things, that nothing could be faid or done, or fcheme formed, but he got intelligence it, and infightintoit; and which was carrying the compliment toa great height.
y. 25. But in all Ijrael there was none to be fo much praifed as Ab/alom for his beauty, &c.] Which butlis obferved to account in fome meafure for the intereft he had in the affections of the people, both now and hereafter: from the fole of his foot to the crown of bis head, there was no blemifhin him, not ofjany fpot, freckle, wart, fcurf, or fcab; nothing deficient or fuperfluous in him no difproportion of parts, nor any difagreeable feature; but an entire Wholfymmetry, and perfect comelinefs, which made him very refpectable. ‘The Ta/mudiffs* make him to be of a gigantic ftature.
\¥. 26. Azd when he polled his head, &c.] Or cut or ac-loff the hair of it; for that was one thing, a good - thisjhead of hair which he had, that made him look thelvery comely and beautiful: for if was at every year’s end that be polled it, or cut it off once a year; but the Yews fay” he was a perpetual Nazarite: becaufe the hair was heavy uponbim, and ‘therefore he polled it, it grew fo very thick and long in one year’s time, that he was obliged to cutit; and what might add to the weight of it, its being oiled and powdered; and, as fome fay, with the duft of, gold, to make it look yellow and gliftering: be aweighed the hair of bis bead at 200 foekels, after the king’s weight; and a fhekel being the weight o halt ‘an ounce of averdupois weight, as bifhop Cumberland* has fhewn from various writers, the weight of his hair muft be 100 ounces’; which was a. very great weight indeed on his head. Some think, that the price it was fold at, and not the weight of it, is meant; which they fuppofe was fold to women for ornament about their temples, and the money given either to the poor, or for the ufe of the fanctuary; and reckoning a fhekel at two fhillings and fix-pence, as fome do, the value of itcame \to 25 pounds of our money; but the above-mentioned writer” reduces it to about two fhillings and four-pence farthing; which makes the value fomewhat lefs; but inafmuch as it is not _ fo probable, that a perfon of fuch rank fhould fell his hair, nor does it appear that any fuch ufe was made of hair in thofe times as fuggefted; and this being faid to be according to the king’s weight or ftone, by which all weights were to be regulated, it is beft to underftand this of the weight, and not of the price of his hair; which, according to 7ofephus*, was 5 pounds; but, according to the above account, it muft be fix pounds and a quarter. The Jews fay* this weight was according to what the inhabitants of Tiberias and Zippore uled, but don’t tell us what it was. y¥. 27. And unto Abfalom there were born three fous, 8c.] Who, very probably died young; and the rather it may be thought fo, fince their names are not given, and more efpecially fince it is faid that 4z/alom had no fons, and therefore erected a pillar to keep up the remembrance of his name; unlefs it can be thought that that was fet up before he had any fons, which is not fo likely; fee ch. xviil. +8. and one daughter whofe name was Tamar; and whom he named after his Sifter Tamar, who was ravifhed by dmnon; the Septuagint verfion in fome copies adds,. “¢ and fhe became the wife of him to fee his face, would not be fo manifeft
Rebodoam, the fon of Solomon, and bore to him Abia;” and fo fays Fofepbus®; fee 1 ‘Kings xv. 22, 2 Chron, xi. 20. foe was a woman of a fair coantenance; as was her aunt, after whom fhe was named, ch. xiii, 1. by this it appears; that fhe lived to woman’s eftate, though the fons of db/alow died young,: ‘y. 28. So Abfalom dwelt two fullyears in Ferufalem, &&c.} After his return from Gefbur: and faw not the king’s face; all that time; which was owing either to the king’s refentment of the fa¢t committed by him, or to ftate- policy. Ce ae y. 29. Lherefore Abfalom fent for Foab, to have Jent bim to the king, &c.| To introduce him into’ his prefence, being uneafy to be thus confined at his own houfe, and not fuffered to come to court: but he would not come to him, knowing the king’s mind, and being unwilling to difoblige him by a troublefome folicitation: and when be fent again the Second time, he would not come, knowing his bufinef3 with him and perhaps between the firft time of his fending and this, he had founded the king
- > am I rie © ¥ oe about it, and found it was not agre admit him to accefstohim as yet,” is ferva
¥. 30. Therefore be faid unto b Is, 8. That did his bufinefs for him in the field, in keep ing his flocks, and tilling his ground: ee eid is near mine; for great perfonages days, attended to hufbandry: and be hath barley there, go and fet it on fire; it being ripe, and fo capable of being fired, and therefore muft be fome time in March cr April, when barley-harveft began; he ferved Joab as Samfon did ic.
Fudg. xv. 4. which fhews him to be a bold revengeful,' and ungrateful man, to ufe his and the general of the king’s army, after this manner: and Abfalom’s fervants fet the field on fires as their mafter had bid them, and’ which is no mand, they would not ftick at bur ing Foab’s field, when he bid them do it; fee « 1. Xili. 28, y. 31. Then Foab arofe, and came to Abfalom unto bis boufe, &c.| Provoked at what he had done, and to know the reafon of it; and which _ vas @ fwering Abfalom’s end: and faid unto bim, where- ‘ore have thy fervants fet my field on fire? which was not only injurious to his property, but a malicious action... Pdi cies y. 32. And Abfalom anfwered Foab, &c.] Neither denying the fact, nor being afhamed ae nor afking pardon for it; but endeavouring to” ‘indicate it, by giving a reafon as he thought fufficient forit: behold, I fent unto thee, faying, come bitber, that I may fend thee to the king; which was affuming great authority over a perfon in fuch an high office as Joab was; had He been king, he could not have ufed more, to fend forhim, and command his attendance, and fend him on what errand he thought fit, as here: to fay, wherefore am I come from Gefbur? why did the king fend fore? why did not he let- me alone, where I was? to what purpofe am 1 brought hither, fince Tam not admitted to court? it had been good for me, to have been ¢here till; and better, where he lived in a king’s court, and had honour and refpeét fhewn him, fuitable to his rank; and where he had his. liberty, and could go where he pleafed; and where this mark of his father’s difpleafure, not fufferi g as here, and fo lefs difgraceful to him: now therefore let me fee the king’s face, thatis, {peak to the king, and intercede for me, that I may fee his face; which he was fo. importunate for, not from afk ion to the king; but that being at court, he mighi able to ingratiate himfelf among the court others, and carry the point which his am prompted him to, fupplant the king, and crown: and if there be any inigoy 1 me kill me; fignifying he chofe to die, rath live fuch a life he did: -but of being he’ was not much afraid; preforning his innacence, thinking that th brother was no crime, - becaufe he we had ravithed his fifter, and for it ougl t tod fince juftice was delayed, and not done ‘hit ‘committed no iniquity in putting him t and partly on his father’s affection to h ‘he was fenfible of; at leaft he had reafc he would not now put him to death; defigned that, he would have ordered it be fince he had had him fo long in his hands,
_ ¥. 33. So Foab came to the king, and told him, &c.] What 4d/alom had faid to him: and when he had called for Abfalom; fent meflengers to his houfe to order him to come to him: he came to the king, and bowed bimfelf on bis face to the ground before the king; made a very reverend bow to him,
8 Bedies chapter relates, how that Ab/alom by various artful methods ftole away the hearts of the people of J/rac/, ¥.1—6. that pretending a vow he had made, he got leave of the king to go to Hebron to perform it, ¥. 7, 8, 9. where he formed a confiderable confpiracy, ¥. 10, 11, 12. of which David having information, thought it advifeable to depart from Feru/alem, both for his own fafety, and the good of the city, which he did with his family, and guards, and much people, ¥. 13—18. though he would have perfuaded IJ¢tai the Gittite to have returned, but could not: prevail upon him, ¥. 1923. however, she fent back the priefts and the Levites with the ark, left any hurt fhould come to that, ¥. 24—29. and as he and the people went up the mount of O4ves weeping, it was told him that bithophel was among the: confpirators, on according to the cuftom of thofe times, throwing himfelf at his feet in great fubmiffion to him: and the king kiffed Abfalom, in token of his reconciliation to him; which laid the foundation of his after-troubles from him, related in the following chapters.
is, of one of the cities of the tribes of J rael, and not of a city of another nation.
¥. 3. And Abfalom faid unto him, &c.| After fome farther talk, and finding he had a fuit atlaw to bring on, and either feeing it drawn up in writing, or hearing his account of it, at once declared, without hearing the other party: /ee, thy matters are good and right; thy caufe is a good caufe, and if it could be heard by proper perfons, there is no doubt but things would go on thy fide, and thou ~ wouldft carry thy caufe: du¢ there is no man deputed of the king to bear thee; the king is grown old himfelf, and his fons are negligent, and don’t attend to bufinefs, and there are none befides them appointed to hear caufes; and he fuggefted, as appears by what follows, that he was not in commiffion, but if he was, or fhould be appointed a which he put up a prayer that his counfel might judge, he would attend to bufinefs, and people be infatuated, ¥. 30, 31. and Aufbai the Archite coming to him at that juncture, he fent him back to Ferufalem to defeat the counfel of Abithophel, and to fend him. word: by the priefts what he fhould not go away after this manner, without having juftice adminiftred unto them.
¥. 4. Abfalom faid moreover, 8&c.] To the fame perfons, at the fame time: ob that 1 were made fhould hear, there from time to time, ¥. 32—37. judge in the land, by which it appears that he had
¥. 1. And it came to pafs after this, &c.} After the reconciliation of David and Ab/alom, and the latter was admitted to court again: that Abfalom prepared him chariots and borfes; to make himfelf look grand and refpectable among ‘the people; perhaps he got thefe from his grand-father at
_ Gefhur in Syria: and fifty men to run before bim; which added to his pomp and magnificence; and fuch great perfonages in after-time have had; Nero the Roman emperor never went a journey with lefs than 1000 calafhes, and a great number of men that ran before him,‘: and this was tacitly fetting himfelf up. for king, at leaft preparing for it, as Adonijah afterwards did in the fame way and manner, 1 Kingsi. 5. if itl ads ¥.2. And Abfalom rofe up early, &c.j« Every morning, to, fhew how:diligent and induftrious’ he fhould be, and, clofely apply himfelf to’ bufinefs, was he in any office.under the king, and efpecially when he fhould. be king himfelfs. this he did. to ‘ingratiate himfelf into the affeétions of the’ people: and ftood befide the way af the gate, either’ of the king’s palace, fo Fofepbus*, or:of the city, where courts of judicature are sheld: the. former feems mott probable by what follows: and it was fo, that when. any man that bad a controverfy came to the king for judgment,; that had a controverfy with another man on any account, and came to the king to have it decided according to law, or the rules of juftice and equity: shen Abfalom called unto him, and faid, of what city art thou? which queftion he afked, only to lead on to fome further difcourfe: and be faid,, thy fervant is of one.of the tribes 5 that no office under the king; partly either becaufe of his crime, and fo not thought fit, and partly becaufe he appeared to be an ambitious afpiring man, and fo it was thought not fafe to put him into any office: that every man that hath any [uit or caufe might come unto me, and I would do’ bim juftice; at once, without any farther trouble, or coming often, and in vain, and to no purpofe.
¥. 5. And it was fo, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeifance, 8ec.]° To pay his refpects, and bow to him, as being the king’s fon, a prince of the blood, and heir to the crown, as was fuppofed’: he put forth bis hand, and took him, and kiffed bim; he put out his hand and fhook hands with him; or took him about the neck and kiffed him, ‘and by this free, familiar, affable, and courteous manner, ftrangely won ‘upon and gained the affections of the people, as follows. Fortanatus Schacchus * thinks, he put forth his hand to be kiffed by them, and then kiffed them, which was’ more than was ufual.;
yt. 6. And in this manner did Abfalom to all Ifrael that -cameé'to the king for judgment, &c.] Told them’ theré’ was none to be had, wifhed that he was in Office to adminifter it to them, and behaved in ‘the “above loving manner towards them: /o Abfalom ftole the bearts of the men of Ifrael, got the affections of the people in a private and clandeftine manner, and robbed the king of them, who had the beft right unto them.
y¥.7. ‘And it came to pafs after 40 years, &c.] Or four years’ fo long it was from the reconciliation of Abfalom to David, as Fofepbus‘fays and fo read Theodoret on the place, the Syriac and ‘ine | i¢ ic verfions: but fome fay it was either forty from the time J/a¢l firft had a king; might be an era of reckoning with the Fews, as to the era of Seleucide was with the Greeks, on the like account; or from the time Sa/ flew the priefts at Vos, as Ferom®; or from the time of David’s being anointed by Samuel, or this was the year of Abfalom’s age, or of David's reign: but thefe,| and other attempts made to account for this faye, are not entirely fatisfactory; and therefore one may be tempted to conclude there muit be a take in the copy, of Arbaim for Arba, forty for four; wlilich makes it quite eafy, and, confirms the firft fenfe: that Abjalom faid unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron, not what he vowed in Hebron; for according to his own account he had vowed it in Ge/bur, as in the following verfe; but his requeft is, that he might pay it in which place he fixed upon, being his native place, and where David was anointed king; and which, being about 20 miles from Yerufalem, was at a proper diftance to lay the fcene of his confpiracy in, and bring it to perfection,;
y¥. 8. Lor thy fervant vowed a vow while I abode at Gefbur ia Syria, &c.] When at his grand-father’s court there: faying, if the Lord will bring me again indeed to Ferufalem, which he might be| fincerely defirous of: then I will ferve the Lord; but it is a queftion, whether he ever made a vow to this purpofe, or concerned himfelf about ferving the Lord; but it rather may be, this was a lie of his, now framed in order ta get leave of the king years howbeit, doubtlefs many of them were drawn into and which it when got thither; and as thefe may be fuppoled. be fome of the principal men ot Ferufalem, was a great weakening of Davia’s intereft, and laid a. confiderable foundation for Abfelom to begin upon. |: oa Se y.12. And Abfalom fent for Abithopbel, the Giomite, Davia’s counjellor, &c.|] To advife with paf-jabout this treafonable affair he was engaged in, and to get out of him David’s fecrets, who was mif-jreckoned the beft counfellor in the land; and he might rather hope he would come to him, <f. was the grandfather of Bath/beba, as fay the ews, ch. xi. 3. and xxiii. 34. fince he might be difguft> ed with:and refent David’s adultery with Bathfheba’ his grand-daughter, and the murder of her hufband Uriah: him he fent for, from bis city, even’ from Gilob, a city in the tribe of Fada, in the Hebron;) mountainous part of it, near to Hebror, where Ab- /alom now was; and; according to Bunting*, 20 miles from Yerujalem, fee Fofb. xv. 48, 51, 54. while he offered facrifices; not Abithophel, but Abfa- /om, his peace-offerings at Hebron, to which he? invited Ahithopbel to come and partake of: andthe. con{piracy was firong; or there was a great number in the confpiracy, who were affembled together: for the people increafed continually with faom; being drawn to him by the comelinefs of his’ perion, his affable behaviour, the pomp and mag= nificence in which he appeared, the. great number of the principal inhabitants of Feru/alem with him,’ and he the king’s:eldeft fon, and fo heir to the’ crown; whereas it might begin to be rumoured’
to go to Hebron. about, that David defigned Solomon, a fon of Bath:
¥. 9. And the king faid unto him, go in peace, &c.]. He gave him leave to go, and wifhed happinels and profperity might attend him: /o be arofe and went to Hebron, with acompany of men,whote number is:after mentioned...
¥. 10. But Abfalom: fent Jpies thraughout-al] the vand of Trael, &c.] To found the difpofition of the people towards him, to infinuate things into their minds. in favour of him,.and to improve every opportunity of recommending him to their). efteem and affections: faying, as.foon.as ye hear the found of the trumpet in any place; and which it is probable he employed men to found in many places:. that ye fhall Jay, Abfalom reigneth in which is the.caufe of the trumpet’s founding; and by this means they would learn how the people|with 4 ftood affected to him, whether the news was gratefbeba, a young prince, to be his fucceffor, which did not mect with general approbation at firft. — |. 13. And there came a meffenger to David, &c.] Perhaps one of the 200 that went with Ab/alom,’ |, ignorant of his defign; which, when difcovered,: he difapproved of, and got away from him, and: came to David, and informed him how things! were: faying, the hearts.of the men of Ifrael are afser Abfalom, to make hiny king.;
¥..14. dnd David faid unto all his fervants that were with him at: Ferufalem, 8ec.] ‘\Hiscourtiérs’ and minifters of ftatey the officers of his ‘houfholdy as many of them as were with him in ‘the citys’ Hebron;\for fome of them very probably were in’ the coun= try, as_Abithophel was, and fome might be along alom, whom he had invited.tovhis peace=' offerings: ari/e,\ and let ds flee; it is much-thata fulor.no...,: man. of fuch courage and valour as David, thould’
v.11. And with Abfalom went 200 men out of Jerufalem, that were called, &c.] Invited by him to go with him, and partake of his peace-offerings, as the paymentof his vow in Hebron; part of which was. made a feaft.of for -his, friends, whomfoever he fhould think fit to invite, as he did to. the number of.200, and for the entertainment of whom a large provifion ought to be made; the Fews* have a. tradition, that he had leave of his father only to invite two to go with him,.and that. he afked two more unknown to the firft, and fo on, two after two, until they amounted to two hundred: and they went in their fimplicity; to partake of the feaft of the peace-offerings, to which they were invited; being quite harmlefs and up-\ right in their intentions, having no thought of Joyalty and rebellion in their breafts: and they be fo intimidated: at once, \as to meditate'a flight as foon as he heard of a confpiracy forming againft him:, for, we /hail not ele efcape from Abfalom; his. fears ran. fo high, that he fancied he would ‘be upon, them prefently: make peed to nthe eh overtake-us /uddenly; which ftill mote.clearly tho’ 1S the panie-he was in::)and bring evil uponius 5 kill them, or make themprifoners: aud fmite the city with the edge of the. fword; the inhabitants of it, fhould they make refiftancess § 4s 4. y. 15. And the king’s fervants faid unto the king, &c.}.In -anfwer to him, and to fhew that the were quite conformable tohis:pleafure: debold, tb /ervamts are ready to do whatfoever my lord the king ball appoint; or choofe*, whether to prepare to dif- fight, and defend him and the city,\ or to, depart and make their efcape.
knew not any thing; of an intended confpiracy; WY Gattaage.;: Pare y.16. And the king went forth, &c.] Which determined the cafe: and all his houfbold after him; his family and his court 5 they followed his exam- ‘ple, and attended him in his flight: and the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the houfe; not to defend it, which they were unable to do, but to look after the houfhold-goods and furniture, that they were not damaged by the confpirators; though one would think they could be of little fervice, and may wonder what he fhould leave them behind for; but this feems to be ordered by the over-ruling providence of God, to bring about what was threatened him, ch. xii. 11. and it is much he had not thought of it; but it was hid from his eyes that it might be fulfilled.
yy. 17. And the king went forth, &c.] From Ferufalem, which is repeated, that it might be obferved in what a hurry and fright he was: and ail the people after bim; his family, court and fervants, and as many of the people of Feru/alem as chofe to go with him: and tarried at a place that was afar off; when they had got at fome diftance from the city, they ftopped and ftayed a while; it could not be a great way from it, for they had not as yet pafled over the brook Kidron, y. 23.
¥. 20. Whereas thou came but yefterday, &c. ] From Gath, or from an expedition he and his men had been on; foould I this day make thee go up and down with us? wander up and down from place to place with David, when he was but juft come off a journey, weary and fatigued: feeing I go whither I may; where it will be moft {afe for me, I know not where; may be obliged to flee here and there, which would be very inconvenient to tfai in his circumftances: return thou, and take back thy brethren the 600 men. under him, and whom David could ill {pare at this time, and yet confulting their eafe, advifes to return to feru/alem with them: mercy and truth be with thee; the Lord fhew mercy and kindnefs to thee, in that thou haft fhewn favour and refpect to me, and and make good all his promifes to thee, who haft been true and faithful to me.
¥. 21. And Ittai anfwered the king, and faid,. &c.] With an oath, as follows: as the Lord liveth, and as my Lord the king liveth, which he took to confirm what he after fays, and to put an end to the debate between them: furely, in what place my lord the king fhall he, whether in death or life, even there alfo will thy fervant be; fignifying that he
¥.18. And all bis fervants paffed on befide him, &c.]} Or at his hand or fide; his houfhold-fervants walking perhaps fome on one fide of him, and fome on the other, fee ch. xvi. 6. and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites; which were his bodyguards, fee ch. viii. 18. and all the Gittites, 600 men which came after him from Gath; which either came with him from Gath, when he conquered that city, and took it out of the hands of the Pdiliftines, ch. viii. 1. compared with 1 Cron, _xviii. 1. and who might become profelytes, and be incorporated into the commonwealth of J/rae/, and into David’s army, a troop of men, of which Itai, after-mentioned, was captain; or elfe thefe were J/raelites, fo called, becaufe with David they fojourned in Gath a while, when he fled from Saul; and fo Yofephus' {ays, they were companions of him in his firft flight, when Saul was living; and this number is juft the number of the men that were with him at Gath, 1 Sam. xxvii. 2, 3. and it may be David! him kept a troop of men always of the fame number, to whom he gave this name in memory of them, having been a fett of trufty and faithful men to| him: thefe, with the Cherethites and Pelethites, paffed on before the king; in this form and manner David and his men marched in their flight.
¥. 22. wherefore gocft thou alfo with us? one fhould think the king fhould not have difcouraged any from joining and following him, when his num-jout bers were not very large, and he in fuch fear on account of Ab/falom: return to this place; to Ferufalem, where his ftation was: and abide with the king 5 with Abfalom, who fet himfelf up for king, and whom the people perhaps had proclaimed as| fuch in Hebron, where the confpiracy began: for thou art a ftranger, and alfo an exile, not a native of J/rae/, but of another nation, and at a diftance from it, and therefore not altogether under the] fame obligations to attend David in his troubles as others were; and by this it feems that he was Gittite by nation, whatever the 600 men were, and rather favours the firft fenfe given of them in the would attend him where-ever he went, hazard his life in his caufe, and live and die with him.
y.22. And David faid unto Ittat, go, and pafs over, &c.] It being his refolution to abide with him, he urged him no more to depart, but bid him pafs over the brook Kidron before him: and Ittai the Gittite paffed over, and all his men; the 600 Gittites that were under his command: and all the little ones that were with him, that belonged to him and his men, and no doubt their wives alfo, y. 23. Aud all the country wept with a loud voice, &c.] The people that came out of the country villages round about, upon the report of the king’s leaving Ferufalem, becaufe of his fon’s confpiracy againft him; thefe wept when they faw him in the circumftances in which he was, obliged to fly from a rebellious fon: and all the people paffed over; the people that were with David pafled over Kidron, and fo the Cherethites and Pelethites: the king alfo elf paffed over the brook Kidron; this explains what place it was they paffed over, which is not before mentioned, but is particularly named in the account of the king’s pafling over it; over which fame brook the Meffiah, his antitype, paffed a little before his fufferings and death; of which brook fee the note on Fobn xviii. 1. It is often by Fofe- | phous” called a valley, fometimes a brook, it having. little water, except in winter; Mr. Maundrel" fays, it ran along the bottom of the valley of 7e- Aofbapbat, a brook in the winter-time; but withthe leaft drop of water in it all the time, fays he, we. were in Jerufalem; and fo Reland°, that in fummer-time it ceafes to be a river, and has the name of a valley; and Le Bruyn fays?, it is at prefent dried up; it runs along the valley of ‘ebobapbat, and is not above three paces broad; it has no other but rain-water, which flows from the adjacent hills: and all the people paffed over to the way of the wildernefs; which lay between Feru/aem and Jericho.
¥. 19. Then faid the king to Ittai the Gittite, &c. Who was over the band of Gi##ites, the 600 men, y.24. And lo, Zadok alfo, &c.}. The prieft, as alhe is called, ¥.27. and all the Levites were with sim; with Zadok, or with David, and indeed with both; but the former is rather meant here, being preceding verfe. ' the immediate antecedent: Dearing the ark of the covenant of God; thefe were the Kobathite Levites, whofe bufinef§ it was to bear the ark when carried from place to place, Numb, iil, 31. and iv. 15. and vii. g. called the ark of the covenant becaufe the law, which was the covenant between God and the people, was put into it: and they fet down the ark of God; from off their fhoulders, on which they carried it: and Abiathar went up; who was the high-prieft, and whofe bufinefs it was to attend grefs they have made,.whether come to Yerufalem, and how they behave there, if come; or of any | thing relative hereunto, he could get intelligence.
ark of God again to Ferufalem, &c.] Thatis, or- ~ dered it to be carried, and took care that it was.
carried, by the Kohathite Levites, and they themfelves attended it: and they tarried there; at Feru- the ark, and enquire before it, as occafion required /alem; though their two fons that went with them he went up very probably to the mount of O/ives, after-mentioned: uwtil all the people had done paffing out of the city, for from the top of that mountain he could fee the city of Yerujalem, and the people as they pafled out of it, and obferve when they were all come out, or however ceafed coming, and fo knew when it was a proper time to march forward.
¥.265. And the king faid unto Zadok, carry back the ark of God into the city, &c.] The reafon of which is not eafy to account for,‘ fince being carried back, it would fall into the hands of the con- {pirators; and now the priefts were with it to take care of it, and there might be occafion to enquire at it before the Lord; but David thought it bein a facred thing would not be violated by 4b/alom and his men, and that it would be fafeft in its own habitation or tabernacle, which David had built for it; for, that the reafon of it fhould be, what Procopius Gazaeus faggefts, cannot be given into, that he could not bear to carry about him the law, which accufed of adulteries and murders: if J foall find favour in the eyes of the Lord; if he will appear for me, be on my fide, and deliver me from thofe who have rifen up againft me: he will bring me again, to Ferufalem, and to his palace there: and foew me both it, and his habitation; the ark, and the tabernacle he had erected for’ it, ch. vi.
fy 26. But if he thus fay, I have no delight in thee, &c.| As a king, or in his temporal profperity, though he might and had delight in him as a chofen veffel of falvation; as a faint and child of God, and in his fpiritual and everlafting welfare: behold, here am J; his humble fervant, ready to be, and do and fuffer whatever is his pleafure: let him do to me as feemetb good unto him; ftrip me of all the enfigns of royalty, difpoffefs me of my crown and kingdom, and ‘difpofe of me, as feems good ‘in his fight; who is a fovereign being, and has a right to do with his creatures what he pleafes.
y.27. And the king faid unto Zadok the prieft, art not thou a feer? &c.} A prophet, as well as a prieft, fee 1 Sam. ix. 9. or a feeing, knowing man, one that can penetrate into men and things, and fo might be of more fervice to David at ferufalem than with him’: wherefore he faid to him, return; into the city in peace; to the city of Ferufalem with peace, quietnefs and fatisfaction of mind; where he doubted not, at leaft hoped’ and wifhed, he would be in fafety-and profperity, being one of the Lord’s’ priefts: and your two fons with you, Abimaaz'thy fon, and Fonathan the fon of Abiathar; the one was of ‘the line of Eleazar, and the othet of the line of [thamar: mis:
¥.28. See, I will tarry in the plain of the wildernefs, &c.)~ Towards the way of which; David and the people went, when they came over Kidvon, ¥.23. until there come word from you to certify me; of ‘the truth of the confpitacy, of the number of the confpirators, and who they are, what pro-
‘had Reard what hé had to fay, and what ti entered not into the city, but ftayed at a place called Ex-rogel, at fome little diftance from it, ch. XVil. 17.. 5. ¥. 30. Aud David went up by the afcent of mount Olivet, &c.] So called from the olive-trees that grew upon it, which is often mentioned in the New Teftament, and where our Lord Jefus Chrift, the antitype of David, often was, in his ftate of humiliation, and from whence he afcended to heaven after his refurrection; it was about a mile from Ferufalem, to the eaft of it: and wept as be went up; thinking perhaps of the wickednefs and rebellion of his fon, of his own hard cafe to be obliged to quit his metropolis and palace, anc make his flight afoot; and perhaps alfo of his own fins, which were the caufe of his calamities: and had his bead covered; with his mantle, with which he enwrapped himfelf as a mourner, ch. xix. 4. fo the Egyptians ufed to. cover their heads in mourning, and the Romans in after-times*; fo Megara in forrowful circumftances is reprefented as having her head covered with a garment’: and he went barefoot; in token of mourning alfo, and like one forlorn, and going into captivity, fee //, xx. 2. Mic. i. 8. and all the people that was with bim, covered every man his head, as David did, and in imitation of him, and fympathizing with him; and which was fometimes done when men were afhamed and confounded, er. xiv. 3,4. and they went up ~ weeping as they went up; the mount of Ofsvet, grieved for their king, and the diftreffés and cala- -‘mities that were coming upon them,’ y ¥. 31. And one told David, &c.|. “That came: either from Hebron or from Yerufalem: Abithophel is among the confpirators with Abjalom, Abjalom fent for him, and it feems he came to him, and continued with him, fee y.12. and David faid, O Lord, I pray thee, turn.the counfel of Abithophel into foolifhnefs; either fuffer him to give.foolifh countel, or confound the fchemes projected by him, and let them not be. carried into execution; for God can, and fometimes does, difappoint crafty coun-. fellors, that they \can’t.petform what they devife but they are taken in their own craftinelfs, and their counfel is carried headlong, Fob v. 125 13. this prayet was anfwered,. ch. xvii, 14,23...... “¥. 32. And it came to pafs, that when David pas come 16 the top.of the mount, &c.] -OF the. nouht of Olives: where he worfhipped God, by orayer and praife; here very probably he conioted and ‘fung the bird. pfalm, which,,‘as\ the title fhews, was made when he fled from: Abfelem * bebal, Hufbai the Archite came to‘meet BRN oh his coa; nt, a earth upon his head, in token 6f mourning, a asa bringer of bad tidings, fee ch. i he was an inhabitant of, 4rchi, at leaft origi which lay on the borders’ of ‘the tribe of Ephraim Joo. xvi. 2. from whence he had hi ‘i ‘ae he brought: if thou paffeft on with mex it uy march and flight: thet thou foalt be a biyden to me; being to be maintained by hirhs and Devid having but feanty provifions, and fo Could not receive| ufelefs perfons, as Hufhai might be, perhaps an old man, that could be of no fervice to him, and lom’s court: therefore it fall be that what thing fo-. ever thou shalt hear out of the king’s houfe; Abfaom’3, who had now got pofféffion of the houfe and palace of David: thou fhalt tell it to Zadok and Abiatbar the priefis; to whom he might have re- unfit for travelling, and fo would rather be an hindrance than an help unto him.: -y. 34. But if thou return to the city, &c.] To the city of Yerufalem, from whence it feems he came: and fay unto Abfalom, I will be thy fervant, O king; as he was by ufurpation, and by the procclamati6n of the people with him. David directs him to addrefs him thus, that he might have no fafpicion of him, having been an old friend of his: as I have been thy father’s fervant hitherto; perhaps in the character of a couniellor, as it fhould feem, fince as fuch he was afterwards employed by Abfalom: fo will 1 now alfo be thy fervant; in whatfover thou fhalt pleafe to employ me under thee: then mayeft thou for me defeat the counfel of Abithopbel; for being taken into Ab/alom’s fervice, and made one of his counfellors, he would be privy to the advice of Abitbepbel, and fo be able to counter-work him. yw. 35. And haft thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priefis? &c.| To affift in forming fchemes directly oppofite to Abithophel’s, or to whom he could communicate the fecrets of Ab/a- courfe without fufpicion, pretending he had bufi-
'|nefs with them as priefts, on religious accounts, to offer facrifices for him, €c. ¥. 36. Bebold, they have there with them two fon, &c.] As in y. 27. not that they were in the city with them; but they were near ‘it, ch. xvii. 17. with whom they had a communication: and by whom ye foall fend unto me every thing that ye can hear; that is, -by:the fons of the pricfts; he telling the priefts how things were at court, and they fending their fons with meflages to David; which was a good fcheme to get intelligence, and eafy to be put into execution.
¥.37. So Hufbai David's friend came into the city, &c.] The city of Ferufalem, by the direction and perfuafion of David, and in obedience to him, in order to ferve him to the uttermoft: and’ Abfalom came intoFerufalem, jatt at the fame time; fo that he knew not that Hu/bai had been out of it, and been with David, and which_alio appears from what he faid to him, ch. xvi. 17.