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9 And made him king over Giabout 1055. lead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

1055.

+ Heb. number of days.

about 1053.

together.

10 Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was + king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, + Heb. them and met + together by the pool of Gibeon and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 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, which pertained to Ish-bosheth 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, The field of which is in Gibeon.

That is,

strong men.

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

Abner had acted on principles of justice, and as a faithful friend to the succession of Saul's house, he would have advanced to the crown, not Ish-bosheth, but Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, to whom, if the crown was to descend by hereditary right, it certainly belonged. Dr. Chandler.

- brought him over to Mahanaim;] Brought him over Jordan to Mahanaim, a place in the tribe of Gad, so called from the appearance of angels to Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 1, 2. Abner's reasons for retreating hither seem to have been, to secure the people on that side of Jordan, who were generally attached to Saul's family, to prevent the Philistines from falling on the king whom he had under his protection, and chiefly to be at a greater distance from David. Stackhouse.

Asahel is slain.

CHRIST

18¶ And there were three sons of Before Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, about 1053. and Asahel: and Asahel was as light +of foot + as a wild roe.

+ Heb. of his

feet.

that is in the

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; + Heb. as one and in going he turned not to the of the res right hand nor to the left from + fol- field. lowing Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

↑ Heb. from after Abner.

21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his || ar- || Or, spoil. mour. 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 I smite thee to the ground? how then should I 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 ¶ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

the two armies, and to undergo a trial of their strength and courage. Bp. Patrick. Abner seems to have meant, not that they should fall upon, and destroy one another, but merely that they should practise a little their military exercises, to divert the spectators. Stackhouse.

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16. they caught every one &c.] The sense seems to be, that the servants of David thrust a sword into each of the Benjamites, so that the twelve men of Benjamin fell down dead together. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. The sense is uncertain: either all the Benjamites fell by the hand of David's men, or the whole twenty-four fell by the hands of each other. Pyle.

23. - Abner with the hinder end of the spear &c.] These words should rather be rendered, " Abner smote him in the belly, turning his spear backwards." As Abner was the foremost, he turned his spear backward, and so killed Asahel. Houbigant.

9. over all Israel.] Over all the tribes on the western side Jordan, save the tribe of Judah. Bp. Patrick. 14. — and play before us.] While the two armies faced one another, on different sides of the pool, Abner desires that some soldiers may be picked out, to make sport for | Patrick.

as many as came- -stood still.] They ceased from the pursuit, fearing perhaps the same fate. Bp.

Joab soundeth a retreat.

Before CHRIST

II. SAMUEL.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, about 1053. and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then +Heb. from in the morning the people had I gone up every one from following his brother.

the morning. || Or, gone away.

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

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Six sons are born to David.

stronger

Before CHRIST

of David: but David waxed and stronger, and the house of Saul about 1053. waxed weaker and weaker.

2¶ And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; 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 fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

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

6¶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.

a

10.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of a Chap. 21. Aiah: and Ish-bosheth 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, Am 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 thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

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

12 And Abner sent messengers 1048.

plified in the case of Adonijah, 1 Kings ii. 17, &c. Stackhouse.

8.— Am I a dog's head,] He thought Ish-bosheth used him, not as captain of the host of Israel, but as if he had been keeper of his dogs. Bp. Patrick. Or else, "Am I as insignificant and worthless as a dog's head?" Dr. Chandler.

9. So do God to Abner, &c.] These words shew that he knew very well God had unalterably resolved to be

Abner is feasted by David.

Before CHRIST 1048.

+ Heb. saying.

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to David on his behalf, saying, Whose | And David made Abner and the men
is the land? saying, also, Make thy that were with him a feast.
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

21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent

b 1 Sam. 18. espoused to me for an hundred fore-him away, and he was gone in peace. skins of the Philistines.

25, 27.

about 1048.

e1 Sam. 25. 44, Phalti.

and weeping.

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

16 And her husband went with + Heb. going her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David + in times past and the third to be king over you:

+ Heb. both yesterday,

day.

18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him.

stow the kingdom of Israel upon David; and yet his ambition led him hitherto, to oppose not only David, but the Lord himself. Bp. Patrick.

12. — saying, Whose is the land?] Acknowledging, by these words, that he owned David to be lord of all the country, by God's special gift. Bp. Patrick. Abner in his behaviour on this occasion, cannot be excused from a treacherous inconstancy. If Saul's son had no true title to the crown, why did he maintain it? If he had, why did he forsake the cause and person? Had Abner withdrawn his hand, out of remorse for furthering a false claim, I know not wherein he could be blamed, except for not doing it sooner; but now, to withdraw his professed allegiance upon a private revenge, was to take a graceless leave of a bad action. Bp. Hall.

18.-the Lord hath spoken of David, &c.] Abner knew before full well that God had destined the kingdom for David; yet then he was well content to smother a known truth for his own turn: but now that the

23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah : but David knew it not.

5.

Before CHRIST about 1048.

27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in 1 Kings 2. the gate to speak with him || quietly, or, and smote him there under the fifth peaceably. rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

e Chap. 2.

23.

publication of it may turn for his advantage, he wins the heart of Israel, by shewing God's charter for him whom he had so long opposed. Hypocrites make use of God for their own purposes, and care only to make Divine authority a colour for their own designs. Bp. Hall.

26. the well of Sirah:] Probably not far from Hebron: Josephus says, twenty furlongs from it.

27.in the gate] As this was a publick place, where men met to transact business, and the courts of justice sat, Abner suspected no danger there. Bp. Patrick.

smote him there that he died,] Who can but glorify God in his justice, when he sees the bitter end of this treacherous dissimulation! David might deservedly welcome a guest who undertakes to bring all Israel under allegiance to himself; but God never meant to use so unworthy means for so good a work. Joab returns from pursuing a troop; and, finding Abner dismissed in peace and expectation of beneficial return, follows him; and whether out of envy at a

David curseth Joab,

Before CHRIST

II. SAMUEL.

28 And afterward when David about 1048. heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the + blood of Abner the son of Ner:

+ Heb. loods.

+ Heb.
be cut off.

and mourneth for Abner.

Before

33 And the king lamented over CHRIST Abner, and said, Died Abner as a about 1048. fool dieth?

34 Thy hands were not bound, nor
thy feet put into fetters: as a man
falleth before † wicked men, so fellest + Heb.
thou. And all the people wept again iniquity.
over him.

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab,
and on all his father's house; and let
there not fail from the house of
Joab one that hath an issue, or that is 35 And when all the people came
a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or to cause David to eat meat while it
that falleth on the sword, or that lack-was yet day, David sware, saying, So
eth bread.
do God to me, and more also, if I
taste bread, or ought else, till the sun
be down.

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain f Chap. 2.23. their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the

+ Heb. bed. bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

new rival of honour, or from a desire of revenging Asahel, he repays him both dissimulation and death. God does most justly by the hand of Joab, that which Joab did for himself most unjustly. Bp. Hall. This murder of Abner by Joab is allowed to be a base piece of treachery though his pretence for this villanous action was to revenge the death of his brother Asahel, yet undoubtedly his principal reason was, his jealousy of Abner, and his fear of losing the first post under the king. Dr. Chandler. How empty and ill-founded are the purposes of vain man! Abner, who promises kingdoms, (ver. 10,) cannot secure to himself one certain hour of life. David had sent him away, and he departed in peace; but, being called back by Joab, he fell. Envy, doubtless, and jealousy of Abner's merit with David, in gaining over the tribes to him, were the principal motives to this base action, as well as revenge for the blood of Asahel. Dr. Delaney.

29. Let it rest on the head of Joab, &c.] These, and the following words, must be looked upon rather as a prophetical prediction, than as a private imprecation; or else, as the expressions of violent passion, since he thought that the punishment for so horrid a crime could not be too severe or too lasting. Bp. Patrick.

that falleth on the sword,] That commits suicide out of some discontent or disturbance of mind. Dr. Wells.

31.the bier.] The word here translated, "the bier," is in the original, "the bed," on which persons of quality were wont to be carried forth to their graves, as ordinary people were upon that which we call a bier. Kings were sometimes carried out on beds richly adorned and gilt, as Josephus tells us was the case with Herod. Bp. Patrick.

33. - Died Abner as a fool dieth ?] Died he by the hands of justice for some folly or wickedness? No such matter. Dr. Wells. Or," Died he as a worthless vile fellow dieth?" so the Hebrew word properly signifies. Dr. Chandler.

children of

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as what- + Heb. soever the king did pleased all the their people.

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

of Ner.

38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

eyes.

The word, translated "fool," seems to signify a man of blasted character or morals; or perhaps one, who by his misdemeanour has forfeited the privileges of a citizen, and rendered himself obnoxious to publick justice; in short, "a rogue," or "felon." No doubt such depravity implies folly in the extreme; but by "fool" we generally understand, not one who goes wilfully wrong, but one who has a natural defect in the understanding. For this reason the present passage is perhaps not properly understood in general. The meaning is this: David is represented as lamenting over the death of Abner, and doing justice at once to the character of that great general, and to his own innocence of any share or concern in the murder. His words properly understood are as follow: "Died Abner, as a felon or malefactor dieth?" No, for if he had, the circumstances of his death would have been different: he would have been led, as such persons used to be, bound hand and foot, to the place of execution. But, continues the king, "Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou." That is, thou sufferedst not by a legal sentence; but, as many good and virtuous men have done besides, thou fellest by the hand of envious and ruffianlike assassins. Dr. Blayney.

35. came to cause David to eat meat &c.] This was a customary practice among the Hebrews, whose friends were wont to come, after the funeral was over, to comfort those who had buried their dead, and send in provisions to make a feast; it being supposed that they themselves were so sorrowful, as not to be able to think of their necessary food. See Jerem. xvi. 5. 7, 8; Ezek. xxiv. 17. Bp. Patrick. See the note on the above passage of Jeremiah.

38.there is a prince and a great man fallen] The fall of a great man like Abner must inspire every mind with grave and serious reflections. A great man fallen! and fallen by so unexpected and so surprising a treachery, and in the very moment of his returning to his

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+ Heb. second.

CHAP. IV.

1 The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner, 2 Baanah and Rechab slay Ishbosheth, and bring his head to Hebron. 9 David causeth them to be slain, and Ish

bosheth's head to be buried.

slay Ish-bosheth.

to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay Before

on a bed at noon.

6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and

AND when Saul's son heard that took his head, and gat them away

Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings. came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day

duty, and in the juncture of a great revolution, seemingly, depending on his fate; but then this great man sported with the lives of his brethren, and perhaps deliberately opposed himself to the dictates of his known duty to God, for a series of years. It is true, Abner was now returned to his duty; but it is as true, that he returned to it now, as he departed from it before, upon a pique, and from motives of ambition, interest, and revenge. He well knew the purposes and declarations of God in relation to David, and yet he deliberately opposed himself to them. And it is but just in the appointments of Providence, (and nothing is more conspicuous in his government of the world,) not to permit the wicked to effect that good from wrong motives, which they once obstructed from the same motives. The occasions of duty, once notoriously neglected, seldom return, at least to equal advantage. Let no man decline the good that is within his power; if he once does so, he is no more worthy to be the happy instrument of effecting it in the hand of God. Dr. Delaney.

39.I am this day weak, &c.] That is, he was not so established in his new kingdom, as to deem it prudent to punish Joab and Abishai, in the manner they deserved, for so base a fact. Dr. Wells.

through the plain all night.

8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

9¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

CHRIST about 1048.

eyes as a

10 When a one told me, saying, a Chap. 1. 15. Behold, Saul is dead, † thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given 1 him a reward for his tidings:

Heb. he was o bringer, &c. Or, which

was the reward I gave

tidings.

11 How much more, when wicked him for his men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of

Chap. IV. ver. 1. — his hands were feeble,] He despaired of his cause, knew that he had no strength to support his interest, and gave up all for lost. Dr. Chandler.

2. of the children of Benjamin:] It is specially mentioned that Rechab and Baanah were Benjamites, because, being of the same tribe with Saul, they had stronger ties upon them to be honest and faithful to his family. It is thus shewn more fully how vile and ungrateful they were, and how justly they deserved the severe but exemplary punishment which David inflicted on them. Stackhouse.

-for Beeroth also &c.] Though this place was now in the hands of the Philistines, yet it belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, Josh. xviii. 25. Bp. Patrick.

5.-who lay on a bed at noon.] As the custom was and still continues to be, in all hot climates. Dr. Chandler.

6. as though they would have fetched wheat ;] In the Hebrew," carrying wheat:" which they either brought into the king's granaries for the use of his household; or carried forth for the supply of the soldiers, who were maintained at the king's charge. Bp. Patrick.

7.-through the plain] The flat country between Mahanaim and Hebron.

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