David anointed king of Israel.

Before

CHRIST your hand, and take you away from about 1048. the earth?

12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of b Chap. 3. 32. Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

a 1 Chron. 11.

1.

CHAP. V.

b

HEN 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 us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the b Ps. 78. 71. LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

b

12. And David commanded his young men, &c.] The behaviour of David on this occasion is well worthy of attention. It is a proof of his virtue and integrity, and of his detestation and abhorrence of treachery and cruelty, when, instead of approving and rewarding those who had killed their king Ish-bosheth, as they expected, he put them to death, though the death of that prince secured the kingdom to him. This teaches us in general, that we ought not only to do no hurt to our enemies, but also that we ought in no instance to countenance injustice and vice in any degree, whatever advantage we may derive from them. Ostervald.

- cut off their hands and their feet,] It is still the custom in Turkey, when the ministers of state incur the displeasure of the people, to cut off their hands, head and feet, and throw them before the palace gate. Thus were the sons of Rimmon served for slaying Ishbosheth. Harmer.

hanged them up over the pool] As a publick mark of greater ignominy, and of David's strong detestation of what they had done. Dr. Wells. David's behaviour in this treatment of the murderers of Ishbosheth was highly commendable, not only as it was an act of justice in itself, but as it publickly declared that he would never be served by treachery and murder, nor ever forgive such crimes, however the pretence for committing them might be for his own interest and service. The concern he expressed for the death of Ish-bosheth, especially for the manner of it, "in his own house upon his bed," argued humanity and honour, and an utter abhorrence of villains and their crimes. Dr. Chandler.

Chap. V. ver. 1. we are thy bone and thy flesh.] Meaning, that they were of the same blood with him, being descended from their common father, Israel; and that he was therefore qualified by the law of God, Deut. xvii. 15, to be their king. Bp. Patrick.

He taketh Zion from the Jebusites.

Before CHRIST

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king about 1048. David made a league with them in 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: c Chap. 2. 11. and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 ¶ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in Or, saying, hither.

7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of

2.

David shall not, &c.

Thou shalt feed my people Israel,] This expression seems rather made use of, to put David in mind that he was created a king, not so much for the advancement of his own honour and interest, as for the good and benefit of the community, which he was to rule with all tenderness, and watch over with all diligence. The very manner of the expression implies, that kings ought to have the same care of their people, as the shepherd has of his flock; and that, as the shepherd is not the owner of the sheep he keeps, so should a king consider his subjects as a flock committed to his care by the only true Lord of mankind, to whom he must give an account of his administration. Stackhouse.

This is the first time that we meet with any description of a ruler or governour of a people characterized under the idea of a shepherd; and it is remarkable, that the first person so characterized was at first in fact a shepherd. How fine an instruction does this expression convey to princes, that they are not, in the intention of Providence, the tyrants, but the guardians of their people; and that their business is the preservation and well being of their flock, from the duty which they owe to the great Lord and Owner of both! Dr. Delaney.

6. Except thou take away the blind and the lame,] This is said by way of scorn and contempt: they imagined their fortress to be so impregnable, that they told him the blind and the lame were able to defend it against him and all his forces. Bp. Patrick, Drs. Wells, and Chandler.

Whosoever getteth up &c.] There is some uncertainty as to the construction of this sentence. The words, "he shall be chief and captain," are supplied in our translation from the account of the same event at 1 Chron. xi. 6; the words of the original Hebrew, when taken in their order, admit of the following sense: "He that smiteth the Jebusites, let him throw down into the ditch both the blind and the lame, which David

and the lame,

9 So David dwelt in the fort, and even the blind called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

He shall not

come into the house.

+ Heb. went, going, and growing.

about 1013.

e 1 Chron. 14.

1.

10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

e

11 ¶ And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar + Heb.hewers trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

of the stone of the wall.

extremely hates;" which seems a preferable sense to that of our translation. Bp. Patrick, Bochart. They were hated by David, not only as being Jebusites, a people accursed of God, but also as possessing a place which David knew to be designed for God's solemn worship, and as having insolently defied the armies of Israel. Poole.

Wherefore they said,] Here the reading of the margin is the best; according to which, "the house" means the very fort which the Jebusites held. Bp. Patrick, Pyle, Dr. Wells.

9.-from Millo] From the place where Solomon afterwards built Millo; for it appears from 1 Kings ix. 15, that it was not built till Solomon's reign. Respecting Millo, see note at Judg. ix. 6. It was probably a house for publick affairs; that is, where those, who formed the chief assembly in a country or city, met together to consult of publick affairs. To this sense agrees Judg. ix. 6, where the word first occurs, as also 2 Kings xii. 20. It may further be inferred from 2 Chron. xxxii. 5, that this publick house of state, which Millo was, was also a sort of armoury, or at least a place of more than ordinary strength; for it is mentioned, that among the means used by Hezekiah to fortify Jerusalem against Sennacherib, was the repairing of Millo. Dr. Wells. Millo was probably situated on the east side of mount Zion, and separated it from mount Moriah, on which the temple stood. Bp. Pococke.

10. And David went on, and grew great,] This happy conclusion of all David's troubles shews us, that God is ever faithful to his promises; that, though He defers the completion of them, He never fails in the execution, but always delivers those whom He loves; and that, after He has made his children pass through divers trials, He at length grants them the rest and prosperity He had promised them. Let us learn from hence to resign ourselves into the hand of Providence, and faithfully to discharge our duty towards Him, being fully

The Philistines are smitten.

Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

h

Before CHRIST about 1043.

16. & 14. 8. 1047.

17 But when the Philistines h1 Chron. 11. heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David 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 Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20 And David came to i Baal- i Isa. 28. 21. perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore

assured that, as He was vigilant for the welfare and happiness of David, so He will always be towards his faithful and obedient servants. Ostervald.

13.- David took him more concubines and wives] David appears to have taken this great number of wives and concubines principally for two reasons, from the desire of issue, and from motives of policy. He had no child by either of his wives, Michal, Ahinoam, or Abigail, for several years. He knew of what importance the increase of his family would be to his establishment on the throne. God had promised to establish the kingdom, not only in his own person, but in that of his posterity; and for the purpose of procuring the fulfilment of this promise, he adopted the most probable means of procuring children. Policy, again, required David to strengthen his unsettled state by new alliances, and no more effectual method of attaining this end presented itself, than by forming matrimonial connexions with persons of the greatest power and credit in the country. These considerations prevent our viewing David's polygamy as proceeding from licentiousness, but rather place it on grounds of prudence, and, as some think, of piety. Still his conduct may justly be considered as proceeding from too worldly an intention of bringing the purposes and promises of God in his favour to a full and timely accomplishment. Dr. Delaney.

- there were yet sons &c.] It was considered matter of policy in princes to have many children, that, by matching them into great families, they might strengthen their interest, and have more supporters of their authority. Bp. Patrick.

17.. -to the hold.] "To a hold" or strong place. 18.-the valley of Rephaim.] Which, at Josh. xv. 8, we translate the valley of the giants, lying not far from Jerusalem. The road from Jerusalem to Beth-lehem, as Mr. Maundrell informs us, lies through this valley, famous for being the scene of several victories obtained by David over the Philistines. Dr. Wells.

21 And there they left their images, The plain of and David and his men || burned k 1 Chron. 14. them.

breaches.

12.

|| Or, took

them away.

24.

22 ¶ And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt 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 from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

CHAP. VI.

1 David fetcheth the ark from Kirjath-jearim

on a new cart. 6 Uzzah is smitten at

Perez-uzzah. 9 God blesseth Obed-edom for the ark. 12 David bringing the ark into Zion with sacrifices, danceth before it, for which Michal despiseth him. 17 He placeth it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting. 20 Michal reproving David for his religious joy is childless to her death.

21.— their images,] Which they had brought into the field, to be carried before their armies, as a token of the presence of their gods among them. Bp. Patrick. the sound of a going in the tops &c.] A sound in the mulberry trees, as a signal of David's going against the enemy. Pyle. Or it may be rendered, A sound in the beginning of the mulberry trees; that is, in the entrance of the place where the mulberry trees are planted, God intending to make there a sound, as if a vast number of men were marching upon the Philistines. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.

Chap. VI. ver. 2. — David-went with all the people] The reason why David summoned so many of his principal ministers and officers to accompany him in the expedition probably was, to possess the young people, who perhaps had heard nothing of the ark, on account of its long absence, with a mighty veneration for it, when they saw the king, and so many of the chief nobility waiting on it, with such variety of musick, and such publick demonstrations of joy. Stackhouse. During all the preceding periods of the Hebrew republick, the ark had no settled or fixed habitation, but removed from place to place, as convenience or necessity required. In this unsettled state of things, many great inconveniences must have arisen, and many important solemnities of the national religion must have been neglected. The honour of making the necessary settlement, and thereby perfecting the ceremonial of the Hebrew worship, was reserved for David, who, having taken Jerusalem, and adorned it with magnificent buildings, imme

thousand.

CHRIST

5, 6.

2 Anda David arose, and went with a1 Chron. 13. all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, || whose name I Or, at is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cheru- the name of bims.

which the name, even

the LORD of hosts was called upon.

made to ride.

3 And they set the ark of God + Heb. upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in || Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the I Or, the hill. sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

b

4 And they brought it out of the b1 Sam. 7.2. house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of Heb. with. God: and Ahio went before the ark.

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

-from Baale of Judah,] Which is the same with Kirjath-jearim, 1 Chron. xiii. 6; called also Kirjathbaal, Josh. xv. 60; hence Baalah, Josh. xv. 9, and Baale, of Judah, or belonging to that tribe. Bp. Patrick. 3. - upon a new cart,] It had been expressly commanded that the ark should be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites, Numb. vii. 9. They seem to have acted on the present occasion from forgetfulness; perhaps inadvertently following the example of the Philistines, who had put the ark of God in the same manner, in a new cart, 1 Sam. vi. 7, 8. Bp. Patrick. The word "cart" in our translation conveys a degrading idea; it was probably a magnificent carriage provided by David. Dr. Chandler. This remarkable case shews how dangerous it is to follow good intentions, and do any thing in God's service without his express word; a consideration worthy of the attention of all self-called labourers in the vineyard: the instance of Uzzah, ver. 7, also proves, that sins of ignorance are punishable, where the errour is not invincible. Dr. Hales.

6.-for the oxen shook it.] Or "stumbled," as in our marginal translation: it is probable, that, by some accident occurring to the oxen which drew the ark, it was in danger of being overturned. Bp. Patrick.

7.-smote him there for his error;] Or, for his rash

God blesseth Obed-edom for the ark.

Before CHRIST

about 1042.

+ Heb. broken. I That is,

CHRIST

upon

The breach of day.

Uzzah.

d 1 Chron. 15. 25.

9 And David was afraid of the 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-edom the Gittite.

11 And 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 houshold.

12 ¶ And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. d So David went and

ness, in touching the ark: his errour consisted, 1st, in not carrying the ark upon his shoulders, together with his brethren; 2ndly, in touching it, which he ought not so much as to have seen: the priests were to cover it, and the Levites to take hold of the staves, for the purpose of carrying it, Numb. iv. 15, (Uzzah was a Levite, being the brother of Eleazar, who was consecrated to the office of a Levite, 1 Sam. vii. 1,) but principally, in wanting faith in God, who, he ought to have known, was able to support his ark without human help. Bp. Patrick. The ark at this time had continued so long in obscurity, that the people had in a manner lost all sense of a Divine power residing in it, and approached it with irreverence. What wonder then if God, intending to testify his immediate presence with the ark, to retrieve the ancient honour of that sacred vessel, and to curb all licentious profanations of it for the future, should single out one, the most culpable of all, to be a monument of his displeasure, against either wilful ignorance, or a rude contempt of his precepts; that thus He might inspire both priests and people with a sacred dread of his majesty, and a profound veneration for his mysteries. Stackhouse.

Although it was the office of the Kohathites of the tribe of Levi to carry the ark upon their shoulders, Numb. vii. 9; 2 Chron. xxxv. 3; yet it was death for them to touch it, Numb. iv. 15. Uzzah therefore, although he was probably a Levite, acted contrary to an express law in touching the ark. His crime seems to have been the greater, after what had happened to the Beth-she- | mites for looking into the ark, 1 Sam. vi. 19. Indeed the conveying of the ark in a cart, instead of on men's shoulders, was doubtless a fault: and David seems to own this by the manner in which he ordered it to be carried from the house of Obed-edom, 1 Chron. xv. And when it is said, 2 Sam. vi. 8, that "David was displeased" at what befell Uzzah; it means, according to the Greek version, he was afflicted or dismayed and terrified: which seems to agree with what follows, that he would not then venture to carry the ark to his own habitation. Upon the whole, all the company being guilty, it was great clemency in God to punish only the most criminal. Dr. John Ward.

13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17

And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that

8.

was displeased,] Was afflicted and struck with this exemplary judgment. Pyle.

a breach upon Uzzah:] A breaking forth of the Divine anger upon Uzzah. Dr. Wells.

13.-he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.] As a thanksgiving to God for the hope now afforded, that his former displeasure respecting the removal of the ark had ceased, and they might bring it safe to Jerusalem without a similar disaster. Dr. Wells. The Hebrew word, translated fallings, is of uncertain sense: some take it for a ram or lamb: Bochart thinks it means a kind of bullock. Bp. Patrick.

14.-David was girded with a linen ephod.] He was so clothed on this solemnity, both out of reverence to God, and for convenience, as his royal robes were too cumbersome. Dr. Chandler. He laid aside his royal majesty and dress, as being in the immediate presence of God. Grotius.

15. — with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.] It is no wonder that David and his people should be transported with joy at this great event, as they could not but consider themselves arrived at that happy period, when all the affairs of religion and government were to be placed on a durable foundation. These things heighten the glory of David's reign, shew him to be "a man after God's own heart," every way fitted for the purpose, for which he was exalted; demonstrate the piety and goodness of his heart, and clothe him with a glory in which no prince could ever rival or equal him. Dr. Chandler.

16.- saw king David leaping and dancing] It was customary among the Greeks and other nations, to use musick and dancing in religious processions. And it does not appear that David's behaviour on this occasion was any disparagement of his royal dignity. His dancing (by which is meant, his moving to certain serious and solemn measures, with musick of the same character and tendency) was an exercise highly conducive to purposes of piety; and his mixing with the publick festivities of his people was a condescension not unbecoming the greatest monarch. Stackhouse.

she despised him in her heart.] Imagining that he debased himself, by stripping himself of the orna

Michal reproveth David.

Before CHRIST

about 1042. offered burnt offerings and peace

+ Heb. stretched.

e 1 Chron. 16. 2.

He is forbidden

Before CHRIST

offerings before the LORD.

e

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

Or, of the handmaids

of my

23 Therefore Michal the daughter servants. of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

1

CHAP. VII.

about 1012.

every one to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his houshold. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the ||Or, openly. vain fellows || shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22 And I will yet be more vile

ments of majesty, and dancing among the common people. Bp. Patrick.

20.

How glorious &c.] This she speaks ironically, by way of derision and contempt. Bp. Patrick.

as one of the vain fellows] The haughty woman in the contempt of her heart calls the Levites, the bearers of the ark, "vain fellows," rather, "empty, low, worthless people" and likens David to them, because he discovered himself as they discovered themselves; that is, appeared in the same habit, and played and danced just as they did. Dr. Chandler. She, probably, in a fit of passion, aggravates David's conduct as mean and below himself, intimating that he immodestly exposed himself as shameless fellows do, which is very incredible; for, no doubt, he kept within the rules of modesty, being employed upon a sacred business, and obeying the command of God, who required the Israelites to rejoice in their feasts, Deut. xii. 7; xvi. 11. Bp. Patrick. Though his putting off his royal robes might give some occasion to Michal's expression of his "uncovering himself," yet this opprobrious term proceeded from nothing but the overflowing spleen of a proud passionate woman. Stackhouse.

22. - I will yet be more vile &c.] He intimates, that he thinks nothing too mean for him to stoop to, provided he did honour to God; and that the more he humbled himself for that purpose, the more he would be honoured and esteemed by the people. Dr. Wells.

The vile insinuated reproach was absolutely false, and David knew that all his people knew it to be so. Therefore he gave himself no trouble to refute it; but barely contented himself with retorting the only truth contained in it, that is, his having uncovered or disrobed

himself of his royalty, allowing that he had so done, but affirming that it was for the honour of God. His answer was truly worthy a great king, who knew so well how to unite the humility of a saint with the majesty of a monarch. Dr. Delaney.

and of the maidservants &c.] The more he humbled himself to do honour to God, the more he was confident he should be had in honour by the people; the esteem of the meanest of whom he more valued than any praises Michal might bestow, for taking state upon him and neglecting God's service. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. VII. ver. 2. See now, I dwell &c.] Like a religious prince, David spent much of his time in pious meditations; and, among other things, reflected on the meanness of God's habitation, in comparison with the splendour of his own palace. This he thought ought not to be endured, and therefore resolved to build a stately house for God's ark to dwell in. Bp. Patrick.

The pious intention of David to build a temple, as soon as he was placed in peaceable possession of the kingdom, teaches us, that we should shew more zeal for the honour of God than for our own private interest; and that the best use we can make of the goods and advantages which God bestows upon us, is to employ them for his service and glory. Ostervald.

5. Shalt thou build me an house] That is, How canst thou design to build me an house? It is intended as a reproof for his forwardness in making a vow to this effect, without asking God's consent. Dr. Wells.