e

the spear smote him under the fifth rib,||*in the morning the people had gone up that the spear came out behind him; and every one from following his brother. 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.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, 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

e 4:6. 20:10. f 20:12,13.

g 14. Acts 7:26.

i Job 18:2. 19:2. Ps. 4:2. Jer.
4:21.

k 1 Sam. 25:26. Job 27:2.

11:25. Is. 1:20. Jer. 2:30. 12:1 Prov. 15:1. 17:14. 20:18. 25:8.
12. 46:10,14. Hos. 11:6.
Luke 14:31,32.

twelve Benjamites were slain: but the words
more obviously mean, that all the company
were butchered.

V. 18-23. The circumstances, stated in these verses, shew that Abner was not at all to blame in the death of Asahel: for he was constrained to slay him in his own defence; as ing could satisfy Asahel, but either killing or taking captive the commander of Ish-bosheth's army, for which he was wholly incompetent. (Notes, 3:26,27,31.)

Sons of Zeruiah. (18) Zeruiah was David's sister: (Ĭ Chr. 2:16.) and Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were his nephews. (Notes, 23:18-24. 1 Chr. 11:6.)

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.

of God's word, and pray for his direction; using those means, and those only, which he has appointed or allowed, and avoiding all evil and "appearance of evil," in our pursuit of them: and then whatever else we fail in, we shall certainly be directed in the way to the kingdom of noth-heaven.-Those who have shared our afflictions should be associated in our prosperity; as they, "who suffer with Christ, shall also reign with him."-When we are influenced by faith, and the fear and love of God, and act with integrity, kindness, forgiveness, and a desire of peace, we conduct our affairs with the best wisdom.-We are bound to pray for and do good to those who have acted properly, even to our enemies; and to use conciliatory measures towards all men, but especially those who have behaved with gratitude and fidelity, in dangerous circumstances and without prospect of advantage: for such friends are worthy of attention; and they, who have been grateful to one benefactor, will find another to protect them when he is removed. But the believer's progress must be gradual: his faith and graces must be exercised and proved, and his pride subdued, before he can properly endure any kind of prosperity: and for these purposes, the Lord often employs the perverseness of his brethren, without their knowledge or contrary to their intention.-In the professing church few honor those whom the Lord will honor: before Jesus came, and in every succeeding generation, the very builders have rejected such as He intended for eminent situations; and his servants must be conformed to him.-Ambition, jealousy, envy, and other evil passions, cause men to rebel against the word of God: but they generally attempt to conceal their real motives under plausible pretences. The believer's wisdom, however, consists in waiting quietly and silently under inju ries, and in leaving God to plead his cause, except it is evidently his duty to be active. But there is a respect due to superior relations, to which equals or inferiors, in similar circum

V. 26-29. Abner used very different language when vanquished, than when eager to engage. (Note, 14-16.) Now he spoke "of the sword devouring for ever," and of the bitterness which the slaughter would occasion in the event; and recollected that the combatants were brethren. He forgot himself, however, when he threw the blame upon Joab; and he would not have made so moderate a use of victory had he obtained it. Though Joab was deeply exasperated by the death of his brother; yet, in regard to David's inclinations and Israel's advantage, he stopped the pursuit, and gave Abner and his troops an opportunity of retiring to a place of safety.

V.30-32. (Marg. Ref.) The slain of Israel, though much exceeding that of David's men, were not numerous. This might be owing to the directions given by David, to be as lenient as possible: but the death of Asahel seems to have stopped the pursuers, and greatly to have favored the escape of the vanquished. (23. Note, 26-29.)

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

V. 1-11.

If we would possess temporal things with a blessing, we must not eagerly seize upon them, nor be determined by favorable events or carnal counsellors: but we must observe the rules || stances, are not entitled.

B. C. 1050.

CHAP. III.

CHAPTER III.

David grows stronger, and Ish-bosheth weaker, during the war,
1. Six sons are born to David in Hebron, 2-5. Abner quar-
rels with Ish-bosheth, and offers his services to David, 6-12.
David demands and receives back Michal, 13-16.
communes with the Israelites, goes to David, and is feasted by
him, and sent away in peace, 17-21. Joab is angry with
David, and murders Abner, 22-27. David protests against

Abner

his wickedness, and denounces a curse upon him, 28-30. Da

vid mourns for Abner, 31-39.

OW there was a long war

b between

David's wife. These were born to Da

vid in Hebron.

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

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose
name was "Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah:

Nthe house of Saul and the house of and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore

and

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

d

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

k

e

3 And his second, & Chileab, "of Abi-
gail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah,
the daughter of 3 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,

a 1 Kings 14:3. 15:16,32.

b Gen. 3:15. Ps. 45:3-5. Matt.
10:35,36. Gal. 5-17. Eph. 6:12.
c Esth. 6:13. Job 8:7. 17:9. Ps.
84:7. Prov. 4:18,19. Dan. 2:j
34,35,44,45. Rev. 6:2.

d 1 Chr. 3:1-4.

e 13:1-29. Gen. 49:3,4.
f1 Sam. 25:43.

1

Ithream, by Eglah

g 1 Chr. 3:1. Daniel.
h1 Sam. 25:3,42.

i 13:20-28. 14:24-33. 15:1-
14. 17:1-14. 18:9-18,33.
13:37,38.

k Deut. 3:14. Josh. 13:13. 1
Sam. 27:8.

11 Kings 1:5,&c. 2:13-25.

V. 12-32.

Ambitious and bloody men often consider the
dire trade of war, and the slaughter of their
fellow-creatures, as a mere diversion; and the
lives of millions have been trifled away, out of
an irrational point of honor, to the great grati-
fication of Satan, that first great murderer of
From age to age
the bodies and souls of men.
numbers are ambitious of venturing their lives
and souls, for the empty hope of being celebrat-
ed as valiant men, after they are dead! and
from the same motive they mingle the blood of
their brethren with their own; though they bear
them no resentment, and have received no prov-
But what can be more
ocation from them!
senseless and infatuated than such a conduct?-
The sword of civil war, when once unsheathed,
is not easily returned into the scabbard; and
those who, in their eagerness to engage, make
light of such unnatural contests, will perceive
in the event that they are bitterness to all con-
cerned.-Men are exceedingly disposed to
throw the blame of manifest evil upon others,
that they may exculpate themselves: and those
arguments which were disregarded as futile
when employed against them, will often be
deemed very conclusive when urged on their
own behalf.-Success, as well as self-love, has a
great effect in determining men's judgments: of
the evil of prosperous attempts they cannot be
convinced; yet they can easily perceive those
measures to be wrong, which occasion loss or
Such partial decisions
peril to themselves!
should be exposed and rebuked: yet it is always
right to exercise clemency to the vanquished,
and generosity to the wretched; to spare the
shedding of human blood; to alleviate, in every
way we possibly can, the sum of human misery;
and to strive for peace, especially in the intes-
tine contentions of nations or churches, where
the common cause must suffer, which party so-
ever may acquire the ascendency.-Different

in unto my father's con

8 Then was Abner P 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?

t

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

m 2:8,9. 2 Kings 10:2,3. 2 Chr.
25.8. Prov. 21:30. Is. 8:9,10.
Joel 3:9-13. Matt. 12:30.
n 21:8-10.

o 12:8. 16:21,22. 1 Kings 2:17,
21.22.

p Ps. 76:10. Mark 6:18,19.
q 9:8. 16:9. Deut. 23:18. 1 Sam.
24:14. 2 Kings 8:13.

r 9,18. 5:2. 1 Sam. 15:28. Ps. 2:1-4. Is. 37:23. Acts 9:4,5.

s 35. 19:13. Ruth 1:17. 1 Sem.

3:17. 14:44. 25:22. 1 King.

19:2.

t1 Sam. 15:28. 16:1,12,18. 28: 17. 1 Chr. 12:23. Ps. 89:3,4, 19,20.

endowments qualify us for varied kinds of service, and should be improved for that purpose. But when talents are over-rated, and when men confide and glory in them, they will go beyond the dictates of prudence, as well as out of the line of duty, in order to distinguish themselves; they will despise warning and counsel, as the effect of envy and cowardice; and they will always be shamed, and frequently ruined, by those qualifications in which they prided themselves. Often do men fancy themselves about to seize upon happiness, when death stops their career, and lays them in the dust: and if they will rush forwards in the road to destruction, though plainly warned of their danger, they can blame none but themselves.-Finally, there are many distinctions among us, both during life, and in the disposal of our bodies after death; but in the eternal world no distinction subsists, except between those, "who have served the LORD, and those who have not served him."

NOTES.

CHAP. III. V. 1. The civil war, between David and Ish-bosheth, continued about five years and a half: but it seems to have been conducted with great moderation on the part of David. He, however, gained continually upon the esteem and affections of the people, and in the extent of his dominions and the number of his subjects; while Ish-bosheth gradually sunk into insignificance and contempt. (Notes, 2:10, 11. Prov. 4:18,19.)

V. 2—5. (Marg. Ref.) David's motives for multiplying wives must have been carnal, in one way or other; and his conduct in this respect proved the occasion of much sin and trouble, in the subsequent part of his life. He had by all his wives no more than six sons, during the seven years that he reigned at Hebron; not mentioned.-Perhaps Maacah, the [115 though probably he had some daughters, who are

10 To translate the kingdom from the|| Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. house of Saul, and to set up the throne And he returned. [Practical Observations ] of David over Israel, and over Judah, u " from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a sought for David in times past to be word again, because he feared him. king over you:

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 him away, and he was gone in peace.

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, Ab-
ner 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,

8,39. 19:5-7.

John 18:35.

Num. 23:11. n 10:3. Gen. 42:9,12,16. Num.
27:17. Deut. 28:6. 1 Sam. 29:
4-6. Ps. 121:8. Is. 37:28.
o Prov. 26:23-26. 27:4,6.

m 27. 2 Kings 18:32.
John 7:12,47. Rom. 2:1.

marg.

which brought him again from the well
of Sirah: but David knew it not.

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

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

S

V

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 a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

X

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother p 20:9,10. Deut. 27:24. 1 Kings |

2:5,32.

*Or, peaceably. Jer. 41:2,6,7.
94.6.

r 2:19-23.

s Gen. 9:6. Ex. 21:12. Num.
35:33. Deut. 21:1-9. Matt.
Gen. 4:10.

27:24.
Heb. bloods.

marg.

t 1:16. Judg. 9:24,56,57.
Kings 2:31-34. Acts 28:4.

u 1 Sam. 2:32-36. 2 Kings 5.
27. Ps. 109:8-19.
Heb. be cut off.

v Lev. 15:2.

x Lev. 13:44-46. 2 Kings 5:1

meant to bring him under suspicion of conniv. vid would recompense his services, was very active in bringing the elders of the other tribes, ing at the murder: and when Abner, impru and of Benjamin in particular, to receive David dently indeed, but in confidence, stepped aside as their king.-It seems, that the people in gen- to confer with him as the officer of David, he eral had desired this, especially when Saul and treacherously assassinated him, in violation of every law of hospitality and public faith. Abish his sons were slain; but that Abner's great authority had induced them to set up Ish-bosheth: ai also was privy to, or concerned in, the base so that now, when Abner entered into the in- transaction. (30) But, while Joab's conduct terests of David, he had little difficulty in bring- cannot be too severely reprobated, the wisdom ing them over to him. The words which Ab- and justice of God are manifest in Abner's punner mentions, as spoken by the LORD concern- ishment. From ambition he had pertinaciously, ing David, are not found in the preceding his-against his conscience, opposed the declared and tory; but the meaning of them is implied in the known will of God; and was induced by base He was promises given him. (Marg. Ref. f, g.)-Having resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his inade all requisite preparations, Abner went to services to David. (Note, 6-10.) David, and being cordially entertained, and therefore thrown aside, as unworthy to raise peaceably dismissed, he expected, no doubt, to David to the throne, or to give peace to Israel. Indeed it is probable, that if he had lived, his obtain high preferment under him. ambition, talents, influence, and ungodliness would have occasioned further mischief to all parties.

V. 22. A troop.] Probably, this was a troop of Philistines, or other enemies, not of Ish-bosheth's forces.

V. 28, 29. (Marg. Ref.) David no doubt intended by these protestations, and imprecations upon Joab and his family, to wipe off all suspicion of his own guilt, and to remove it from the land; being perhaps afraid of a revolt of the soldiers, if he proceeded to execute vengeance on the murderer. But he should have remembered, that He, "who stilleth the raging of the sea," is able also "to still the madness of the He was anointed people." In so just a cause he ought to have risked all consequences. king to administer justice without respect of persons; and he might have been assured of the Lord's support in doing so important a duty: the example would have been very salutary; all impartial persons would have applauded his firmness; perhaps Ish-bosheth's murder would have been prevented, as well as many other crimes and calamities, in the latter part of his reign. But his fear of man in this instance overcame bis faith in God, and Joab continued and inV. 26, 27. Joab seeins to have recalled Ab-creased in authority, and in crimes, to the end ner, in David's name, without his knowledge; of David's life: he was at length, however, callwhich was very base treatment of him, as if he led to account for them all. (Notes, 38,39. 4:

V. 24, 25. Joab, and his brother Abishai, David's nephews, had been very faithful and useful to him in his afflictions; and from gratitude and natural affection, he had inadvertently given them almost as great an ascendency over him, as Abner had over Ish-bosheth: so that he had trusted and feared them too much, and allowed them all the importance which they claimed; and that had emboldened them, especially Joab, to a high degree of presumption. Indeed nothing could well be more affronting than this address of Joab to his prince, whom he grossly charged with the most egregious folly, and then left his presence without waiting for an answer! (Marg. Ref.) But it was the language of envy and ambition, as well as of resentiment: he supposed that he had missed an opportunity of avenging the death of Asahel, and be feared a formidable rival, if Abner made a league with David; for it is evident he only pretended to doubt his sincerity.

[11TM

1

d Judg. 16:21. Ps. 107:10.11. 15:11-13. Heb. children of iniquity.k12. 2:8. 1 Sam. 14:50,51. Job