A.C. 1048. 2 SAMUEL IV. The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner, 2 Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-bosheth, and bring his head to Hebron. 9 David causeth them to be slaia, and Ish-bosheth's head to be buried. 1 And when Saul's son heard that 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 Heb. second. the other *Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: i Ch. i. 2, 4, 15. + Heb. he was In his own eyes as a bringer, &c. Or, which was the reward I gave 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 to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay 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 took his head, and gat them away 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 Ishbosheth 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, i 10 When one told me, saying, 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 him a reward for his tidings: 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righhim for his teous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not tidings. therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you A.C. 1048. away from 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 Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the Hebron. SECTION II 46. sepulchre of Abner in k Ch. iii 32. David made King over all Israel. 2 SAMUEL V. VER. 1, 2, 3. 1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto He- 11 Chron. xi. bron, 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 LORD said to thee, "Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and m Ps. Ixxviii. thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD and they anointed David king over Israel. 1 CHRONICLES XIII. VER. 1-5. 1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 71. * 2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, *let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are † in their cities and suburbs, that they + may gather themselves unto us: 46 This arrangement of section ii. is made on the authority of the author of the Book of Chronicles; who places the list of David's warriors, after the account of his being made king by all the tribes of Israel at Hebron. They are mentioned before the numbering of the people in the Second Book of Samuel; but for what reason is not apparent. The most appropriate place for them seems to be that which follows the history of David's elevation; who was in a great measure indebted to their allegiance, among other human means, for the possession of the throne. There is some partial difference between the catalogue of these warriors in 1 Samuel xxii. and that in 1 Chron. xi. Dr. Kennicot, in a valuable and learned dissertation, has reconciled the apparent discrepancies in the two lists by comparing both with the Septuagint; and pointing out the manner in which it is probable the various minor changes of letters and words might have occurred. The passages (2 Sam. xxiii. ver. 13—18.) and (1 Chron. xi. 15-20.) have been inserted above, chap. vi. sect. ix. Vide Kennicot's Dissertation on the State of the Hebrew Text, vol. i. particularly p. 248-260. Heb. Let us and send. break forth Heb. in the cities of their suburbs. A. C. 1048. * Heb. bring about. + Or, winnowest. n Amos ix. 2, 3, 4. o Job xxvi. 6. Heb. iv. 13. 3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. 4 And all the congregation said that they would do so : for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. PSALM CXXXIX 47. 1 David praiseth God for his all-seeing providence, 17 and for his infinite mercies. 19 He defieth the wicked. 23 He prayeth for sincerity. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou+compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? my 8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the Heb. dark night shineth as the day: § the darkness and the light are eneth not. Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light. both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 47 Immediately on David's accession to the throne of Israel, we read in Chronicles that he proposed the fetching up of the ark from Kirjath-jearim. His first thought was gratitude, and adoration to that God who had fulfilled his promises, and made him ruler over his people. On this supposition I have inserted the 139th Psalm in this place, although the date and occasion of the Psalm are uncertain. On surveying the whole of his eventful life, David acknowledges the wisdom of Providence alike in his adversity and prosperity; he resolves to restore the ark to its place; proclaims the omniscience of God; and concludes his song of praise, with a prayer to be preserved from the evils and dangers of prosperity, and to be led in the way everlasting. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully A.C. 1048. made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth * right well. * Heb. greatly. or, body. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was for, strength, made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, § which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 P How precious also are all thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand when I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: them. Heb. all of days they p Ps. xl. 5. pain, or, grief. 24 And see if there be any || wicked way in me, and lead Heb. way of me in the way everlasting. tains, or, men. 1 CHRONICLES XII. VER. 23, TO THE END. 23¶ And these are the numbers of the + bands that *Or, cupwere ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, + Heb. heads. to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. Or, prepar 25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. 26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. 27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred. 28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains. 29 And of the children of Benjamin, the § kindred of Saul, three thousand for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. 30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and ed. Heb. bre thren. Ich a mul titude of them. A.C. 1048. eight hundred, mighty men of valour, *famous throughout the house of their fathers. * Heb. men of names. + Or, rangers of battle, or, ranged in battle. Or, set the battle in ar ray. Heb with out a heart and a heart. || Or, keeping their rank. 31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king. 32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, † expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were § not of double heart. 34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. 35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. 36 And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, || expert in war, forty thousand. 37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. 38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking for their brethren had prepared for them. 40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, *Or, victual and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly; for there was joy in Israel. of meal. bassebet the Tachmonite, head of the three 2 SAMUEL XXIII. VER. 8-13. 8¶These be the names of the mighty men whom David Or, Josheb had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, § whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was a Eleazar the son of Dodo the AhoHeb. slain, hite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: See 1 Chron. xi. 11. q 1 Chron. xi. 12. 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the |