AND there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but 'the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem: and the king took the ten women his concu h 2. The excuse the men of Judah made for themselves, v. 42. (1.) They plead relation to the king, He is near of kin to us.' (2.) They deny the insinuated charge of self-seeking in what they 'We have all borne our own charges,' say they. Hath he given us any gift? You are come time enough to share the advantages of his Too many attend princes, only for what had done. that they had spoken of it, before the men of Ju- | by birth, (v. 1.) who had his habitation in mount return.' they can get. 3. The men of Israel's vindication of their charge, v. 43. They pleaded, We have ten parts in the king,' (Judah having Simeon only, whose lot lay within his, to join with him,) 'therefore it is a slight on us, that our advice was not asked about bringing back the king.' See how uncertain the multitude is; they were lately striving against the king, to drive him out; now they are striving which shall honor him mest! No thing is so commonly the origin of strife, as impa tience of contempt, or the least seeming slight. Lastly, The Scripture notices, by way of blame, CHAP. XX. V. 1-3. How do the clouds return after the rain! No sooner is one of David's troubles over, than another arises, as it were, out of the ashes of the former, wherein the threatening is fulfilled, that the sword should never depart from his house. David, in the midst of his dom disturbed, and his family disgraced. triumphs, has here the affliction to see his king I. His subjects revolt at the instigation of a man of Belial, whom they followed when they forsook the man after God's own heart. We must not think it strange, while in this world, if the end of one trouble be the beginning of another: deep sometimes calls unto deep. When a reconciliation is newly made, it ought to be handled with great tenderness and caution, lest the peace break again before it be settled. A broken bone, 14. 18:19. Rom. 12:21. Gal. 5:15, when it is set, must have time to knit. The ringleader of this rebellion was Sheba, a Benjamite Heb. set us at light. f 9,14. Gal. 5:20,26. Phil. 2:3. g Judg. 9:23. 12:1-6. Prov. 15:1. 17: 20. Jam, 1:20. 3:14-16, 4:1-5. a 19:41-43. Ps. 34:19. b 23:6. Deut. 13:13. Judg. 19:22. 1 Prov. Learn hence, (F.) Princes and parents should carry it with an even hand. (2.) Those know not what they do, that make light of the affections of their inferiors, by not countenancing and accepting them. Their hatred may be feared, whose love is despised. (3.) The beginning of strife is as the letting forth of water; it is therefore wisdom to leave it off before it be meddled with How great a matter doth a little of this fire kindle! (4.) To pervert words is to subvert peace: much mischief is made by forcing invidious constructions on what is said and written, and drawing consequences that were never intended. The men of Judah said, The king is near of kin to us, by which, say the men of Israel, you mean, We have no part in him; whereas they meant no such thing. (5.) People are very apt to run into extremes, We have ten parts in David, said they; and almost in the next breath, We have no part in him. To-day, Hosanna, to-morrow, Crucify. II. His concubines shut up for life, and he himself under the necessity of doing it, because they had been defiled by Absalom, v. 3. David had multiplied wives, contrary to the law, and they proved a grief and shame to him. That Absalom's villany might be buried in oblivion, they must be buried in obscurity. Nay, justice obliged him to shut them up in prison, to punish them for their easy submission to Absalom's lust, despairing, perhaps, of David's return, and giving him up for gone. - Let none expect to do ill, and fare well. e 19:41. Ps. 62:9. 118:8-10. d 19:43. 1 Kings 12:16. 2 Chr. 10:16. V. 31-43. It becomes us, as we advance in life, to relinquish worldly pursuits before we be torn from them; and, leaving to our juniors those scenes of business, or of pleasure, where reflection is too often dissipated, and the voice of conscience stunned, to prefer retirement and privacy, where we may best prepare for the closing hour. And, though allowances should be made to youth, in matters inexpedient to old age; yet the sooner and the more entirely young people devote themselves to God, the safer and happier they will be.-It is our daty to recompense to the children, the kindness shown us by their parents, and to pray for them that they may have grace properly to use their temporal good things. Envy and anger often interrupt the most promising appearances, and in quarrels generally both parties are culpable. [For both, by showing anger, &c. excite the same propensities in those they dispute with, till reason, and love are drowned. Yet a soft answer turns away wrath;' the mildness shown exciting the corresponding and better feelings of the opposite party.]-But here again, some glimpses may be discerned of the glorious character and kingdom of David's Son and David's Lord. Being anointed by the Father to be his King on his holy hill of Zion, He reigns over a willing people, who deem it their privilege to be his subjects. Once indeed they were rebels, and numbers of their associates perished in rebellion: but when they became sen NOTES. sible of their danger, they were fearful or reluctant to submit unte Him; till his ministers, by representing his tender love, and his promises of pardon and preferment, through the concurring influ ences of his Spirit, bowed their hearts to a humble willingness that He should reign over them: then He readily pardoned and accepted them, and on no accusation will He cast out, or cut off, the greatest offender who cries for his mercy. His friends sincerely mourn when his cause is run down, and rejoice when it prospers, whether they prosper in the world or not. He will re compense those, who from love to Him feed his servants; He will assign them a place in his holy city, the new Jerusalem; He will feast them on the provisions of his house, and will bless their children after them. Alas! that it must be added, that while the King Himself is so plenteous in mercy; many of his professed" subjects are envious, and contentious with each other, and quar rel about the most trivial concerns; which prevents much good, does immense mischief, and occasions lamentable scandals. May He at length teach all who are called by his name, to follow the example of his humility and meekness; and to rejoice in seeing the common cause promoted, let who will have the credit of being the instrument: and may all endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace! (Note, Eph. 4:1-6.) SCOTT. under Amasa in Absalom's revolt, and possessed great influence amort CHAP. XX. V. 1, 2. Sheba, it is probable, had been a commander the men of Israel. bines, whom he had left 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to 'Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou "thy lord's servants and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities and | escape us. 7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone which is Pin Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a V. 4-13. We have here Amasa's fall, just as | brother, knowing he might be serviceable to the he began to rise. I. He has a commission to public, or perhaps now meditating the removal of raise forces to suppress Sheba's rebellion, and is his rival. ordered to do it with all possible expedition, v. 4. It seems, the men of Judah, though forward to attend the king's triumphs, were backward enough to fight his battles; most love a loyalty, as well as a religion, that is cheap and easy. Many boast of being akin to Christ, that yet are very loath to venture for Him. Amasa finds Judah so back ward and unready, that he cannot do it within the barously murders him, t. 8-10. It should seem, III. Joab, near Gibeon, meets Amasa, and barthe great stone in Gibeon was the place appointed for the general rendezvous: there the rivals met; and Amasa, relying on his commission, went be fore, as general both of the new-raised forces troops Abishai had brought in; but Joab girds which he had got together, and of the veteran his coat about him, that that might not hang in his way, and girds his belt on his coat, that his sword might be the readier; he puts his sword in a sheath too big for it, that, whenever he pleased, II. Upon Amasa's delay, Abishai, the brother it might, on a little shake, fall out, as if by acciof Joab, is ordered to take the guards and stand- dent, and so he take it into his hand, unsuspected, ing forces, and with them to pursue Sheba, (v. 6, as if to return it into the scabbard, when he de7.) for nothing could be of more dangerous con- signed to sheath it in the bowels of Amasa. The sequence than to give him time. David gives more there is of plot in a sin, the worse it is. these orders to Abishai, because he resolves to He did it treacherously, and under pretence of mortify Joab, and degrade him, not so much, I friendship, that Amasa might not be on his guard. doubt, for the blood of Abner, which he shed He called him brother, (they were own cousins,) basely, as for the blood of Absalom. Joab, with- inquired of his welfare, and took him by the beard, out orders, though in disgrace, goes with his ' as one he was free with, to kiss him, while with government. girdle with a sword fas- out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so ប he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of 11 And one of Joab's 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. 13 When he was removed out of the high PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-13. We must expect one trial after another, for our salutary chastisement, till we reach the place where sin and sorrow are for ever excluded.-Angry disputants commonly misunderstand, or misinterpret, one another's words: proud men will either manage every thing their own way, or entirely refuse their concurrence; and when greatly enraged, they are apt to avenge themselves on the innocent, and on persons whom they profess to love, instead of those who have affronted them.-Many a vehement quarrel would spend its fury in angry words, and then die away, if some man of Belial' were not present, to sound the trumpet of public contention. Satan, if permitted,-will be sure to excite such ringleaders of dissension: and God, in wise and holy sovereignty, is pleased often to permit it, that He may execute vengeance, or inflict correction, according to his righteous purposes. Hence nations are visited with war and bloodshed, especially the dire scourge of civil wars; and the church with pestilent divisions, and virulent controversies.-When immoderate and inexpedient provision is made for sensual gratification, it will surely terminate in grief and shame: and obscure retirement best suits those who are become infamous by sin.-The most powerful cannot effect all that they wish, or all that they see to be right; nay, they cannot attempt it without danger: for at Verses 4, 5. Amasa's appointment to be commander of the army, in the place of Joab, must have been unpopular with all who had fought and conquered under that commander: and as Amasa had not been successful for Absalom, perhaps his own party did not entirely confide in him. This might occasion unexpected delay in raising an army. SCOTT. Verses 8-10. It was the Lord's righteous will, that Amasa should thus suffer the punishment due to his former treason. (3:26, 27. 18:14. Judg. 9:50 -57.) ID. (9.) By the beard, to kiss him.] 'The [east-] Indians take one another by the chin, i. e. the beard, when they would give a hearty salate.' Della Valle. It was an ancient custom among the Greeks, to take the person, to whom they had an address to make, by the chin last they can only do, what the many can be prevailed with to concur in.-By degrees men grow more and more bold and unfeeling in the commission of crimes of every kind; until they vindicate and glory in their villanies: and when such daring offenders are actuated by ambition or revenge, they will not be restrained by the ties of relationship, or friendship; nay, they will employ the guise and language of love, to obtain the opportunity of perpetrating the most atrocious murders.-The murderer may conceal his crimes, or prosper in his ways for a season, and elude or outbrave the justice of man: but let him not expect to escape the vengeance of God.-Vain are earthly distinctions and preferments, which excite so much envy and enmity, without affording any additional security to man's uncertain life: may we then be ambitious of that honor which cometh from God only!-Great abilities, strong attachment to the interests of the public, and eminent services, performed with firmness, prudence, and clemency, constitute a great, but not always a good man: and a person thus peculiarly distinguished, being the slave of one imperious lust, may violate every moral obligation in order to its indulgence; though such treachery, cruelty, and injustice seem to be far from him,' in other parts of his conduct. SCOTT. or beard.' Pliny. Thevenot. "The Arabians have a great regard for Verses 11-13. Dr. A. CLARKE. By the artifice of representing the cause of Joab as united with that of David, the people in general were left in suspense, whether Joab acted by the king's orders, or against them: but when the body of Amasa was removed and covered, they followed their old commander without further hesitation. SCOTT. c b of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachab, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. III. A discreet good woman of the city of Abel brings this matter, by her prudent management, to a good issue, so as to satisfy Joab, and yet save the city. Souls know no difference of sexes; though the man be the head, it does not therefore follow that he has the monopoly of the brains, therefore he ought not to have the monopoly of the crown; many a masculine heart, and more than masculine, has been found in a female breast; nor is the treasure of wisdom the less valuable for being lodged in the weaker vessel. 14 T And he went the drawn sword in his other hand he was aiming | dulges those rebellious lusts that will not have through all the tribes at his heart. Was this done like a gentleman, a Christ to reign over them. soldier, a general? No, but like a villain, a base coward. Just thus he slew Abner, and went unpunished for it, which encouraged him to do the like again. He did it impudently, not in a corner, but at the head of his troops, in their sight, as one so hardened in blood and murders, that he could neither blush nor tremble. He did it in contempt and defiance of David, and the commission given Amasa: that commission was the only ground of his quarrel with him; so David was struck at through Amasa, and, in effect, told to his face, that Joab would be general, in spite of him. This ill-timed quarrel might have scattered their forces, or engaged then one against another, and so have male them all an easy prey to Sheba. So conteatedly could Joab sacrifice the interest both of king and kingdom to his personal re 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they dcast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joabbattered the wall to throw it down. 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? and he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, ↑ Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seokest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 20 And Joab answered and said, 'Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but "a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, P his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of venge. In the treaty between this nameless heroine and Joab, 1. She gains his audience and attention, t. 16, 17. 2. She reasons with him on behalf of her city, and very ingeniously. It was a city famous for wisdom, (v. 18.) as we translate it; she pleads, the city had been long in such reputation for prudent, knowing men, that it was the comIV. Joab immediately resumes his general's mon referee of the country, and all agreed to abide place, and lends on the army in pursuit of She-by the award of its elders. Now, shall such a ba, that, if possible, he might prevent any preju- city be laid in ashes, and never treated with? dice to the common cause by what he had done. The inhabitants were generally peaceable and 1. He leaves one of his men to proclaim to the faithful in Israel, v. 19. She could speak, not frees coming up, that they were still engaged in for herself only, but for all whose cause she plead David's cause, but under Joab's command, . 11. ed, that they were not turbulent, seditious spirits, He knew his interest in the soldiery, and how but of known fidelity, and peaceableness; neither many favored him, rather than Amasa, that had seditious, nor litigious. It was a mother in I been a traitor, was now a turn-coat, and had nev-rael, a guide and nurse to the towns and country er been successful; on this he boldly relied, and about; a part of the inheritance of the Lord, a city But one would of Israelites; not of heathens; the destruction of called them all to follow him. wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a which would lessen and weaken the nation God traitor; and how, under such heavy guilt, he had had chosen for his heritage. They expected him courage to cater on danger; his conscience was to offer them peace, before he made an attack on scared with a hot iron. 2. Care is taken to re- them, according to that known law of war, Deut. move the dead body out of the way, because at 20: 10. So the margin reads, v. 18. They plainthat they made a stand, (as ch. 2: 23.) and to ly spake in the beginning, (of the siege,) seying, cover it with a cloth, r. 12, 13. Wicked men Surely they will ask of Abel; i. e. "The besiegers think themselves safe in their wickedness, if they will demand the traitor, and ask us to surrender can but conceal it from the eve of the world: if it him; and if so, we will soon come to an agree be hidden, it is with them as if it were never done.ment, and so end the matter.' But the covering of blood with a cloth cannot stop its cry in God's ear for vengeance, or make it the less loud. However, since this was no time to arraign Joab for what he had done, and the common safety called for expedition, it was prudent to remove what retarded the march of the army. V. 14-22. We have here the conclusion of Sheba's attempt. that 3. Joab and Abel's advocate soon agree, Sheba's head shall be the ransom of the city. Joab, though, in a personal quarrel, he had lately swallowed up and destroyed Amasa, yet, when he acts as a general, will by no means bear the imputation, v. 20. A great deal of mischief would be prevented, if contending parties would but understand one another. The single condition of I. The rebel, when he had rambled over all the peace, is, the surrender of the traitor; it is so in tribes of Israel, and found them not so willing, on God's dealing with the soul, when it is besieged second thoughts, to follow him, as they had been, by conviction and distress; sin is the traitor; the on a sudden provocation, to desert David, (hav-beloved lust is the rebel: part with that, cast away ing only picked up a few like himself,) entered the transgressions, and all shall be well. No Abel Bethachah, a strong city in the N. in the peace on any other terms. Our wise woman inlot of Naphli, 2 K. 15: 29. Here he took shel-mediately agrees to the proposal. ter, whether by force, or with consent, does not She went to the citizens in her wisdom, (and appear, but his adherents were mostly Berites of perhaps had as much need of it in dealing with Beeroth in Benjamin, v. 14. One bad man will them, as with Joab,) and persuaded them to cut find and make more. off Sheba's head, probably, by some public order of their government, and it was thrown over the wall to Joab who knew the traitor's face. II. Joab drew up all his force against the city, Sheba the son of Bichri, 8 23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: "and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was V. 23-26. Here is an account of the state of David's court, after his restoration. Joab was continued general, being too great to be displaced, Cherethites, and over the Pelethites: b1 Kings 15:20. 2 Kings 15:29. 2 Chr. e Josh. 18:25. Becroth. d 2 Kings 19:32. Jer. 32:24. 33:4. Luke Or, it stood against the outmost wall. e 14: 2. 1 Sam. 25:3,32,33. Ec. 9:14- f 14:12. 1 Sam. 25:24. Or, They plainly spake in the begin g Gen. 18:23. Rom. 13:3,4. 1 Tim. 2:2. i 17:16. Num. 16:32. 6:10. P. 12: 1 23:17. Job 21:16. 22:18. m 10. Frov. 98:13. Jer. 17:9. LA 10:29. n 1. Judg. 29. 7:24. 2 Kings 5:22. Jer. 4:15. 50:19. Heb. by his name. o 23:18. 1 Sam. 24:6. 26:9. p 17:2,3. 2 Kings 10.7. John 184-6 q Ec. 7:19. 9:14-18. r l. 2:28. 18:16. Heb. were scattered. $ 3:28-39. t 8:16-18. u See on 7. 11:6-21. Ec. 8:11. 1 Chr. 18:15-17. 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them: (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah:) 3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for v1 Kings 4:6. 12:18. x 1 Kings 4:3. • Or, remembrancer. Benaiah, as before, captain of the guards. One CHAP. XXI. V. 1-9. The date of the events of this ch. is uncertain. I incline to think they happened as here placed, after Absalom's and Sheba's rebellion, and toward the latter end of David's reign. That the battles with the Philistines, mentioned here, were long after the Philistines were subdued, appears by comp. 1 Chr. 18: 1. with ch. 20: 4. The numbering of the people was just before the fixing of the place of the temple, (as appears, 1 Chr. 22: 1.) which was toward the close of David's life; and, it should seem, the people were numbered just before the three years' famine for the Gibeonites, for what is threatened as three years' famine, 1 Chr. 21: 12. is called seven years, 2 Sam. 24: 12, 13. Three more, with the year current, added to those three. against the people's smarting for the sin of their king, perhaps they were aiding and abetting; nor against this generation's suffering for the sin of the last; God often visiteth the sins of the fathers upon the children, and his judgments are a great deep; He gives not account of any of his matters. Time does not wear out the guilt of sin; nor can we build hopes of impunity on the delay of judgments. There is no statute of limitation to be pleaded against God's demands. God may punish when He pleases. III. Vengeance taken on the house of Saul, to turn away God's wrath.. 1. David, probably by divine direction, referred it to the Gibeonites themselves, to prescribe what satisfaction should be given them, v. 3. They had many years remained silent, but now, at length, God speaks for them; I heard not, for Thou wilt hear; (Ps. 38: 14, 15.) and they are recompensed for their patience with this honor, that they are made judges in their own cause, v. 3, 4. It is sad for any family or nation to have the prayers of oppressed innocency against them; therefore the expense of a just restitution is well bestowed, to retrieve the blessing of those that were ready to perish. Those understand not themselves, that value not the prayers of the poor and despised. 2. They desire that seven of Saul's posterity be put to death, and David grants it. Here is, I. The injury Saul, long before this, did to the Gibeonites, which we had no account of in the history of his reign, nor should have heard of here, but that it came now to be reckoned for. The Gibeonites were of the remnant (1.) They required no silver, nor gold, v. 4. of the Amorites, (v. 2.) who by a wile had made Money is no satisfaction for blood; see Num. 35: ed to them by Joshua for their safety. See Josh. blood, Gen. 9: 6. The Gibeonites had now a fair peace with Israel, and had the public faith pledg- 31-33. It is the ancient law, Blood calls for 9: 23. It does not appear they had broken their opportunity to get a discharge from their servitude, part of the covenant, nor was it pretended; but according to the equity of that law, If a man strike Saul, under color of zeal for the honor of Israel, out his servant's eye, he shall let him go free for his that it might not be said they had any of the na-eye's sake. But they did not insist on this; they tives among them, aimed to root them out, and were Nethinim, given to God and his people Isso slew many. What made this an exceeding sin-rael, and they would not seem weary of the serbut therein violated the solemn oath which bound ful sin, was, that he not only shed innocent blood, vice. the nation to protect them. See what brought ruin on Saul's house; it was a bloody house. of Israel, that fruitful land, and in the reign of (2.) They required no lives but of Saul's family. We sue the heirs for the parent's debts; men may not extend that so far as life, Deut. 24: 16. The children, in an ordinary course of law, shall never be put to death for the parents, but this case immediate party to the cause, and, no doubt, put was extraordinary. God had made Himself an it into the heart of the Gibeonites to make this demand, for He owned what was done, (v. 14.) and his judgments are not subject to the rules which men's judgments must be subject to. Let parents take heed of sin, especially the sin of cruelty and oppression, for their poor children's sake, who may be smarting for it by the just hand of God, when they are in their graves. It should seem, Saul's posterity trod in his steps, for it is called a bloody house: it was the spirit of the family, therefore they are justly reckoned with for his sin, II. Israel chastised with a sore famine, leng after, for this sin of Saul. 1. Even in the land David, that glorious reign, there was a famine, great drought, and scarcity of provisions, for three years together. If corn miss one year, commonly the next makes up the deficiency; but if three successively, it will be a sore judgment; and the man of wisdom will by it hear God's voice crying to the country, to repent of the abuse of plenty. 2. David inquired of God concerning it. Though himself a prophet, he must consult the oracle, and know God's mind in his own appointed way. 1 Chr. 18:16. Note, When under God's judgments, we ought to inquire into the grounds of the controversy. Lord, show me wherefore Thou contendest with me. It is strange David did not sooner consult the oracle; but, perhaps, till now, he apprehended it not to be an extraordinary judgment for some particular sin. Even good men are often remiss in duty. We continue in ignorance, and mistake, because we delay to inquire. 3. God was ready to answer, though David was slow to inquire. It is for Saul. Note, God's judgments often look a Deut. 7:16. 1 Sam. 14:44. 15:9,9. great way back, which obliges us to do so, when under his rebukes. It is not for us to object PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. y 8:17. 1 Kings 4:4. Shansha. t 23:38. 1 Chr. 11:40. Ithrite. a Judg. 10:4,5. 2:14. Or, a prince. 8:13. Gen.41,43. Ex. a Gen. 12:10. 26:1. 41:57. 42:1. 43:1. Lev. 26:19,20,26. 1 Kings 17:1. 18:2. 2 Kings 6:25. 8:1. Jer. 14:1,&c. Heb. sought the face. 5:19,23. Num. 27:21, 1 Sam. 23:24. 11. Job 5:8-10. 91:15. e Josh. 7:1,11,12. d1 Sam. 22:17-19. e Josh. 9:3.15-21. 10:2. Pa. 50:15. 2 Kings 10:16,31. Luke 9:54,55. John 16:2. Rom. 10:2. Gal. 4:17. V. 14-26. Wisdom is not restricted to rank or sex: and it does not consist in extensive knowledge,or ingenious speculations; bat in understanding how to act as circumstances arise, in order that calamities may be averted, and benefits secured, personal, relative, and public.-Contending parties would often be reconcil ed, if they properly understood each other; hence the benefit of a prudent and impartial mediation: and the just punishment of one NOTES. CHAP. XXI. V. 1-3. The history of Saul gives no account of the transaction, which was declared to be the cause of this calamity: but it seems Saul did not attempt to extirpate the Amalekites, Philistines, and other hostile nations, whom God commanded him to destroy! These were able and determined to resist, and could not be subdued without apparent danger and difficulty; while the inoffensive Gibeonites might be oppressed with ease, and apparent safety.-It does not appear, that many of them dwelt at Nob; and neither they, nor the as well as for their own. (3.) They would not impose it on David to do this execution, (v. 4, 6.) that if there were any hardship in it, they might bear the blame, and not David or his house. By our old law, if a murderer had judgment given against him on an appeal, the relations that appealed, had the executing of him [so among the Arabs, &c. now]. (4.) They did not require this, out of malice against Saul or his family, then they would have moved it themselves long before, but out of love atrocious criminal is frequently mercy to great numbers.-Thus the sinner persists in his rebellion, till, through the Savior's mediation, he perceives that his offended Lord does not seek his destruction, but that of his sins: then he becomes willing that they should be crucified, especially the strongest and most domineering of them; and, receiving pardon and grace from God, he becomes peaceable, faithful, and useful in Israel. SCOTT. Levites are mentioned in the transaction recorded 1 Sam. 22.9-19. SCOTT. Dr. A. CLARKE. [185] you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, * We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 5 And they answered the king, k The man that consumed us, and that devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will 'hang them up unto the LORD m in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. 7 But the king spared "Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of P Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth: and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 And he delivered· them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill 9 before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley-harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah 'took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, to Israel, whom they saw plagued for the injury to the public welfare. Better seven of Saul's (5.) The nomination of the persons they left to V. 10-14. Here we have, I. Saul's sons not only hanged, but hanged till the judgment ceased, by the sending of rain on the land. They died as sacrifices, not consumed all at once by fire, but gradually by the air. They died as anathemas, as execrable, because iniquity was laid upon them. But how shall we reconcile this with the law, which expressly obliged to bury those that were hanged, the same day? Deut. 21: 23. It was an extraordinary case, which did not fall within that law: nay, the very reason for that law is a reason for this exception. He that is thus left hanged, is accursed, therefore ordinary malefactors must not be so abused; but therefore these must; because they were sacrificed, not to the justice of the nation, but for the crime of the nation, no less a crime than the violating of the public faith, and for the deliverance of the nation from no less a judgment than a general famine. (6.) The place, time, and manner, of their execution, all added to the solemnity of their being sacrificed to divine justice. [1] They were hung II. Their dead Lodies watched by [the brokenup as anathemas, under a peculiar mark of God's hearted] Rizpah, the mother of two of them, v. displeasure, Deut. 21: 23. Gal. 3: 13. [2.] They 10. It was a great affliction to her, now in her were hung up in Gibeah of Saul, (v. 6.) to show old age, to see her two sons, who, we may suppose, that it was for his sin they died. The blood of had been a comfort to her, and were likely to be the priests, and their families, doubtless, now the support of her declining years, cut off in this came in remembrance before God, and inquisition dreadful manner. [It was a sight to move the was made for it, Ps. 9: 12. Yet the blood of deepest pity.] None know what sorrow they are the Gibeonites only is mentioned; because that was reserved for. But she indulges her grief, as mournshed, in violation of a sacred oath. The despisers are too apt to, to no good purpose. When ing of the oath, and breaking of the covenant, will sorrow, in such cases, is in danger of growing be recompensed on the head of those who thus excessive, we should rather study how to divert profane God's sacred name, Ezek. 17: 18, 19. and pacify it, than how to humor and gratify it. And thus God would show, that with Him rich Thus she let the world know her sons died, not and poor meet together. [3.] They were put to as stubborn and rebellious sons, whose eye had death in the days of harvest, (v. 9, 10.) to show despised to obey their mother, Prov. 30: 17; but they were thus sacrificed to turn away that wrath for their father's sin, therefore maternal love could of God, which had withheld from them their har- not be alienated from them by their hard fate. vest mercies for some years past and to obtain his favor in the present harvest. There is no way of appeasing God's anger, but by mortifying and crucifying our lasts and corruptions. In vain do we expect mercy from God, unless we do justice on our sins. Those executions must not be complained of as cruel, which are become necessary " from the beginning of harvest until water 11 And it was told 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philis III. The solemn interment of their dead bodies, with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, in the burying-place of their family. 1. David was not displeased at Rizpah, but stirred up rather to honor the house of Saul, and these branches of it among the rest; thus it appeared it was not out of any personal disgust to the family that he delivered tines had slain Saul in Gilboa. 13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. 14 And the bones of g Ex. 32:30. Lev. 1:4. 1 Sam. 2:25. Or, It is not silver nor gold that we i Ps. 49:7,8. 1 Fet. 1:18,19. k 1. Esth. 9:24,25. Matt. 7:2. + Or, cut va of. Dan. 9:26. 1 17:23. 18:10. Gen. 40:19,22. Num. 25:4,5. Deut. 21:22. Josh. 8:29. 10: 26. Ezra 6:11. Eeth. 9:10,13,14. Matt. 27:5. m 1 Sam. 10:26. 11:4. Or, the chosen of the LORD. 15am. 9:16,17. 10:1,24. Acts 13:21. n 4:4. 9:10. 16:4. 19:25. o 1 Sam. 18:3. 20:8,15,17,42. 23:18. Or, Michal's sister. 1 Sam. 18:19. q See on 6.-6:21. Ex. 20:5. Num. 55: r Ruth 1:22. t 1 Kings 21:27. Joel 1:13. x Deut. 11:14. 1 Kings 18:41-45. Jer. y Gen. 40:19. Ez. 39:4. z 2:4. Ruth 2:11,12. a 2:5-7. 1 Sam. 31:11-13. b Josh. 17:11. Bethshean, 1 Sam. 31: 10. e 1:6,21. 1 Sam. 28:4. 31:1. 1 Chr. 10:1,8. of God. Indeed He may command that, in a particular case, which |