2 Samuel 17
DOYLY2 Samuel 17:6
- — against Israel:] Against the army of Absalom, which, being composed of men who lived westward of Jordan, and in the land of Israel properly so called, is here noted by the name of Israel. Dr. Wells.
— in the wood of Ephraim:] Not a wood belonging to Ephraim, for this tribe had no possessions beyond Jordan; but so named by the Gileadites in memory of the great slaughter which Jephthah here made of the Ephraimites, Judg. xii. Bp. Patrick. Or perhaps from lying over against the tribe of Ephraim. Dr. Wells.
2 Samuel 17:8
- — as a bear robbed of her whelps.] The female bear is intensely fond of her young, and is dreadfully furious when deprived of them: in fact, she ventures her life to avenge her loss. Script. illustr.
Secret intelligence is sent unto David. Before CHRIST 1023.
- — and the wood devoured &c.] That is, more were slain in their flight through this wood, and in endeavouring to hide themselves in it, than in the fight of the open field adjoining. Dr. Wells. Josephus says, the field of battle was a plain, with a wood contiguous to it: and therefore, when Absalom’s army was put to the rout, and went to the wood for refuge, their pursuers made a greater slaughter of them there, than they would otherwise have done, because they could not escape in the wood, as rapidly as they would have done in the open field. Bp. Patrick.
sand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, † Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
Before CHRIST 1023.
2 Samuel 17:9
- — his head caught hold of the oak.] Let no man think to prosper by rebellion: the very thickets, and stakes, and pits of the woods shall conspire for the punishment of traitors. Among other instances, see how a fatal oak has singled out the ringleader of this hateful insurrection; and will at last serve for his hangman and gallows, by one of those spreading arms snatching him away to speedy execution. Bp. Hall.
2 Samuel 17:11
- — a girdle.] A military belt, which was much esteemed, 1 Sam. xviii. 4.
2 Samuel 17:12
- — as the dew falleth &c.] This is very beautiful and expressive. The dew in Palestine, as well as in several other warm climates, falls fast and sudden, and is therefore a proper emblem of an active expeditious soldiery. Also the dew falls upon every spot of ground, not a blade of grass escaping: a numerous army may be compared to it in this respect, being able to carry the strictest search into every part. Dr. Delaney.
2 Samuel 17:13
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— shall all Israel bring ropes] An hyperbolical way of speaking, which implies, that the army would be sufficiently numerous to pull down with ropes the walls and houses of a fortified city, into the ditch which surrounds it. Some, however, by the Hebrew word which we translate ropes, understand troops or bands of men, who would batter down walls and houses with machines. Bp. Patrick.
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— I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life:] He means, that he would have brought his own life into danger, and therefore would not have been true to himself. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 17:14
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— For the Lord had appointed] God had so blinded their eyes, and infatuated their judgments, that they could not discern what was best, but took that course which was to ruin Absalom. Such is the wonderful overruling providence of God, acting, in a variety of instances, unknown to us. Bp. Patrick. God made use of a wicked son to punish the father’s offences, and then cut off the very instrument of His vengeance, who by the means he took to distress and destroy his father, had rendered himself the abhorrence of God and man. Dr. Chandler.
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— Then said Joab, &c.] Joab was probably influenced to kill Absalom by the desire of revenging the wrongs he had received from him, and by the fear that David, in his fondness and affection for him, might restore him to his favour, and give him further opportunities of causing publick disturbances. Still, though Absalom well deserved death, Joab was not to be justified in inflicting it, contrary to the king’s positive order to spare him. Dr. Chandler.
2 Samuel 17:16
- — speedily pass over;] Over the river Jordan: he feared that Absalom might change his resolution, and
incline again to the counsel of Abithophel. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 17:17
- — laid a very great heap of stones upon him:] Stoning to death was the punishment prescribed by the law for rebellion against parents, Deut. xxi. 20, 21. Thus perhaps they who could not inflict this punishment on him, while living, for his rebellious conduct, now branded him dead, as he deserved. Dr. Delaney.
2 Samuel 17:18
- — reared up for himself a pillar.] Though this pillar has been lost for many ages, Absalom has, by his
2 Samuel 17:23
- And when Abithophel saw &c.] The pride, the vanity, and the ambition of Abithophel, were all disappointed. He knew he had given the best advice for the destruction of the king and his party; but he found that the worse advice was preferred, and foresaw that it would be the ruin of Absalom, and of his cause. He had entered into the conspiracy with a persuasion, that his advice would be taken, that he should continue to be the great “oracle” he had hitherto been; but his purpose was frustrated: that hurt his pride; and when the worse counsel was preferred to the better, that opened a dreadful prospect; for in case of a miscarriage, which he now considered as unsvoidable, all his golden hopes were blasted. His ambition had promised itself wealth and honour; instead of which, the disgrace, infamy, and punishment, due to his treason, presented themselves to his mind. And perhaps he now began to see, for the first time, that as he had been against God, God was against him, and, according to the prayer of David, was “turning his counsel into foolishness.” Under this calamity, what had he to support himself? Nothing but that policy of a wicked man, which never supported any man long. It may work for a time, and seem to prosper; but when it falls, it falls to rise no more. In the trouble of a righteous man there is hope; but in the trouble of the wicked there is none. He had no courage to make any further trial; but giving the whole matter
The Israelites are smitten. Absalom is slain by Joab. Before CHRIST 1023. all the captains charge concerning Absalom.