2 Samuel 18
DOYLY— he said, I have no son] We read before, at chap. xiv. 27, that he had three sons and one daughter; but these were all now dead. Bp. Patrick.
— O Absalom, my son, my son!] These are words which go to every parent’s heart that has experienced the same misfortune, and speak to it with a force and eloquence that has never yet been equalled. Bp. Porteus.
Before CHRIST 1025. the running. be to thee. up. there peace. Tidings is brought. David coarseth his mourning. IL SAMUEL. The Israelites strive to bring him back. Before CHRIST 1022.
king back. 11 David sendeth to the priests to incite them of Judah. 18 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephthosheth excused. 32 Barrillai dismissed, Chimham his son is taken into the king’s family. 41 The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them.
salvation, or, deliverance.
AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
Chap. XIX. ver. 1. — Behold, the king weepeth &c.] The grief of David was as immoderate as it was unseasonable, and shewed the intemperate passionate affection he bore to the unnatural and impious youth. It damped the common joy of his friends and soldiers for the glorious victory, to hear the excessive grief he expressed for his son, insomuch that they almost repented of their success, and stole into the city where David was, as if they had been dishonourably defeated. Dr. Chandler. The king’s command to spare Absalom was indeed an extraordinary instance of mercy; yet is to be accounted for from his fatherly fondness, and the benignity of his nature. But there is something astonishing in this excess of grief for such a reprobate, and utterly unaccountable, perhaps, from any other principle, except the sad and shocking reflection of his having died with all his sins upon his head. Dr. Delaney. So strong is the affection of parents: the sins, the ingratitude of children, cannot root it from their hearts; and they who fear God are then most inconsolable, when their children are engaged in a course of sin, and they see them die in a state of condemnation. Osteroald.
2 Samuel 18:5
- — Thou hast shamed this day &c.] Joab, instead of sympathizing with his sovereign in the bitterness of his grief, and tenderly representing to him the ill consequences that might arise, upbraided him in this insolent manner. His remonstrance was no less imperious and haughty, than injurious to the king. It was plainly justifying to his face the murder of his son, tell-
ing him that he was above his reach, and fearless of his displeasure. Dr. Chandler.
2 Samuel 18:8
- Then the king arose.] Instead of resenting the insolent behaviour of Joab as it deserved, David accepts it as part of his punishment from God; at least, as a seasonable check to that pride, which might otherwise have arisen in his heart, on gaining this decisive victory. Wogan.
2 Samuel 18:9
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— were at strife] Strive who should be most forward to bring back the king, blaming one another’s slackness in it. Bp. Patrick.
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— why speak ye not — of bringing the king back? David, now victorious over a rebel army, had it in his power to take ample revenge on all those whose treachery and bad faith well deserved to be chastised; and if he had possessed any malicious or sanguinary feelings, he could now want no pretext for indulging them. But he was governed by very different principles: he knew his son’s rebellion to be the effect of his own guilt, and his recent success to be the fruit of his penitence and humiliation before God; he therefore was moved to no other conduct than prayer and repentance, gratitude and thanksgiving, and a patient humble expectation of God’s disposal of the event. Nor did he fail of his reward: for it seemed good to the great Governor of the world to turn the hearts of David’s subjects, as it were, in an instant, in his favour; insomuch that they now returned to their duty with as much eager zeal, as they had but a few days before rushed into rebellion against him. Dr. Delaney.
2 Samuel 18:24
- — between the two gates:] “The gate of the city” was a very large place, having an inward and an outward door; between which it appears David sat to hear the news. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 18:33
- — would God I had died for thee, &c.] Absalom’s rebellion ended with his life; but his father’s sorrow ended not here: the news of his death went so near to