2 Samuel 5
DOYLY— Wherefore they said,] Here the reading of the margin is the best; according to which, “the house” means the very fort which the Jebusites held. Bp. Patrick, Pyle, Dr. Wells.
— from Baale of Judah.] Which is the same with Kirjath-jearim, 1 Chron. xiii. 6; called also Kirjathbaal, Josh. xv. 60; hence Baalah, Josh. xv. 9, and Baale, of Judah, or belonging to that tribe. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 5:3
- — upon a new cart.] It had been expressly commanded that the ark should be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites, Numb. vii. 9. They seem to have acted on the present occasion from forgetfulness; perhaps inadvertently following the example of the Philistines, who had put the ark of God in the same manner, in a new cart, 1 Sam. vi. 7, 8. Bp. Patrick. The word “cart” in our translation conveys a degrading idea; it was probably a magnificent carriage provided by David. Dr. Chandler. This remarkable case shews how dangerous it is to follow good intentions, and do any thing in God’s service without His express word; a consideration worthy of the attention of all self-called labourers in the vineyard: the instance of Uzzah, ver. 7, also proves, that sins of ignorance are punishable, where the error is not invincible. Dr. Hales.
2 Samuel 5:6
- — for the oxen shook it.] Or “stumbled,” as in our marginal translation: it is probable, that, by some accident occurring to the oxen which drew the ark, it was in danger of being overturned. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 5:7
- — smote him there for his error;] On for his rash-
2 Samuel 5:9
- — from Millo] From the place where Solomon afterwards built Millo; for it appears from 1 Kings ix. 15, that it was not built till Solomon’s reign. Respecting Millo, see note at Judg. ix. 6. It was probably a house for public affairs; that is, where those, who formed the chief assembly in a country or city, met together to consult of public affairs. To this sense agrees Judg. ix. 6, where the word first occurs, as also 3 Kings xii. 20. It may further be inferred from 2 Chron. xxxii. 5, that this public house of state, which Millo was, was also a sort of armoury, or at least a place of more than ordinary strength; for it is mentioned, that among the means used by Hezekiah to fortify Jerusalem against Sennacherib, was the repairing of Millo. Dr. Welle. Millo was probably situated on the east side of mount Zion, and separated it from mount Moriah, on which the temple stood. Bp. Pococke.
2 Samuel 5:10
- And David went on, and grew great,] This happy conclusion of all David’s troubles shews us, that God is ever faithful to His promises; that, though He defers the completion of them, He never fails in the execution, but always delivers those whom He loves; and that, after He has made His children pass through divers trials, He at length grants them the rest and prosperity He had promised them. Let us learn from hence to resign ourselves into the hand of Providence, and faithfully to discharge our duty towards Him, being fully
Jerusalem; Shammah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
2 Samuel 5:13
- — David took him more concubines and wives] David appears to have taken this great number of wives and concubines principally for two reasons, from the desire of issue, and from motives of policy. He had no child by either of his wives, Michal, Ahinoam, or Abigail, for several years. He knew of what importance the increase of his family would be to his establishment on the throne. God had promised to establish the kingdom, not only in his own person, but in that of his posterity; and for the purpose of procuring the fulfilment of this promise, he adopted the most probable means of procuring children. Policy, again, required David to strengthen his unsettled state by new alliances, and no more effectual method of attaining this end presented itself, than by forming matrimonial connexions with persons of the greatest power and credit in the country. These considerations prevent our viewing David’s polygamy as proceeding from licentiousness, but rather place it on grounds of prudence, and, as some think, of piety. Still his conduct may justly be considered as proceeding from too worldly an intention of bringing the purposes and promises of God in his favour to a full and timely accomplishment. Dr. Delaney.
— there were yet sons &c.] It was considered matter of policy in princes to have many children, that, by matching them into great families, they might strengthen their interest, and have more supporters of their authority. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 5:17
- — to the hold.] “To a hold” or strong place.
2 Samuel 5:18
- — the valley of Rephaim.] Which, at Jos. xv. 8, we translate the valley of the giants, lying not far from Jerusalem. The road from Jerusalem to Beth-lehem, as Mr. Maundrell informs us, lies through this valley, famous for being the scene of several victories obtained by David over the Philistines. Dr. Wells.
The Philistines are smitten. II. SAMUEL. The ark fetched from Kirjath-jearim. Before CHRIST 1047.
2 Samuel 5:21
- — their images.] Which they had brought into the field, to be carried before their armies, as a token of the presence of their gods among them. Bp. Patrick.
2 Samuel 5:24
- — the sound of a going in the tops &c.] A sound in the mulberry trees, as a signal of David’s going against the enemy. Pyle. Or it may be rendered, A sound in the beginning of the mulberry trees; that is, in the entrance of the place where the mulberry trees are planted, God intending to make there a sound, as if a vast number of men were marching upon the Philistines. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. Chap. VI. ver. 2. — David—went with all the people] The reason why David summoned so many of his principal ministers and officers to accompany him in the expedition probably was, to possess the young people, who perhaps had heard nothing of the ark, on account of its long absence, with a mighty veneration for it, when they saw the king, and so many of the chief nobility waiting on it, with such variety of musick, and such publick demonstrations of joy. Stackhouse. During all the preceding periods of the Hebrew republick, the ark had no settled or fixed habitation, but removed from place to place, as convenience or necessity required. In this unsettled state of things, many great inconveniences must have arisen, and many important solemnities of the national religion must have been neglected. The honour of making the necessary settlement, and thereby perfecting the ceremonial of the Hebrew worship, was reserved for David, who, having taken Jerusalem, and adorned it with magnificent buildings, imme- AGAIN, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. Before CHRIST about 1042.