2 Samuel 2

2 Samuel 2:1-7

Saul bring dead, David, 2. By direction from God goes up to Hebron, and is there anointed king, ver. 1—4. 2. He shouts the men of Jabeh-gilead for burying Saul, ver. 5—7. 3. Jabeh-eith, the son of Saul, is set up in opposition to him, ver. 8—11. 4. A warm encounter happens between David’s party, and Jabeh-eith, in which, (1.) Twelve of each side engage hand to hand, and are all slain, ver. 12—16. (2.) Jabeh-eith’s party is beaten, ver. 17. (3.) Aseled, on David’s side, is slain by Abner, 18—23. (4.) Took, at Abner’s request, should a retreat, ver. 24—28. (5.) Abner makes the best of his way, ver. 29. and the loss on both sides is computed, ver. 30—32.

1. AND it came to pass, after this, that David ’enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up unto any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2. So David went up thither, and ‘his own wives also, Ahiomam the Jez-reelites, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3. And ‘his men that were with him, did David bring up, every man with his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah: and they told David, saying, That ’the men of Jabeh-gilead were they that buried Saul. 5. ¶ And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeh-gilead, and said unto them, ‘Bleffed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, rove unto Saul, and have buried him. 6. And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your matter Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

David’s army had been much reinforced, as appears 1 Chron. xii. yet he doth not immediately seize the throne, or march to compel allegiance to himself, though their anointed sovereign; but,

1. Enquires of God whether it is his will he should go up into Judah, where, as his own tribe, he hoped to be most readily

Chap. H.

John Chall readily received, and to what place? God answers him, Go; and

christ, him to Hebron, which seems to have been then the metropolis. It was a city of refuge, and chiefly inhabited by the

pristis. Note, They who wait upon God for direction, will be led in the right way to the kingdom.

3. David immediately obeys, and takes his wives along with him, and his men of war and their housholds; they had been his companions in tribulation, it is but right and honourable to take them to shore in his advancement. Note, They who follow Chill under the cros, shall reign with him in the day of his appearing and glory.

4. He meets with a very welcome reception. The men of Judah recognized the divine designation, and anointed him their king; not overriding him upon the other tribes, but expelling, according to the divine determination, they would quickly follow in good an example. Thus, they by they, he advances to the throne of Israel. Note, They who would have Chill to reign over them, must chuse him for their king; not but that it is of grace they are inclined, and made thus a willing people.

5. On enquiry probably after Saul’s corps and Jonathan’s, for which he purported an honourable interment, he is informed of the generous behaviour of the men of Jubeth-glazed. As a token how kindly he took this noble action of them, he leads them a hearty commendation, prays the Lord to bless them for their kindness, and affirms them he will take occasion to require them. Though Saul is dead, who defended them, David will be their friend, who is anointed in his stead; therefore they need not for any thing from the Philanthies, who might refute their deed; he bids them be strong and valiant, and as he hoped they would receive him as their king, they might depend upon his protection. Note, (1.) A kindness shewn to our friends is an obligation conferred on ourselves. (2.) It is not enough to be the one who will be a man, but we must be responsible, as we are able, those who have well deserved. (3.) To have those for our friends, whose fidelity to others hath been tried, is a valuable requisition.

6. ¶ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s hoff, took Ith-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanain. 9. And he made him king over Gilead, and over the Athurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10. Ith-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years: but the house of Judah followed David. 11. (And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah, was seven years and six months.) 12. ¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ith-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanain to Gibbon. 13. And Joab the son of Zeruish, and the servants of David went out, and met together by the pool of Gibbon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14. And Abner laid to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us: and Joab said, Let them arise. 15. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ith-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and they had his sword into his fellow’s side: so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called a Heliakh-hazurim, which is in Gibbon. 17. And there was a very fore battle that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

c. 8.—17. The ambition of Abner, who was general to Saul, and zeal for his family, prevails upon him to set up Ith-bosheth, the only surviving legitimate son of Saul, an king; and whilst David, in dependence upon God’s promises, remained quiet at Hebron, Abner, by his affidavit, gained over the land of Gilead beyond Jordan first, and then all the tribes but Judah, to acknowledge Ith-bosheth. And thus began that competition, which, after two years peace and five of war, terminated in the death of Ith-bosheth, and the entire submission of all the tribes to David. Note, Before we come to the throne our faith will be tried, and we must expect war in the gates.

1. Abner begins the war, which, as it seems, David would never have entered into, though his right to the crown was so evident, unless he had been obliged; so deference was he rather to preserve the lives of those who should be his future subjects, than treat them now as rebels against his crown. The tribes of Israel coflect their army in Mahanain, and march to Gibbon; Joab, David’s general, meets them there. Note, If when we speak for peace others make themselves ready for battle, then we must of necessity defend ourselves.

2. Abner seeing Joab, probably, backward to engage, David being unwilling to find Israelish blood, challenges him to

produce twelve men of Judah, against twelve of his Israelites, and play before them, that is, fight so many ducks; for, to a fierce warrior, blood and wounds are poor and pustible. Joab, like too many, had entertained those false notions of honour, that he dared not refute the challenge; the men are selected, matched, enter the lists, and engage: each infirmity faires his fellow, plunges his sword into the other’s side, and all of them fall together; so lavish are generals often of the lives of their brave soldiers, to gratify their captain. The place, from this occurrence, is called, The Field of Reds, from the brave men, hardy and firm as a rock, who fell there. Note, (1.) They buy honour dear that purchase is at the expense of their brother’s blood. (2.) False notions of honour are among the accorded wiles Satan employs for the destruction both of men’s bodies and souls.

3. The general battle heresupon ensues, and Abner and his forces are routed. They who flut up strike thus, often meddle to their hurt, and his jull in God to punish the aggressor, and cover those with shame who seek to advance themselves upon their neighbour’s ruin.

4. ¶ And there were three sons of Zeruish there, Joab, and Abithai, and Asahel: and Asahel was ‘as light of foot as a wild roe. 19. And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going he turned not to the right hand, nor to the left: from following Abner. 20. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, for thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. 21. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 22. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I fense thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? 23. Howbeit, he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear fense him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 24. Joab also and Abithai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah that forb before Giah, by the way of the wilderness of Gibbon.

c. 18—24. Abner’s forces being routed, he himself is forced to fly for his life, but is close pursued by Joab’s brother Asahel, whose feasts were as the mountain roe; having singled him out, he slicka close to him, ambitious to make him his prisoner, and hoping thus to end the war, of which Abner was the chief support. It was nobly aimed, but he was an unequal match, and therefore pursued only his ruin. Note, They who aim too high, stand on a precipice which makes their fall the deeper. Abner saw the young man’s ambition, and kindly admonishes him of his danger, defining him to seize some other prey, which he was equal to; but, fired with ambition, he continues the pursuit, and perhaps imputes to smoking the friendly caution. Once more he begs him not to put him on the unwilling necessity of hurting him; but how should he then look his brother in the face, whom, though so restory, he respected, or probably apprehended that he might need his favour if David succeeded, as his conscience now misgave. The remonstrance was vain, Asahel perish, and runs his baby. Abner, as he advanced, by a back thrust fense him under the fifth rib, a mortal blow, and he fell dead to the earth. This gave Abner some breathing; the people who came to the place where Asahel lay, hailed till Joab and Abithai came up, who urged on the pursuit, and had well nigh overtaken him again, when night gave the ranquished time to rally. Note, (1.) The qualifications we are proud of are commonly our ruin. (2.) When we are most eager in the pursuit of our worldly schemes, and seem ready to grasp the prize of happiness, death, like Abner’s spear, flops our career, and lays our big-fawlin hopes and honour in the dust.

25. ¶ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. 26. Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knoweth thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? 27. And Joab said, do God’s liveth, ‘unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. 28. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither

neither fought they any more. 19. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and baffed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 30. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men, and Aishel. 31. But the servants of David had fourteen of Benjamin and of Abner’s men, 2a that three hundred and threefcore men died. 32. ¶ And they took up Aishel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem: and Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

2 Samuel 2:25-32

The routed troops making a stand on the hill, perhaps being joined by some fresh forces from Benjamin.

1. Abner begs of Joab to say the pursuit. He also made a sport of the sword in the morning, now decal in devouring edge, and fair would have it return to the Craband again; he pleads with Joab the near relation between the people, they were brethren, and if brother unbrund his hands in brother’s blood, whoever gained the day the remembrance would be bitter. Sound reasoning, but just a day too late; had he thus argued with himself before, the sword had not been drawn. But we can see that right when the case is our own, which pride and prejudice prevented us from discerning when our neighbour’s interest was at stake.

2. Joab nobly agrees to the request: no doubt his orders were to be sparing of blood, and therefore he lays the blame of what had been shed on Abner’s obstinacy, but for whose challenge they might have retired in the morning in peace. A request is now founded, and Abner suffered to depart to Mahanaim, whilst Joab returns to his king at Hebron, with the loss of but nineteen men, besides Aishel; nor was the loss of Israel and Benjamin great. A former severity, Judges xx. 44. had made the conquerors more tender of their brethren; and it was well known that David wished as little blood might be shed as possible. Aishel receives all military honours, and is buried in the sepulchre of his fathers, the rest on the field of battle. Thus terminates the first encounter in favour of David, as a prelude to his greater future successes. Note, (1.) The sum to struggle against the Divine decree. (2.) Though the clouds of the valley are made more honourable to some than others, and they are distinguished in the grave, yet when they come again from thence, nobility will meet no distinction, and only the good be great in a resurrection day.