2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3:1-6

Here is, 1. The gradual advance of David’s interest, ver. 1. 2. The building up of his family, ver. 2—5. 3. Abner’s quarrel with Ish-boSheth, and his treaty with David, ver. 6—11. 4. The preliminaries settled, ver. 13—16. 5. Abner’s attempt to bring great war to David, ver. 17—21. 6. The treacherous murder of Abner, by Joab, ver. 22—27. 7. David’s great concern for his death, ver. 28—29.

1. NOW there was ’long war between the house of Saul, and the house of David: but ‘David waxed stronger and stronger, and ’the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 2. ¶ And unto David were ‘sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Ammon, of Ahi- noam the Jezreelirefs: 3. And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite: and the third, 4. Abalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Gethur: 4. And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith: and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Aba- tal: 5. And the sixth, Ishem, by Eglad David’s wife: thee were born to David in Hebron. 6. ¶ And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul, and the house of David, that Abner ‘made himself strong for the house of Saul.

Abner was the life of the cause of Ish-boSheth, and one defeat ended not the war. It was persuaded several years; and though no more pitched battles were fought, yet David’s house strengthened daily by the acquisition of new territories, and the desertion of those who were willing to cast their weight into the descending scale. At last the house of Saul, daily weakened, began to be reduced to the utmost extremities. Note, The war between grace and corruption is long, to exercise the faith and patience of the future, but the idios is born; and every day, like the house of Saul, corruption is weakening and grace strengthening, till in death the shout of victory shall be heard, and in shall fall to rise no more for ever. Besides his success in the war, David is blest with a considerable increase of his family, which strengthened his cause; for sons were born

to him in Hebron, from so many wives. Polygamy had long received sanction from prevailing custom, but it is in itself revil; and no custom or authority can consecrate a bad practice. And could David indeed have foreseen how his children would have proved, it would have abated the joy of their birth; for three of them at least lived to give him many a bitter pang. So when do we find our resources in that wherein we promised ourselves the greatest comfort.

7. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was ‘Rizpah, the daughter of Aish: and Ish-boSheth said to Abner, ‘Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine? 8. Then was Abner ‘very wroth for the wroth of Ish-boSheth, and said, ‘Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou charged me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9. So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him: 10. To readise the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, ‘from Dan even to Bertheba. 11. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 12. ¶ And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, ‘Who is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 13. ¶ And he said, ‘Well, I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 14. And David sent messengers to Ish-boSheth Saul’s son, saying, ‘Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred forefdoms of the Philistines. 15. And Ish-boSheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from a Phaliel the son of Laish. 16. And her husband went with her 2 along weeping behind her to Bahurim: then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17. ¶ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, ‘You fought for David in times past to be king over you. 18. Now then do it, for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 19. And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron, all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him: and David made Abner, and the men that were with him, a feast. 21. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayst reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

2 Samuel 3:7-21

How precarious are worldly friendships, where one cross word breeds division and enmity.

1. Abner quarrels with Ish-boSheth. Ish-boSheth accuses him of debauching a concubine of his father’s, and probably was jealous of some ambitious design therein. Abner highly resents the accusation; whether guilty or not of the charge it does not appear; if innocent, the more provoked; if really culpable, yet conceiving his deserts at Ish-boSheth’s hands merited better than to be thus upbraided; therefore, in great anger, he reproaches him with his ingratitude in this contemptible treatment of him, as if he were a dog; though he owed his crown to his bravery and zeal, and swears to be revenged, by transferring the kingdom to David, whom he acknowledges God designed for the throne; and therefore he acted against his own conscience and better knowledge in his opposition to him. Ish-boSheth knew Abner’s influence, and was silent; for he feared the consequence of his revolt, and wanted the spirit of a king either to war himself abroad, or maintain respect and authority at home. Note, (1.) The sins of wicked men are made subservient to bring about God’s determined purposes. (2.) Many fight against the concubines of their conscience. (3.) Those cannot bear rebules, especially from those on whom obligations have been conferred. (4.) There is little dependence to be placed on those whose zeal for our service is at bottom but the gratification of their own ambition. (5.) A weak king will be a slave to his own servants.

2. Abner is as good as his word. He immediately sends messengers to make his peace with David, and acknowledges his right

right to the kingdom: probably he was sick of a sinking castle, and resolved to secure himself in time. David readily enters into the treaty; but engages as a preliminary, to have his wife Michal restored; either he still retained affection for her, or he did it in policy to engage Saul’s friends to his party. Abner puts him on making application to Ith-bolheth, which succeeds, and Abner conducts her to David, made to the grief of Philist her husband, who followed her a considerable way in tears. Note, (1.) They who act only with a view to their own advantages, are yet made sometimes useful instruments to serve the cause of God. (2.) Separation between husband and wife should be carefully avoided; and if unhappy differences, or necessity of circumstances, produce a temporary absence, the first occasion should be embraced to heal the breach, and come together again in love and peace.

3. Abner, in pursuit of his agreement, secretly communes with the elders of Israel and the men of Benjamin, and now appears a zealous advocate for David, reminds them of what he had already done for his country, their own preference of him formerly, and the election of God, which ought to determine their choice. Note, (1.) When we have led others into a wrong course, his our duty to labour us underwise them. (2.) The same reasons and arguments which we after acknowledge to be clear and obvious, have no weight with us, as long as pride and prejudice blood the eyes.

4. Abner having succeeded in his application, goes publicly to David to Hebron, with twenty men, perhaps a depuration from the tribes; reports the consent of the people, vanits not a little his power and influence, and promises, as if it was his work, to make David king. David wisely enroleats Abner’s vanity, confirms their former treaty, nobly entertains him and his attendants, and dismisses them in peace. Note, We may receive much good from the kind offices of a bad man.

5. ¶ And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: (but Abner does not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.) 23. When Joab, and all the hoft that was with him, were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the King, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hath thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee, why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25. Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doft. 26. And when Joab was come out from David, he sent meflingers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sarah; but David knew it not. 27. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak with him quietly; and fence him there under the fifth vis, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28. ¶ And afterwards when David heard it, he said, ‘I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever, from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 30. Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house, and let there not fail from the house of Joab one: that hath an altar, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a fluff, or that falleth on a sword, or that lacketh bread. 30. So Joab and Abaifai his brother flew Abner, because he had flare their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31. ¶ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Kent your clothes, and glad you with Sadechoth, and mauen before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 32. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lift up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 34. Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, is fellest thou. And all the people were again over him. 35. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat, while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. 36. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatever the king did, pleased all the people. 37. For all the people, and all Israel understood that day, that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39. And I am this day weak, though anointed king, and

thefe men the sons of Zeruiah he too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

2 Samuel 3:22-30

Joab and the army were now in the field, probably against the Philistines, when Abner came to commune with David at Hebron: but no doctor was he returned from the expedition, than he is informed of what had passed, at which he is greatly enraged.

1. He infolently expeditates with David on what he had done, and not only dares find fault with his conduct, but charges him with folly, to be imposed upon thus by an enemy. The paffion Joab appeared in, made it vain to reply, or David perhaps thought it prudent to smother his displeasure; or Joab left him in such halts, that he gave him no time for an answer. Note, They who have done us great services, are too apt to think they have a right to be overbearing.

2. He dispatched meflingers immediately in David’s name, unknown to him, to fetch Abner back again, under pretence of further conference; and taking him aside when he came, as if to talk with him on the affair, he fence him secretly under the fifth rib; infligated by revenge, and probably jealous, left Abner should rival him in David’s favour; a bale and cowardly affaiblion! in open defiance of justice, and reflecting the greatest dishonor on his sovereign. Abaifai, Joab’s brother, was privy to the design, and stood involved with him in the guilt of it.

3. David appears exceedingly shocked at the deed, and testifies every mark of undisposed grief. He solemnly professes his own innocence of the blood that was shed; and though unable, through the great power which Joab and his brother had in the army, to execute them as their king, he, as a prophet, entails a curle on their family, that should descend in diseases and calamities upon their children’s children. He commands a solemn mourning, and bids Joab testify some remorse for his crime: himself follows the bier, lamenting that to great a man was fallen, who might have lived to serve the cause of Israel; he weeps at the grave, and bewails the unhappy fall of an innocent man, who died not as one who was a fool, a criminal under sentence of public justice, but betrayed under the cloak of friendship, and villainously murdered by wicked men; and the people joined with him, and until even a solemn fall is kept, in token of their sorrow not only for to great a prince, but also for the innocent blood wherewith the land was defiled. Note, (1.) The death of a great man, though a bad man, may be a real loss to the public. (2.) Though innocent blood may long pass unpunished, yet it will cry, and vengeance, though flow, is sure. (3.) The tribute of a tear is due to the memory of the deceased; especially of those who die not as fools, as wicked men, but fall in the cause of God and truth.

4. The King’s concern pleased the people. He fully accustomed himself from all consent to the murder; and in this, as in his general conduct, engaged daily the affection and regard of his subjects. Note, He is a king indeed that reigns in the hearts as well as over the persons of his subjects.

5. David bitterly complains of his want of power to execute judgment on the offenders; in the infant unbeliefdom of his kingdom, it appeared to be dangerous to put such great men to death; but thus seems to be David’s weakness: if instead of turning them over to God’s secret judgments, he had caused Joab and Abaifai, as they deserved, to be executed as criminals, his kingdom had not been the less secure. However, the sword at last found out Joab, and Solomon, according to David’s dying charge, executed upon him the became the deserved. Note, (1.) Kings are placed in difficult situations, where to spare or punish is attended with equal danger. (2.) Leap impunity makes the Sinner confident; but the sword of God’s justice shall smite him secretly, and he shall not go down to the grave in peace.

2 Samuel 3:30-39

3. 3 Chap. xii. 4.

4. ¶ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Abfalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. 31. Then the king arose, and are his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32. And Jonadah the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Abfalom this hath been determined, from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33. Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 34. But Abfalom’s fled, And the young man that kept the watch, lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. 35. And Jonadah said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. 36. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king’s sons came, and lift up their voice and wept; and the king also, and all his servants wept; very fore. 37. ¶ But Abfalom fled, and went to Talmud, the son of Ammihad, king of Gethur; and David mourned for his son every day. 38. So Abfalom fled, and went to Gethur, and was there three years. 39. And the son of king David longed to go forth unto Abfalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Bad news flies apace, and never loses in the relation.

1. David is alarmed with the death of all his sons; such were the first living reports; and, ready to fear the world, in remembrance of his past doings, and the threatenings against his family, he rends his cloaths, and falls prostrate on the earth in an agony of grief, whilst his servants, with their cloaths rent, stood round him. Note, It becomes us to sympathise with the afflicted.

2. Jonadah, who suspected the truth from reflecting on former circumstances, though it can hardly be thought privy to the designs, suggests, that Amnon only is dead, in revenge for his rape of Tamar; and the event verified his conclusion, for the king’s sons now appeared in sight from the watch-tower, and had to his presence. There with tears they report the sad catastrophe; and though it was some alleviation that they were not all slain, yet Amnon’s death awakened the king’s his-sacrifice. Note, (1.) In all our calamities we have to thank God they are no worse. (2.) The lack of a son, and a wicked son too, is a deep wound in a godly parent’s heart.

3. Abfalom fled immediately from Justice, and sought an asylum with his grandfather Talmud, where three years he lived

an exile. Note, One rash action often makes the whole life miserable.

4. As time wore off the grief for the dead Amnon, the love of the living Abfalom revived. His sin was overloaded, and his return ardently longed for; though how to refuse him, in opposition to honour and justice, David knew not. The next chapter will inform us how it was brought about. Note, (1.) It is a mercy time blunts the edge of sorrow, else all our days would be embittered with mourning. (2.) The greatest provocations cannot extinguish parental affliction.