2 Samuel 11
PATthose who think Aram-Maacah was the country of Comagcna: for though Aram commonly signifies Syria, which was divided into many countries, yet the Scriptures shew these places were not in Syria. But the people of “them were called Syrians, because they imitated their manners: as the woman in the gospel is called Syro-Phoenician, though she was a woman of Canaan, Matt. xv. 22. Mark vii. 26. (Sec his Phaleg. lib. ii. cap. G. latter end.) And of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.] Or, of the men of Tob: a country unto which Jcphthah fled from his unkind brethren. (See Judg. xi. 3.) Vcr. 7. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and the host of the mighty jnen.] He did not think it prudent to stay till they assaulted him in his own country, but went and invaded theirs.. Vcr. 8. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate.] They drew up their army either before Kabbah, the metropolis of their country, or before Medeba (in the borders of it), where their confederates were pitched, (1 Chron, xix. 7.) And the Syrians ofZobah, and ofRehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.] They kept their mercenary forces in the field, and would not let them come into their cities. ia the spring-time, he sent forth his armies to do that which he could not do in the conclusion of the* former year; when the season was not fit for action, as I observed upon the fifteenth verse of the foregoing chapter. For the year ending with.the month Adar, the next year began in the month Nisan: which was a fit time to march into the field to make war; and so commonly employed, that it seems to have had its name (as Bochartus* observes) from Nislm:. which signifies military ensigns, which were wont to be advanced in that month. And, in like manner, the month we call March, had its name among the Romans from Mars, their god of war: because then they began their military expeditions. (See his Hierozoicon, par. i.lib. ii. cap. 50.) At the time that kings go forth to battle.].These words, to battle, are added for explication’s sake: but they are not in’ the Hebrew; in which language to go forth signifies to go forth to war/ (See Gen. x.’ll. Isa. xlii. 13. Zech. xiv. 3. and other places,* mentioned by the same great man, par. ii* lib. iv. cap. 2.) That David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel.] All his soldiers. And they destroyed the children of Ammon.] Laid waste their country, and killed all the people they could meet with. And besieged Kabbah.] The royal city of the Ammonites, (Dent. iii. 11.).c But David tarried still at Jerusalem.’] He committed the care of this w r ar* to Joab, and did not himself go out to fight: as he had done before against Hadadezer.
2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an evening-tide. In the afternoon, when the sun was declining..’ That David rose from his bed.] Where he had lain down to sleep, in the heat of the day; as the manner was in those countries, (iv. 5.) And walked upon theroof of his house.] To take the fresh air: for their roofs were flat; (See Deut. xxii. 8.) And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself] In her garden, where she bathed; or in her chamber, the casements being open. The first is most probable: and that she washed to cleanse herself from such legal impurities as are mentioned Lev. xv. 19. which is more likely than that she did it for pleasure, or merely to cool herself in a hot day, as some understand it. The fourth verse sufficiently explains this matter.: * And the woman tvas very beautiful to look upon.] Of a delicate shape, and lovely countenance and complexion. Thus Jupiter is said to have seen Proserpina washing herself, and exposing her whole body to his view: which inflamed his lust after her.. AovofJiivrjg oXov et$og t&pKcro TltQaztyovzir\g..’ - As Nonnus hath it in his Dionys. (See Spanhemius ad vers. 53. Callim. Hymn, in Lavacrum Palladis.)
2 Samuel 11:3
And David sent and inquired after her. That if she was a single woman he might take her for his wife. And one said, Is not this Bdth-sheba, the daughter ofEliam, the wife of Uriah the Ilittite?] This seems to be the answer of him who was sent to inquire about her, that he need not trouble himself any farther, for she was another man’s wife. AVho is.called a Ilittite, because he was so by nation, but a proselyte to the Jewish religion: and for his valour made one of the king’s guard among the Chcrethites and the Pelethites, which was the reason, perhaps, that he had a house so near the king’s. vol. jr. Ver..4. And David sent messengers to her, and took h€r] Notwithstanding he was informed she was another man’s wife, he sent messengers to her to invite her to his palace: into.which he receivedher.* This was a very great crime, being done deliberately and advisedly: and is here recorded for several great ends and purposes. First, that the best men’ may be sensible in what’iieed they stand continually of the’ Divine assistance: which, therefore, they ought to pray for earnestly, and watch as well as pray, that they fall not into temptation. Andwe should all learn from hence, that they are but men whose examples are set before lis;’ and therefore we must live by rule, and not merely, by example’. And that we ought to take heed of sloth and idleness: being always well employed, and not giving ourselves liberty to gaze iipon temptations. * And she came in unto him, and lay with him (for she was purified from her uncleanness).~\ Which shews the reason why she conceived so quickly. (See Grotius.). ii And she returned to her house.] Early in the. morning, I suppose, that she might not be discovered. »The Talmudists are so desirous to excuse their ancestors from all blemishes, that they say David committed no sin in lying with Bath-sheba: but only in causing Uriah to be killed. For, when any man went to war, he gave his wife, they pretend, a bill of. divorce: so that if.he. -was killed in the war, it was not adultery in another man, who lay with her, as soon as the bill was given. This monstrous opinion is seriously maintained by R. Samuel Laniado against Abarbinel; who honestly acknowledges, and strenuously proves, David was guilty of a very foul adultery: which was the more criminal, because it -was. with’the wife of a faithful servant of his, -who then served him in his wars. (See Buxtorf.de Sponsal. et Divort. sect. 43, &c. and Selden, in his Uxor. Hebraica, lib. iii.‘cap.’ 19. p. 441.)”. %
2 Samuel 11:5
And the woman conceived, and sent and told Da vid y saying, I am with child.* She was afraid of infamy, and, perhaps, of the severity of herhusbahd; who might cause her to be stoned: and therefore prays David to consult her honour and her safety.
2 Samuel 11:6
And David sent unto Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Ilittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. With an account of the state of the war; which David, it is likely, desired.
2 Samuel 11:7
And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. Some think (particularly P. Martyr) that these were sueh ordinary questions, as betrayed this was not,the business for which he commanded him to be sent: but the last words import, that after the common questions of Joab’s and the people’s health, he inquired how the siege went on; what approaches they had made to the city; what hopes they had of taking it; in what time; with other things of like nature, which were of importance. *.
2 Samuel 11:8
And David said, Go down to thy house and wash thy feet. As the manner of travellers was: this being a great refreshment after their journey. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there* followed him a mess of meat from the king.] In token of his extraordinary favour and kindness to him: and that, eating freely of goodcheer, he might be the more desirous to enjoy the company. of his wife. Abarbinel thinks this was a very sinful contrivance of David, to endeavour to have Microsoft® 2X A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XI. his child thought the child of Uriah; or, at least, it was very much below his dignity, ho thinks, to have one of his own progeny pass for an ordinary man.
2 Samuel 11:9
And when Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind. Jn the Hebrew, the face of the battle, &c. t. e. they had divided their forces; the Syrians appearing before him, and the Ammonites behind him. He chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.] He also, like an expert commander, presently divided his army into two bodies, and picked out the best soldiers to engage the Syrians, who, it seems, were the strongest, or most valiant. Ver. 10; And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.] tie was also an experienced captaia, who seems to have to deal with that body of the enemies which was behind them, as Joab with those before him. / But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.’] Like a true soldier, he lay all night in the guardchamber (with the Cherethites and Pelethites), and not with bis wife. By which means God’s providence so ordered it, that the crime of this prince (who had been so admirably instructed in his duty) should not be concealed, as he intended. - Ver. ]0. And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down to his house.’] They that carried the mess of meat after. him gave David this information. David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy jour* ney? wherefore then didst thou not go down to thine house?] He still pretended kindness to him, and great care of him; telling him he expected no service of him here; especially after a journey…
2 Samuel 11:11
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Send a detachment, as they now speak, from the strongest body to that which proved weaker. And Uriah said unto David, The arJc, and Israel, andJudah, abide in tents.] It seems they still continued the custom which we read of 1 Sam. iv. 4. of carrying the ark into the field, as a token of the Divine presence with them, and favour to.thcm: and that they might consult the Divine Majesty in any difficult cases.. And my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field.], Where they lay upon the ground in their tents. It is an idle conceit of Laniado, beforementioned, that Uriah was guilty of treason, in calling Jozib.my lord, in the presence. of David: for which he pretends David might lawfully put him to death. Shall I then go unto my house,.to eat and to drink, and to lie with my’wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do. this thing.] These are not two oaths, but the repetition, of the same: which was pronounced with such vehemence, that David’s heart, it might have been expected, should have been deeply touched, to think how he had abused so brave a man: and made him reflect how vilely he indulged himself.in sinful pleasure, whilst this man and the rest gloriously endured all manner, of hardships, and refused the most innocent pleasure, for the serr yice of their country: but he was so corrupted for the present, that he was troubled to find Uriah so true a soldier.
2 Samuel 11:12
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God. The words were not spoken, I suppose, to Abishai alone; but to all the army by their officers; that they might not be disheartened at the sight of such numerous forces; as in a manner encompassed them: but be so much the mors resolute, for the preservation of their country. And the Lord do that which seemetli him good.] If they did their duty; he trusted God’s providence would favour them: however, it would be some comfort, that they had done their best. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow.] He still, pretended more kindness to him in giving him time to rest himself after his journey: and perhaps, pretended, also, that he himself could not sooner finish his dispatches.
2 Samuel 11:13
And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. He did very prudently in assaulting the mercenary army first; for they that arc hired to fight generally have a great care to save themselves: having no regard to the cause for which they fight. And when David had called him.] Invited him tQ supper the night before he went ziway. He did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he wentout to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.] The Hebrew word doth not certainly signify that he was quite drunk; but that he drank so much, that he Mas verymerry. However, Plutarch observes, that bra^c men, even when they have drunk too much, preserve their modesty and gravity: just as good horses are orderly, even when their reins arc let loose. This was an addition to David’s sin, that he endeavoured to intoxicate Uriah, and thereby make him forget his oath beforementioncd.
2 Samuel 11:14
And when the children of Ammon saiu that the Syrians were fled. On whom they principally relied. Then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city.] They seem not to have struck a stroke; but provided also for their safety, in the city near to which their army was drawn up. And Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.] Here is no* account of the number of the slain, which, I suppose, were few or none, because they did not fight, but flee. The year also seems to have been so far spent, that it was hot a season fit for laying a siege to the city; (Sec the next chapter, ver. 1.) And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the. hand of Uriah.] Who, if he suspected any thing of the adultery, as some think he did (and therefore, resolving it should be discovered, would not go home, to his wife), yet was so trusty a servant, he would not open the letter, to find what was in it.
2 Samuel 11:15
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. Fearing David would fall upon them for assisting his enemies, they resolved to be beforehand with him; and therefore levied a new army to invade him.; Ver. 1G. And Iladadezer."] Who. was the king of Aram- Zobah, in Mesopotamia. Sent, and brought out the Syrians that werebeyond the river.] i. e. Beyond Euphrates; which was the bound of his territories eastward. (See viii.3.)’’: And came to Helam.] A place, I suppose, on the borders of Hadadezer’s Country, westward. And Shobach, the captain of the host of Iladadezer, went before them.] Commanded both his forces and theirs which came to his assistance. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.] Thus one sin begets many, depriving men of the. use of their understanding. For he might better, as Abarbinel observes, have, told Uriah the truth, and begged his pardon, and obliged him to stay with him until the child was born, and then secretly put it out to nurse: whereby the matter might have been so managed, that it should not have been commonly divulged, or not certainly believed. But his eyes were blinded; and his very nature was altered, and become base and degenerate, now lie had given himself up to sensuality. For he that formerly spared Saul, when he could have destroyed him, and no one have known who did it, seeks the death of a faithful servant after a most unworthy manner.. Ver. 1G. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where valiant men were.] Ordered him to attack apart of the city which he knew would be valiantly defended: or, to make good a breach, out of which the best men they had in the city would issue out against them. Joab was herein also deeply guilty* in complying with such a command: unless we suppose that he might imagine Uriah had committed some great crime; for which David, consulting Uriah’s honour, would not punish him openly.
2 Samuel 11:17
And when it was told David, he gathered’all Israel together, and passed over Jordan,, and came to He lam.* In this expedition David seems to have commanded his army in his’ own person.’ And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought xvillt him.] They seem to have begun the fight. * And the men of the city went out, and fought tvith Joab.] They seem to have made a sally out of the city upon the Israelites, when they saw they were preparing for an assault.. And there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Uriah the Hittite died.also.] This was a further aggravation of David’s sin, that he not only exposed an innocent and a valiant faithful servant to be killed, but other persons also with him, who might have lived to do good service to their country:, for it is not to be imagined that one person alone was set in the forefront, where the ser* vice was hottest, (as David ordered, ver. 15.) but there was a party of stout men with Uriah, whom he led on.
2 Samuel 11:18
And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundHd chariots. That is, seven thousand men, who belonged to those seven hundred chariots, as it is explained in 1 Chron;xix.*18. And forty thousand horsemen.] In that place of the Chronicles it is said forty thousand footmen. Which teaches us how to explain the w r ords here; viz. that they were mixed together, horse and foot: and that in all there were.slain forty thousand of them, part horsemen and part footmen. And smote Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there.] Was slain upon the spot (as we speak); being a va-. liant man, who chose to be killed, rather than fly. Then Joab sent and told David all things concerning the war.] How it was managed, and what ill success they had in one engagement.
2 Samuel 11:19
And when all the kings that were servants of Iladadezer saw that they were smitten before Israel. There were several petty kings that were subject to Hadadez6r: who was the most powerful prince thereabout. They made peace with Israel, and served them.] As, I suppose, Iladadezer himself also did: whereby God fulfilled his promise to Abraham (which was renewed to Joshua) of enlarging the dominion of his posterity, as far as Euphrates.* (Sec Gen. xv. 18. Josh. i. 2 — 4.) So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.’] But left them to shift for themselves: insomuch that, as it follows, David conquered their country. ■’■ CHAP. XI. Vcr. 1. JjlND it came to pass, that after the year was expired.] In the Hebrew, at the return of the year: that is, And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war vnto the king.] Especially this last action.,.
2 Samuel 11:20
And if so be the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot front the ivall?. All good kings arc careful to preserve their subjects; and therefore it must be supposed David would be angry when he heard of this loss; till he reflected upon the reason why they were exposed to such danger.
2 Samuel 11:21
Who smote Abimelech the son of Jernbbesheth?. These arc still the words the king might be supposed to say; How came Abimelech to lose his life? Was it not by venturing too near the wall? He calls him the son of’Jerub- Digitized by M CHAP. XI.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. besheth, who in the book of Judges is called the son of Jerubbaal: of which see upon the second chapter of this book, ver. #. Did not a woman cast a piece of.a millstone upon him from the ivall, that he died in Tltebez? Why went ye so nigh the ivall?) Having such an example, to make you more cautious. Then say, Tliy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.) Which he knew would soon pacify him.
2 Samuel 11:22
So the messenger went, and came and shewed fiavid all that Joab had sent him for J. The whole process of the war hitherto, but more particularly the event of the last engagement, as it here follows.
2 Samuel 11:23
And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against its, and came out unto vs into the field, and we were upon them even unto, the entering of the gate.) The account he gives of the last action is this: that the Ammonites made a sally, and were too hard for the Israelites, whom they put into some disorder; but they, plucking up their courage, rallied again, and beat the Ammonites back, following them to the very gate of their city.
2 Samuel 11:24
And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.) These shooters were cither archers, or such as managed the machines (which perhaps they had in these days, as they had afterward among the Romans), out of which they shot arrows and stones; Vitruvius says, that out of their catapulted and scorpiones they shot arrows, and ont of their batistes they shot stones.. Others say the quite contrary, as Goteschalchus Stewecius shews, in his learned commentary on the fourth book of Vcgetius, lib. de Re Militari, p. 446, &c.
2 Samuel 11:25
Then David said unto the messenger, Tims shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee.) That is, be not disheartened by this loss. David shewed no sign of displeasure, expecting to hear the news ho desired of Uriah’s death.. For the sword devoureth one as well as another.) Makes no distinction between good and bad. Make thybattle more strong against the city, and overthrown.) He would have this defeat make them more resolntc, to assault the city with greater force, till they were masters of it. And encourage thou him.) i. e. Joab and his soldiery.
2 Samuel 11:26
And when the wife of Uriah heard that her husband tvas dead, she mourned for her husband.) But not long: for then David could not have taken her soon enough into his house to cover his adultery. The common time was seven days, (1 Sam. xxxi. 7.)
2 Samuel 11:27
And when the mourning was past, David sent, and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.) This whole business was evil in the eyes of God (as the words are in the Hebrew), not only his adultery, and the murder of Uriah; but also his taking Bathshebatobehis wife. For, according to the Hebrew doctors, it was utterly unlawful for any man to marry the wife of one whom he had defiled. Which hath made some of the Jews so laborious to excuse David from the crime of adultery. For Laniado himself acknowledges, that if David had committed adultery with Bath-shcba, she had been perpetually prohibited, and unlawful to.him, as his words are. But though this ought not to have been done, yet, being done, the marriage held good; and the children he afterward had by her were legitimate. (See Buxtorf. de Sponsalibus et Divortiis, sect. 43.)