2 Samuel 4

did not stand in awe of them. For he commanded Joab to attend Abner’s funeral, with his clothes rent, and in sackcloth: and to his face commended Abncr highly, and condemned his murder of him, (ver. 31. 33, 34.) which was a great mortification to him; and a kind of penance which he made him do for his crime. The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his ivickedness.] He was confident God would punish him" as he deserved, if he could not do it himself. And this may be looked upon as a prayer, that God would not suffer him* to escape his vengeance.

2 Samuel 4:1

JjlND when Saul’s son heard thatAbner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble. Having lost his supporter and defender; and hearing he was gone over to David, as appeared by his dying in Hebron. And all the Israelites were troubled.] Because by his death the treaty with David was broke off; or there was none to manage it with such authority and prudence as Abner had: and they foresaw some great change, (which they knew not how it would end) by the loss of this great man. For so Plato observes, from long experience,* “Orav filXXtt fcrifcwc Trparretv iroXtv, t^uXk tovq a7a£oi’c avS^ac fK raw ttjc rijc 7roXfwc 6 0coe: Whenany calamity is to befala city, God is wont to take away excellent men out of that city.

2 Samuel 4:2

AndSauVs son had two men that ivere captains of bands. Captains, perhaps, of two companies of guards about the king. ^ - TJie name of the one teas Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the tribe of Benjamin.’] The king’s own tribe, which made him repose the greatest trust and confidence in them. For Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.] Though it was now in the hand of the Philistines, yet it belonged to” the tribe of Benjamin, (Josh, xviii. 25.)

2 Samuel 4:3

And the Beerothites jled to Gittaim. When Saul was slain, several Israelites left their cities and fled, and the Philistines took possession of them: among which, this city, it seems, was one forsaken by its inhabitants, (1 Sam. xxxi. 7.) There was a place called Gittaim, in’ the same tribe of Benjamin, (Nahumxi.53.) But it is not’ likely that was the place here mentioned: for the Beerothites would, in all probability, fly further off from the- Philistines. And were sojourners there to this very day.] When this book was written, they were not returned to their own country: being commodiously settled, I suppose, in the other place. Why this is here related, it is hard to say: perhaps it was to shew that these were two soldiers of fortune (as we now speak), whose necessity forced them to seek for a support; which they met withal at the.court of Ish-boshcth, where they came to preferment.

2 Samuel 4:4

And Jonathan, SauVs son, had, a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan. That is, the tidings of their death, mentioned 1 Sain, xxxi. And his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as shejuade haste to flee.] Being in a very great fright.., He fell, and became lame; and his name was Mephibovol; “• Digitized by sheth.] Thisseems to be related, to’ shew* what it was that: emboldened these captains to do what follows: becausehe who was the next avenger of blood was very young; and besides was lame and unable to pursue them. Ver.. 5. And the sons of Rimmon the Beer othite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed atnoon.] As the r manner was, and still continues, in hot countries. •

2 Samuel 4:6

And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they xvould have fetched, wheat. In the Hebrew/ carrying wheat.’ Which they either brought into the king’s granaries, for the use of his household, or carried forth forthe supply of their soldiers, who were maintained at the king’s charge. And they smote him tinder the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.] They gave him a mortal wound, and nobody suspecting them, they easily made their escape.

2 Samuel 4:7

] For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber. In a private room; into AVhich he was wont to retire from company, when he had a mind to repose himself.’* And they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head.] The privacy ofthe place gave them the opportunity to do all this without discovery. And gat them’ away through the plain all night.] From Mahanaim to Hebron it was, for the most part, a flat country, till they came to ascend the mountain, on whose side* Hebron stood. •

2 Samuel 4:8

And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath’avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.] For they were all now extinguished, except his grandson Mephibosheth, who was of no account because of his lameness.

2 Samuel 4:9

And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite.* One of them only spake to the king, but related what they both had done,” and therefore he directed his speech to them both. And said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all adversity.] Together with his thankful acknowledgment of God’s care of him hitherto, in all his 1 straits/hc suggests to them that he needed not the help of such men as they, for his future preservation and preferment by wicked acts.

2 Samuel 4:10

When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead (thinking to have brought good tidings), I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought I would have given him a reward for his tidings.] He put them in mind of the story of the Arhalckite (chap. i. of this book), which they could not but have heard, and thereby might have lfcarht what reception they were likely to find with David.

2 Samuel 4:11

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person. For so Ish-bosheth was, in respect of them: to whom he had done no wrong; but preferred them to a place of trust and honour. In his own house iipon his bed?] This aggravated their* crime; and made it vastly different from that of the Amalckite. Shall I not therefore require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?] As persons unworthy to* Microsoft® 2T A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. live; who had slain their master, and he a king, in his own houso, when he was taking hisrepose undertheir safeguatd.

2 Samuel 4:12

And David commanded his young 7/?en. Who were of his guard; ready at hand to execute his commands. And theif slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet.’] By David’s order, no doubt; they having slain their master with their hands, and made their escape from justice with their feet. And hanged them np over the pool of Hebron.] Exposed them in an open, public place. But he took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre ofAbnerin Hebron.] It seems David had dono Ahner the honour to make him a particular sepulchre’: where he privately interred the head of Ish-bosheth. Whose, body, no question, was buried by the Israelites, with such honours as were suitable to his dignity.