Notes on Second Samuel

Notes on Second Samuel
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes

2Sa 1:1

1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

The Argument - This book and the former are called Samuel, because they contain the conception, birth and the whole course of his life, and also the lives and acts of two kings, that is, of Saul and David, whom he anointed and consecrated kings by the ordinance of God. The first book contains those things which God brought to pass among this people under the government of Samuel and Saul. This second book declares the noble acts of David, after the death of Saul when he began to reign, to the end of his kingdom, and how it was expanded by him. It also contains the great troubles and dangers he sustained both within his house and without, the horrible and dangerous insurrections, uproars, and treasons wrought against him, partly by false counsellors, feigned friends and flatterers and partly by his own children and people. By God's assistance he overcame all difficulties, and enjoyed his kingdom in rest and peace. In the person of David the scripture sets forth Christ Jesus the chief king, who came from David according to the flesh, and was persecuted on every side with outward and inward enemies, as well in his own person, as in his members, but at length he overcomes all his enemies, and gives his Church victory against all power both spiritual and temporal; and so reigns with them, king for ever.

2Sa 1:2

1:2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with {a} his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

(a) Seeming to lament the overthrow of the people of Israel.

2Sa 1:6

1:6 And the young man that told him said, {b} As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

(b) As I fled the chase.

2Sa 1:8

1:8 And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] an {c} Amalekite.

2Sa 1:9

1:9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my {d} life [is] yet whole in me.

(d) I am sorry, because I am yet alive.

2Sa 1:13

1:13 {e} And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

(e) After the lamentation, he examined him again.

2Sa 1:16

1:16 And David said unto him, {f} Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

(f) You are justly punished for your fault.

2Sa 1:18

1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah {g} [the use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)

(g) That they might be able to match their enemies the Philistines in that art.

2Sa 1:19

1:19 The beauty of Israel is {h} slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

(h) Meaning Saul.

2Sa 1:21

1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor {i} fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

(i) Let their fertile fields be barren, and bring forth no fruit to offer to the Lord.

2Sa 1:23

1:23 Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not {k} divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

(k) They died both together in Gilboa.

2Sa 1:24

1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, {l} with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

(l) As rich garments and costly jewels.

2Sa 1:26

1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of {m} women.

(m) Either toward their husbands or their children.

2Sa 2:1

2:1 And it came to pass after this, that David {a} enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into 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 {b} Hebron.

(a) By means of the high priest, 1Sa 23:2, 2Sa 5:19.
(b) Which was also called Kirjatharba Jos 14:15.

2Sa 2:3

2:3 And his men that [were] with {c} him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

2Sa 2:6

2:6 And now the LORD shew kindness and {d} truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

(d) According to his promise, which is to repay those who are merciful.

2Sa 2:7

2:7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me {e} king over them.

(e) So that you shall not want a captain and a defender.

2Sa 2:9

2:9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over {f} all Israel.

(f) Over the eleven tribes.

2Sa 2:11

2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six {g} months.

(g) After this he reigned over all the country 33 years, 2Sa 5:5.

2Sa 2:14

2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and {h} play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

(h) Let us see how they can handle their weapons.

2Sa 2:16

2:16 And they caught every one his {i} fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which [is] in Gibeon.

(i) Meaning his adversary.

2Sa 2:17

2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, {k} before the servants of David.

(k) After that these four and twenty were slain.

2Sa 2:22

2:22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: {l} wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

(l) Why do you provoke me to kill you?

2Sa 2:23

2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the {m} 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.

(m) Some read, in those parts where the lively parts lie, the heart, lungs, liver, and gall bladder.

2Sa 2:26

2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the {n} sword devour for ever? knowest 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?

(n) Shall we not make an end of murdering?

2Sa 2:27

2:27 And Joab said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst {o} spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

(o) If you had not provoked them to battle, 2Sa 2:14.

2Sa 2:31

2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three {p} hundred and threescore men died.

(p) Thus God would confirm David in his kingdom by the destruction of his adversaries.

2Sa 3:1

3:1 Now there was {a} 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.

(a) That is, without intermission enduring two years, which was the whole reign of Ishbosheth.

2Sa 3:3

3:3 And his second, {b} Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

(b) Who is also called Daniel, 1Ch 3:1.

2Sa 3:5

3:5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in {c} Hebron.

2Sa 3:8

3:8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a {d} 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 chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

(d) Do you esteem me no more than a dog, for all my service done to your father's house?

2Sa 3:9

3:9 {e} So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

(e) We see how the wicked cannot abide being admonished about their faults, but seek their displeasure, who go about to bring them from their wickedness.

2Sa 3:17

3:17 And Abner had {f} communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

(f) Rather for malice that he bore toward Ishbosheth, than for love he bore to David.

2Sa 3:19

3:19 And Abner also spake 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 {g} house of Benjamin.

(g) Who challenged the kingdom, because of their father Saul.

2Sa 3:22

3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came {h} from [pursuing] a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner [was] not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

(h) From war against the Philistines.

2Sa 3:24

3:24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, {i} What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

(i) Here appears the malicious mind of Joab, who would have had the king slay Abner for his private grudge.

2Sa 3:28

3:28 And afterward when David heard [it], he said, I and my kingdom [are] {k} guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

(k) the Lord knows that I did not consent to his death.

2Sa 3:30

3:30 So Joab and {l} Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

(l) Abishai is said to slay him with Joab, because he consented to the murder.

2Sa 3:31

3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn {m} before Abner. And king David [himself] followed the bier.

(m) Meaning before the corpse.

2Sa 3:33

3:33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner {n} as a fool dieth?

(n) He declares that Abner died not as a wretch or vile person, but as a valiant man might do, being traitorously deceived by the wicked.

2Sa 3:35

3:35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat {o} meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

(o) According to their custom, which was to feast at burials.

2Sa 3:36

3:36 And all the people took notice [of it], and it {p} pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

(p) It is expedient sometimes not only to conceive inward sorrow, but also that it may appear to others, so that they may be satisfied.

2Sa 4:1

4:1 And when Saul's {a} son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were {b} feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

(a) That is, Ishbosheth.
(b) Meaning, that he was discouraged.

2Sa 4:2

4:2 And Saul's son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for {c} Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

2Sa 4:3

4:3 And the Beerothites fled to {d} Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

(d) After the death of Saul, for fear of the Philistines.

2Sa 4:6

4:6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they {e} would have fetched wheat; and they {f} smote him under the fifth [rib]: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

(e) They disguised themselves as merchants, who came to buy wheat.
(f) There is nothing so vile and dangerous, which the wicked will not undertake in hope of money and favour.

2Sa 4:11

4:11 How {g} much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

(g) In that neither the example of him that slew Saul, nor duty to their master, nor the innocency of the person, nor reverence for the place, nor time moved them, they deserved most grievous punishment.

2Sa 5:1

5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy {a} bone and thy flesh.

(a) We are of your kindred and closely related to you.

2Sa 5:3

5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron {b} before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

(b) That is, taking the Lord to witness: for the ark was still in Abinadab's house.

2Sa 5:6

5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the {c} blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

(c) The children of God called idols blind and lame guides: therefore the Jebusites meant that they should prove that their gods were neither blind nor lame.

2Sa 5:8

5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, [that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not {d} come into the house.

(d) The idols should no longer enter into that place.

2Sa 5:9

5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from {e} Millo and inward.

(e) He built from the town house round about to his own house 1Ch 11:8.

2Sa 5:19

5:19 And David {f} enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

(f) By Abiathar the priest.

2Sa 5:22

5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of {g} Rephaim.

(g) Meaning the valley of giants, which David called Baalperazim, because of his victory.

2Sa 5:25

5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to {h} Gazer.

(h) Which was in the tribe of Benjamin, but the Philistines possessed it.

2Sa 6:2

6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from {a} Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubims.

(a) This was a city in Judah called also Kirjathjearim, Jos 15:9.

2Sa 6:3

6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in {b} Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

(b) which was a high place in the city of Baale.

2Sa 6:5

6:5 And David and all the house of Israel {c} played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

2Sa 6:7

6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God {d} smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.

(d) Here we see the danger it is to follow good intentions, or to do anything in God's service without his express word.

2Sa 6:10

6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom {e} the Gittite.

(e) Who was a Levite, and had dwelt in Gittaim, 1Ch 15:21.

2Sa 6:12

6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and {f} brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

(f) Meaning, he caused the Levites to bear it according to the law.

2Sa 6:14

6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen {g} ephod.

(g) With a garment like the priest's garment.

2Sa 6:16

6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she {h} despised him in her heart.

(h) The worldlings are not able to comprehend the emotions that move the children of God to praise God in all kinds of ways.

2Sa 6:20

6:20 Then David returned to {i} bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

(i) That is, to pray for his house, as he had done for the people.

2Sa 6:21

6:21 And David said unto Michal, {k} [It was] before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

(k) It was for no worldly affection, but only for that zeal that I bore to God's glory.

2Sa 6:23

6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had {l} no child unto the day of her death.

(l) Which was a punishment because she mocked the servant of God.

2Sa 7:2

7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within {a} curtains.

(a) Within the tabernacle covered with skins, Ex 26:7.

2Sa 7:5

7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, {b} Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

(b) Meaning, he should not: yet Nathan speaking according to man's judgment and not by the spirit of prophecy permitted him.

2Sa 7:7

7:7 In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a {c} word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

2Sa 7:9

7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a {d} great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth.

(d) I have made you famous through all the world.

2Sa 7:10

7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move {e} no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

(e) He promises them quietness, if they will walk in his fear and obedience.

2Sa 7:14

7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the {f} rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

(f) That is, gently, as fathers use to chastise their children.

2Sa 7:16

7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be {g} established for ever.

(g) This was begun in Solomon, as a figure, but accomplished in Christ.

2Sa 7:19

7:19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of {h} man, O Lord GOD?

(h) Does this not come rather from your free mercy, than from any worthiness that can be in man?

2Sa 7:23

7:23 And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people, [even] like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for {i} you great things and terrible, for {k} thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, [from] the {l} nations and their gods?

(i) O Israel.
(k) And inheritance, which is Israel.
(l) From the Egyptians and their idols.

2Sa 7:24

7:24 For thou hast {m} confirmed to thyself thy people Israel [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

(m) He shows that God's free election is the only reason why the Israelites were chosen to be his people.

2Sa 7:26

7:26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God over Israel: and let the {n} house of thy servant David be established before thee.

(n) This prayer is most effective when we chiefly seek God's glory, and the accomplishment of his promise.

2Sa 7:29

7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast {o} spoken [it]: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

(o) Therefore I firmly believe it will come to pass.

2Sa 8:1

8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the {a} hand of the Philistines.

(a) So that they paid no more tribute.

2Sa 8:2

8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with {b} two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.

(b) He slew two parts as it pleased him, and reserved the third.

2Sa 8:6

8:6 Then David put garrisons in {c} Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, {d} [and] brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2Sa 8:7

8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to {e} Jerusalem.

(e) For the use of the temple.

2Sa 8:10

8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to {f} bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

(f) For seeing David victorious, he was glad to ask for peace.

2Sa 8:15

8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed {g} judgment and justice unto all his people.

(g) He gave judgment in controversies, and was merciful toward the people.

2Sa 8:18

8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the {h} Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

(h) The Cherethites and Pelethites were as the king's guard, and had charge of his person.

2Sa 9:1

9:1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for {a} Jonathan's sake?

(a) Because of my oath and promise made to Jonathan, 1Sa 20:15.

2Sa 9:3

9:3 And the king said, [Is] there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the {b} kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, [which is] lame on [his] feet.

(b) Such mercy as shall be acceptable to God.

2Sa 9:5

9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of {c} Ammiel, from Lodebar.

2Sa 9:8

9:8 And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such {d} a dead dog as I [am]?

(d) Meaning, a despised person.

2Sa 9:10

9:10 Thou therefore, and {e} thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

(e) Be ye provident overseers and governors of his lands, that they may be profitable.

2Sa 9:11

9:11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. {f} As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

(f) That Mephibosheth may have all things at commandment, as becomes a king's son.

2Sa 10:2

10:2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father {a} shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

(a) The children of God are not unmindful of a benefit received.

2Sa 10:3

10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, {b} to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

(b) Their arrogant malice would not allow them to see the simplicity of David's heart: therefore their counsel turned to the destruction of their country.

2Sa 10:6

10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they {c} stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

2Sa 10:8

10:8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of {d} Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.

(d) These were various parts of the country of Syria, by which it appears that the Syrians served where they might have entertainment, as now the Sweitzers do.

2Sa 10:12

10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for {e} our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

(e) Here it is declared why war should be undertaken: for the defence of true religion and God's people.

2Sa 10:17

10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered {f} all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

(f) Meaning, the greatest part.

2Sa 10:18

10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] {g} seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

(g) Who were the chief and most principal: for in all he destroyed 7000, as in 1Ch 19:18, or the soldiers who were in 700 chariots.

2Sa 11:1

11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was {a} expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

(a) The year following about the spring time.

2Sa 11:2

11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his {b} bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.

(b) Upon which he used to rest in the afternoon, as was read of Ishbosheth in 2Sa 4:7.

2Sa 11:3

11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the {c} Hittite?

2Sa 11:5

11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and {d} told David, and said, I [am] with child.

(d) Fearing lest she be stoned according to the law.

2Sa 11:8

11:8 And David said to Uriah, {e} Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess [of meat] from the king.

(e) David thought that if Uriah lay with his wife, his sin might be covered.

2Sa 11:11

11:11 And Uriah said unto David, {f} The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine 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.

(f) By this God would touch David's conscience, for seeing the fidelity and religion of his servant, he would declare himself forgetful of God, and injurious to his servant.

2Sa 11:13

11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him {g} drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

(g) He made him drink more liberally than he was wont to do, thinking by this he would have slept with his wife.

2Sa 11:15

11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, {h} Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

(h) Except God continually uphold us with his mighty Spirit, the most perfect fall headlong into all vice and abomination.

2Sa 11:21

11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of {i} Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

(i) Meaning Gideon, Jud 9:52,53.

2Sa 11:25

11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, {k} Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

(k) He conceals the truth from the messenger, so that neither his cruel commandment, nor Joab's wicked obedience would be discovered.

2Sa 12:1

12:1 And the LORD sent {a} Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

(a) Because David lay now drowned in sin, the loving mercy of God which does not allow his own to perish, wakes his conscience by this story and brings him to repentance.

2Sa 12:8

12:8 And I gave thee thy master's {b} house, and thy master's {c} wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee {d} such and such things.

(b) For David succeeded Saul in his kingdom.
(c) The Jews take this to be Eglah and Michal, or Rizpah and Michal.
(d) That is, greater things than these: for God's love and benefits increase toward his own, if they do not hinder him by their ingratitude.

2Sa 12:9

12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the {e} children of Ammon.

(e) You have most cruelly given him into the hands of God's enemies.

2Sa 12:11

12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this {f} sun.

(f) Meaning openly, at noon.

2Sa 12:13

12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath {g} put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

(g) For the Lord seeks the sinner to turn to him.

2Sa 12:14

12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to {h} blaspheme, the child also [that is] born unto thee shall surely die.

(h) In saying, that the Lord has appointed a wicked man to reign over his people.

2Sa 12:16

12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and {i} went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

(i) That is, to his private chamber.

2Sa 12:17

12:17 And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat {k} bread with them.

(k) Thinking by his constant prayer that God would have restored his child, but God had determined otherwise.

2Sa 12:20

12:20 Then David {l} arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

(l) Showing that our lamentations should not be excessive, but moderate: and that we must praise God in all his doings.

2Sa 12:21

12:21 Then {m} said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

(m) As they who did not consider that God grants many things to the sobs and tears of the faithful.

2Sa 12:23

12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? {n} can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

(n) By this consideration he appeased his sorrow.

2Sa 12:24

12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and {o} he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

(o) That is, the Lord, 1Ch 22:9.

2Sa 12:25

12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the {p} prophet; and {q} he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

(p) To call him Solomon.
(q) Meaning, David.

2Sa 12:27

12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of {r} waters.

(r) That is, the chief city and where all the water pipes are, is as good as taken.

2Sa 12:30

12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof [was] a {s} talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was [set] on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

(s) That is, 60 pounds after the weight of the common talent.

2Sa 12:31

12:31 And he brought forth the people that [were] therein, and put [them] under {t} saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

(t) Signifying that as they were malicious enemies of God, so he put them to cruel death.

2Sa 13:1

13:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] {a} Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

(a) Tamar was Absalom's sister both by father and mother, and Amnon's only by father.

2Sa 13:2

13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a {b} virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

(b) And therefore kept her father's house, as virgins were accustomed.

2Sa 13:5

13:5 And Jonadab said unto him, {c} Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at her hand.

2Sa 13:6

13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of {d} cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

(d) Meaning, some delicate and dainty meat.

2Sa 13:9

13:9 And she took a pan, and {e} poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from {f} me. And they went out every man from him.

(e) That is, she served them on a dish.

(f) For the wicked are ashamed to do that before men, which they are not afraid to commit in the sight of God.

2Sa 13:13

13:13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of {g} the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

(g) As a lewd and wicked person.

2Sa 13:18

13:18 And [she had] a garment of {h} divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were] virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

(h) For that which was of various colours or pieces, in those days was greatly esteemed, Ge 37:3, Jud 5:30.

2Sa 13:20

13:20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but {i} hold now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

(i) For though he conceived sudden vengeance in his heart, yet he concealed it till an opportunity arose, and comforted his sister.

2Sa 13:23

13:23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and {k} Absalom invited all the king's sons.

(k) That is, to a banquet, thinking by it to fulfil his wicked purpose.

2Sa 13:26

13:26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother {l} Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

{l} Pretending to the king that Amnon was most dear to him.
2Sa 13:28

13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not {m} I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

(m) Such is the pride of the wicked masters, that in all their wicked commandments they think to be obeyed.

2Sa 13:31

13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the {n} earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

(n) Lamenting, as he that felt the wrath of God on his house, 2Sa 12:10.

2Sa 13:35

13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, {o} so it is.

(o) That only Amnon is dead.

2Sa 13:37

13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to {p} Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.

(p) For Maachah his mother was the daughter of this Talmai, 2Sa 3:3.

2Sa 14:1

14:1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's {a} heart [was] toward Absalom.

(a) That the king favoured him.

2Sa 14:2

14:2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and {b} anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

(b) In token of mourning: for they used anointing to seem cheerful.

2Sa 14:6

14:6 And thy handmaid had two {c} sons, and they two strove together in the field, and [there was] none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

2Sa 14:7

14:7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the {d} life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband [neither] name nor remainder upon the earth.

(d) Because he has slain his brother he ought to be slain according to the law, Ge 9:6, Ex 21:12.

2Sa 14:9

14:9 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the {e} iniquity [be] on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne [be] guiltless.

(e) Concerning the breach of the Law which punishes blood, let me bear the blame.

2Sa 14:11

14:11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king {f} remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

(f) Swear that they will not revenge the blood, which are many in number.

2Sa 14:13

14:13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou {g} thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

(g) Why do you give contrary sentence to your son Absalom?

2Sa 14:14

14:14 For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person: yet doth he devise {h} means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

(h) God has often provided ways (as sanctuaries) to save them, whom man judges worthy of death.

2Sa 14:15

14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, [it is] because the people {i} have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

(i) For I thought they would kill my son.

2Sa 14:17

14:17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an {k} angel of God, so [is] my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

(k) Is of great wisdom to discern right from wrong.

2Sa 14:19

14:19 And the king said, [Is not] {l} the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

(l) Have you not done this by the counsel of Joab.

2Sa 14:20

14:20 To fetch about this {m} form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all [things] that [are] in the earth.

(m) By speaking further in a parable than plainly.

2Sa 14:21

14:21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have {n} done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

(n) I have granted your request.

2Sa 14:24

14:24 And the king said, Let him {o} turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

(o) Covering by this his affection, and showing some part of justice to please the people.

2Sa 14:26

14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred {p} shekels after the king's weight.

(p) Which weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces after half an ounce the shekel.

2Sa 14:30

14:30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it {q} on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

(q) The wicked are impatient in their affections, and spare no unlawful means to accomplish them.

2Sa 14:32

14:32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? [it had been] good for me [to have been] there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and {r} if there be [any] iniquity in me, let him kill me.

(r) If I have offended by revenging my sister's dishonour: thus the wicked justify themselves in their evil.

2Sa 15:1

15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to {a} run before him.

(a) Which were as a guard to set forth his estate.

2Sa 15:2

15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one of the {b} tribes of Israel.

(b) That is, noting of what city or place he was.

2Sa 15:4

15:4 Absalom said moreover, {c} Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

2Sa 15:6

15:6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom {d} stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

(d) By enticing them from his father to himself.

2Sa 15:7

15:7 And it came to pass after {e} forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

(e) Counting from the time that the Israelites had asked a king of Samuel.

2Sa 15:8

15:8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will {f} serve the LORD.

(f) By offering a peace-offering, which was lawful to do in any place.

2Sa 15:11

15:11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, [that were] {g} called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

(g) And bid to his feast in Hebron.

2Sa 15:14

15:14 And David said unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from {h} Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

(h) Whose heart he saw that Satan had so possessed that he would leave no mischief unattempted.

2Sa 15:17

15:17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was {i} far off.

(i) That is, from Jerusalem.

2Sa 15:18

15:18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the {k} Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

(k) These were as the king's guard, or as some write, his counsellors.

2Sa 15:19

15:19 Then said the king to {l} Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.

(l) Who as some write was the king's son of Gath.

2Sa 15:20

15:20 Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy {m} brethren: mercy and {n} truth [be] with thee.

(m) Meaning, those of his family.
(n) God require of you your friendship and fidelity.

2Sa 15:23

15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and {o} all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

(o) That is, the four hundred men.

2Sa 15:24

15:24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] with him, {p} bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went {q} up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

(p) Which was the charge, of the Kohathites, Nu 4:4.
(q) To stand by the ark.

2Sa 15:26

15:26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, {r} [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

(r) The faithful in all their afflictions show themselves obedient to God's will.

2Sa 15:30

15:30 And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head {s} covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

(s) With ashes and dust in sign of sorrow.

2Sa 15:31

15:31 And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the {t} counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

(t) The counsel of the crafty worldlings does more harm than the open force of the enemy.

2Sa 15:34

15:34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy {u} servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

(u) Though Hushai was deceitful here at the king's request, we may not use this example to excuse our deceit.

2Sa 16:1

16:1 And when David was a little past the {a} top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

(a) Which was the hill of olives, 2Sa 15:30.

2Sa 16:2

16:2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The {b} asses [be] for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

(b) Commonly there are no viler traitors than they, who under the pretence of friendship accuse others.

2Sa 16:5

16:5 And when king David came to {c} Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

2Sa 16:6

16:6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men [were] on his {d} right hand and on his left.

(d) That is, round about him.

2Sa 16:8

16:8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the {e} blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

(e) Reproaching him, as though by his means Ishbosheth and Abner were slain.

2Sa 16:10

16:10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath {f} said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

(f) David felt that this was the judgment of God for his sin, and therefore humbles himself to his rod.

2Sa 16:12

16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will {g} requite me good for his cursing this day.

(g) Meaning, that the Lord will send comfort to his, when they are oppressed.

2Sa 16:14

16:14 And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves {h} there.

(h) That is, at Bahurim.

2Sa 16:17

16:17 And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to thy {i} friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

(i) Meaning, David.

2Sa 16:21

16:21 And {k} Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

(k) Suspecting the change of the kingdom, and so his own overthrow, he gives such counsel as might most hinder his father's reconciliation: and also declare to the people that Absalom was in highest authority.

2Sa 16:23

16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had {l} enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

(l) It was so esteemed for the success of it.

2Sa 17:1

17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, {a} Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

(a) The wicked are so greedy to execute their malice, that they leave no opportunity that may further the same.

2Sa 17:3

17:3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: {b} the man whom thou seekest [is] as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.

(b) Meaning David.

2Sa 17:7

17:7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given [is] not {c} good at this time.

2Sa 17:14

17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the {d} good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might {e} bring evil upon Absalom.

(d) That counsel which seemed good at first to Absalom, 2Sa 17:4.
(e) For by the counsel of Hushai, he went to the battle, where he was destroyed.

2Sa 17:16

17:16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass {f} over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that [are] with him.

(f) That is, over Jordan.

2Sa 17:17

17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told {g} them; and they went and told king David.

(g) Meaning, the message from their fathers.

2Sa 17:19

17:19 And {h} the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

(h) Thus God sends help to his, in their greatest dangers.

2Sa 17:20

17:20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where [is] Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the {i} brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find [them], they returned to Jerusalem.

(i) The Chaldee text reads: Now they have passed the Jordan.

2Sa 17:21

17:21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for {k} thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

(k) That is, to pursue you with all haste.

2Sa 17:22

17:22 Then David arose, and all the people that [were] with him, and they passed over Jordan: {l} by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

(l) They travelled all night, and by morning had all their company passed over.

2Sa 17:23

17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and {m} hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

(m) God's just vengeance even in this life is poured on them who are enemies, traitors, or persecutors of his Church.

2Sa 17:25

17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa [was] a man's son, whose name [was] Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of {n} Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

(n) Who was also called Jesse, David's father.

2Sa 17:28

17:28 {o} Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentiles, and parched [pulse],

(o) God shows himself most liberal to his, when they seem to be utterly destitute.

2Sa 18:1

18:1 And David {a} numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

(a) For certain of the Reubenites, Gadites, and of the half tribe could not bear the insolence of the son against the father, and therefore joined with David.

2Sa 18:3

18:3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but {b} now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.

(b) Signifying that a good governor is so dear to his people that they would rather lose their lives than have anything happen to him.

2Sa 18:6

18:6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the {c} wood of Ephraim;

2Sa 18:16

18:16 And Joab {d} blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

(d) For he had pity on the people, who were seduced by Absalom's flattery.

2Sa 18:17

18:17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great {e} pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

(e) Thus God turned his vain glory to shame.

2Sa 18:18

18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he said, I have no {f} son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

(f) It seemed that God had punished him by taking away his children, 2Sa 14:27.

2Sa 18:20

18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou {g} shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

(g) For Joab bore a good affection to Ahimaaz and doubted how David would take the report of Absalom's death.

2Sa 18:24

18:24 And David sat between the two {h} gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

(h) He sat in the gate of the city of Mahanaim.

2Sa 18:27

18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a {i} good man, and cometh with good tidings.

(i) He had experienced his fidelity, 2Sa 17:21.

2Sa 18:29

18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's {k} servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].

(k) That is, Cushi, who was an Ethiopian.

2Sa 18:33

18:33 And the king was much {l} moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

(l) Because he considers both the judgment of God against his sin, and could not otherwise hide his fatherly affection for his son.

2Sa 19:4

19:4 But the king {a} covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

(a) As they do that mourn.

2Sa 19:5

19:5 And Joab came into the {b} house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

(b) At Mahanaim.

2Sa 19:8

19:8 Then the king arose, and sat in the {c} gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

2Sa 19:9

19:9 And all the people were at {d} strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

(d) Everyone blamed another and strove who should first bring him home.

2Sa 19:11

19:11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the {e} priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [even] to his house.

(e) That they should reprove the negligence of the elders, seeing the people were so forward.

2Sa 19:13

19:13 And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the {f} room of Joab.

(f) By this policy David thought that by winning the captain, he would have the hearts of all the people.

2Sa 19:16

19:16 And {g} Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which [was] of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

(g) Who had before reviled him, 2Sa 16:13.

2Sa 19:19

19:19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did {h} perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

(h) For in his adversity he was his most cruel enemy, and now in his prosperity, seeks by flattery to creep into favour.

2Sa 19:20

19:20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of {i} Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

(i) By Joseph he means Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin (of which he was) because those three were under one standard, Nu 2:18.

2Sa 19:23

19:23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not {k} die. And the king sware unto him.

(k) By my hands, or during my life, see 1Ki 2:8,9.

2Sa 19:25

19:25 And it came to pass, when {l} he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

(l) When Mephibosheth being at Jerusalem had met the King.

2Sa 19:27

19:27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king [is] as an {m} angel of God: do therefore [what is] good in thine eyes.

(m) Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters.

2Sa 19:28

19:28 For all [of] my father's house were {n} but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

(n) Worthy to die for Saul's cruelty to you.

2Sa 19:29

19:29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the {o} land.

(o) David did evil in taking his land from him before he knew the cause, but much worse, that knowing the truth, he did not restore them.

2Sa 19:35

19:35 I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a {p} burden unto my lord the king?

(p) He thought it was not fitting to receive benefits from him to whom he was not able to do service again.

2Sa 19:37

19:37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant {q} Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

{q} My son.
2Sa 19:40

19:40 Then the king went on to {r} Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of {s} Israel.

(r) Where the tribe of Judah waited to receive him.
(s) Who had taken the side of the king.

2Sa 19:41

19:41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over {t} Jordan?

(t) Toward Jerusalem.

2Sa 20:1

20:1 And there happened to be {a} there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in {b} David, neither have we inheritance in the son {c} of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

(a) Where the ten tribes contended against Judah.
(b) As they of Judah say.
(c) He thought by speaking contemptuously of the king, to stir the people farther to sedition, or else by causing Israel to depart, thought that they of Judah would have esteemed him less.

2Sa 20:2

20:2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, [and] followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from {d} Jordan even to Jerusalem.

(d) From Gilgal which was near Jordan.

2Sa 20:4

20:4 Then said the king to {e} Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

(e) Who was his chief captain in Joab's place, 2Sa 19:13.

2Sa 20:6

20:6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than [did] Absalom: take thou thy {f} lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

(f) Either those who had been under Joab or David's men.

2Sa 20:8

20:8 When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's {g} garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

(g) Which was his coat, that he used to wear in the wars.

2Sa 20:11

20:11 And one of Joab's men {h} stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab.

(h) He stood by Amasa at Joab's appointment.

2Sa 20:14

20:14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to {i} Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

(i) To the city Abel, which was near Bethmaachah.

2Sa 20:15

20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab {k} battered the wall, to throw it down.

(k) That is, he went about to overthrow it.

2Sa 20:18

20:18 Then she spake, saying, {l} They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].

(l) She shows that the old custom was not to destroy a city before peace was offered, De 20:10,11.

2Sa 20:19

20:19 I [am {m} one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

(m) She speaks in the name of the city.

2Sa 20:21

20:21 The {n} matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, [even] against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

(n) Hearing his fault, he gave in to reason, and required only he that was instigator of the treason.

2Sa 20:26

20:26 And Ira also the Jairite was a {o} chief ruler about David.

(o) Either in dignity or familiarity.

2Sa 21:1

21:1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the {a} Gibeonites.

(a) Thinking to gratify the people, because these were not of the seed of Abraham.

2Sa 21:3

21:3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, {b} What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

(b) With what may your wrath be appeased, that you may pray to God to remove this plague from his people.

2Sa 21:4

21:4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill {c} any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, [that] will I do for you.

2Sa 21:6

21:6 Let seven men of his {d} sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up {e} unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

(d) Of Saul's kinsmen.
(e) To pacify the Lord.

2Sa 21:8

21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of {f} Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

(f) Here Michal is named for Merab Adriel's wife, as it appears in 1Sa 18:19 for Michal was the wife of Paltiel, 1Sa 25:44 and never had a child 2Sa 6:23.

2Sa 21:9

21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell [all] seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the {g} first [days], in the beginning of barley harvest.

(g) Which was in the month Abib or Nisan which contained part of March and part of April.

2Sa 21:10

21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took {h} sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until {i} water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

(h) To make her a tent in which she prayed to God to turn away his wrath.
(i) Because drought was the cause of this famine, God by sending rain showed that he was pacified.

2Sa 21:14

21:14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was {k} intreated for the land.

(k) For where the government permits faults to go unpunished, there the plague of God lies on the land.

2Sa 21:16

21:16 And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of {l} the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred {m} [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.

(l) Or, of Haraphah, the race of giants.
(m) Which amounts to 9 3/4 pounds.

2Sa 21:17

21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the {n} light of Israel.

(n) For the glory and wealth of the country stands in the preservation of the godly magistrate.

2Sa 21:18

21:18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at {o} Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

(o) Called Gezer, and Saph is called Sippai, 1Ch 20:4.

2Sa 21:19

21:19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] {p} Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.

(p) That is, Lahmi the brother of Goliath, whom David slew, 1Ch 20:5.

2Sa 22:1

22:1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this {a} song in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

(a) In token of the wonderful benefits that he received from God.

2Sa 22:2

22:2 And he said, The LORD [is] my {b} rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

(b) By the diversity of these comfortable means, he shows how his faith was strengthened in all temptations.

2Sa 22:5

22:5 When the {c} waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

(c) As David (who was the figure of Christ) was by God's power delivered from all dangers: so Christ and his Church will overcome most grievous dangers, tyranny and death.

2Sa 22:9

22:9 There went up a {d} smoke out of his nostrils, and {e} fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

(d) That is, clouds, and vapours.
(e) Lightening and thundering.

2Sa 22:10

22:10 He {f} bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness [was] under his feet.

(f) So it seems when the air is dark.

2Sa 22:11

22:11 And he rode upon a {g} cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

(g) To fly in a moment through the world.

2Sa 22:13

22:13 Through the brightness before him were {h} coals of fire kindled.

(h) By this description of a tempest he declares the power of God against his enemies.

2Sa 22:16

22:16 And the {i} channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

(i) He alludes to the miracle of the Red Sea.

2Sa 22:19

22:19 They {k} prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

(k) I was so beset, that all means seemed to fail.

2Sa 22:21

22:21 The LORD rewarded me according to my {l} righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

(l) Toward Saul and my enemies.

2Sa 22:22

22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not {m} wickedly departed from my God.

(m) I attempted nothing without his commandment.

2Sa 22:27

22:27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the {n} froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

(n) Their wickedness is cause that you seem to forget your usual mercy.

2Sa 22:31

22:31 [As for] God, his way [is] {o} perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him.

(o) The manner that God uses to aid his own, never fails.

2Sa 22:34

22:34 He maketh my feet like {p} hinds' [feet]: and setteth me upon my high places.

(p) He uses extraordinary means to make me win most strongholds.

2Sa 22:40

22:40 For thou hast {q} girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

(q) He acknowledges that God was the author of his victories, who gave him strength.

2Sa 22:42

22:42 They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] unto the {r} LORD, but he answered them not.

(r) The wicked in their time of need are forced to flee to God, but it is too late.

2Sa 22:44

22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my {s} people, thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people [which] I knew not shall serve me.

(s) Meaning, of the Jews, who conspired against me.

2Sa 22:45

22:45 Strangers {t} shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

(t) Not willingly obeying me, but deceitfully.

2Sa 22:47

22:47 The LORD liveth; {u} and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

(u) Let him show his power that he is the governor of all the world.

2Sa 23:1

23:1 Now these [be] the {a} last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

(a) Which he spoke after he had written the psalms.

2Sa 23:2

23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my {b} tongue.

(b) Meaning, he spoke nothing but by the motion of God's Spirit.

2Sa 23:4

23:4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender {c} grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

2Sa 23:5

23:5 Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to {d} grow.

(d) But that my kingdom may continue for ever according to his promise.

2Sa 23:8

23:8 These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the {e} seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

(e) As one of the king's counsel.

2Sa 23:9

23:9 And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were {f} gone away:

(f) Meaning, fled from the battle.

2Sa 23:10

23:10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his {g} hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

(g) By a cramp which came from weariness and fighting.

2Sa 23:12

23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a {h} great victory.

(h) Which has no respect for many or few, when he will show his power.

2Sa 23:15

23:15 And David {i} longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

(i) Being overcome with weariness and thirst.

2Sa 23:16

23:16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but {k} poured it out unto the LORD.

(k) Bridling his affection, and also desiring God not to be offended for that rash enterprise.

2Sa 23:21

23:21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a {l} spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

(l) Which was as big as a weavers beam, 1Ch 11:23.

2Sa 23:23

23:23 He was more honourable than the {m} thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.

(m) He was more valiant than the thirty that follow and not so valiant as the six before.

2Sa 23:27

23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, {n} Mebunnai the Hushathite,

(n) Some of these had two names, 1Ch 11:29 and also many more are mentioned there.

2Sa 23:39

23:39 Uriah the Hittite: {o} thirty and seven in all.

(o) These came to David, and helped restore him to his kingdom.

2Sa 24:1

24:1 And {a} again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and {b} he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

(a) Before they were plagued with famine, 2Sa 21:1.
(b) The Lord permitted Satan, as in 1Ch 21:2.

2Sa 24:2

24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the {c} number of the people.

(c) Because he did this to determine his power and to trust in it, it offended God, for otherwise it was lawful to number the people, Ex 30:12, Nu 1:2.

2Sa 24:9

24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel {d} eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] {e} five hundred thousand men.

(d) According to Joab's count: for in all there were eleven hundred thousand, 1Ch 21:5.
(e) Including the Benjamites with them, or else they had but four hundred and seventy thousand.

2Sa 24:11

24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's {f} seer, saying,

(f) Whom God had appointed for David and his time.

2Sa 24:13

24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall {g} seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

(g) Three years of famine were past for the Gibeonites and this was the fourth year to which should have been added another three more years, 1Ch 21:12.

2Sa 24:15

24:15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from {h} Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

(h) From the one side of the country to the other.

2Sa 24:16

24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: {i} stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

(i) The Lord spared this place, because he had chosen it to build his temple there.

2Sa 24:17

24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they {k} done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

(k) David did not see the just cause why God plagued the people, and therefore he offers himself for God's correction as the only cause of this evil.

2Sa 24:21

24:21 And {l} Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

(l) Called also Ornan 1Ch 21:20.

2Sa 24:23

24:23 All these [things] did Araunah, {m} [as] a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

(m) That is, abundantly, for as some write, he was king of Jerusalem before David won the tower.

2Sa 24:24

24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for {n} fifty shekels of silver.

(n) Some write that every tribe gave 50 which makes 600, or that afterward he bought as much as came to 550 shekels.

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