Chapter 14:
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| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
2 Samuel 14
The story told David of the widow of Tekoah, ver. 1-20.
Absalom is brought back to Jerusalem, but not to court, ver. 21-24. An account of Absalom's person and children, ver. 21-27. He
is at length introduced to David, ver. 28-33.
Verse 1. Was towards - He desired to see him, but was ashamed to shew
kindness to one whom God's law and his own conscience obliged
him to punish; he wanted therefore a fair pretense, which
therefore Joab gave him.
Verse 2. Anoint - As they used to do when they were out of a mourning
state.
Verse 5. Widow - One of them who most need thy compassion, and
whom thou art by God's law obliged in a singular manner to
relieve.
Verse 9. Be guiltless - If through thy forgetfulness or neglect of this my
just cause, my adversaries prevail and destroy my son, my desire
is, that God would not lay it to the king's charge, but rather to me
and mine, so the king may be exempted thereby. Whereby she
insinuates, that such an omission will bring guilt upon him; and
yet most decently orders her phrase so as not to seem to blame or
threaten the king. This sense seems best to agree with David's
answer, which shew's that she desired some farther assurances of
the king's care.
Verse 11. Remember - Remember the Lord, in whose presence thou hast
made me this promise, and who will be a witness against thee, if
thou breakest it.
Verse 13. Wherefore then - If thou shouldst not permit the avengers of
blood to molest me, or to destroy my son, who are but two
persons; how unreasonable is it that thou shouldest proceed in thy
endeavours to avenge Amnon's blood upon Absalom, whose death
would be grievous to the whole commonwealth of Israel, all
whose eyes are upon him as the heir of the crown, and a wise, and
valiant, and amiable person, unhappy only in this one act of
killing Amnon, which was done upon an high provocation, and
whereof thou thyself didst give the occasion by permitting Amnon
to go unpunished? Faulty - By thy word, and promise, and oath
given to me for my son, thou condemnest thyself for not allowing
the same equity towards thy own son. It is true, Absalom's case
was widely different from that which she had supposed. But
David was too well affected to him, to remark that difference, and
was more desirous than she could be, to apply that favourable
judgment to his own son, which he had given concerning hers.
Verse 14. We - We shall certainly die, both thou, O king, who art
therefore obliged to take care of thy successor, Absalom; and
Absalom, who, if he do not die by the hand of justice, must
shortly die by the necessity of nature: and Amnon too must have
died in the common way of all flesh, if Absalom had not cut him
off. Respect - So far as to exempt him from this common law of
dying. Not expelled - He hath given laws to this purpose, that the
man-slayer who is banished should not always continue in
banishment, but upon the High-priest's death return to his own
city.
Verse 15. The people - The truth is, I was even forced to this bold
address to thee by the disposition of thy people, who are
discontented at Absalom's perpetual banishment, lest, if Absalom
by his father-in-law's assistance invade the land, the people who
have a great kindness for him, and think he is very hard used,
should take up arms.
Verse 16. Hear - For I know the king is so wise and just, that I assure
myself of audience and acceptation. Deliver - To grant my request
concerning my son, and consequently the peoples petition
concerning Absalom. My son - Implying that her life was bound
up in the life of her son, and that she could not outlive his death;
(and supposing that it might be David's case also, and would
therefore touch him in a tender part, though it were not proper to
say it expressly:) and thereby suggesting, that the safety and
comfort of the people of Israel, depended upon Absalom's
restitution. Inheritance - That is, out of that land which God gave
to his people to be their inheritance, and in which alone God hath
settled the place of his presence and worship: whereby she
intimates the danger of Absalom's living in a state of separation
from God, and his house, amongst idolaters.
Verse 17. Angel - In wisdom, and justice, and goodness. Therefore -
Because thou art so wise and gracious to those who in strict
justice deserve punishment, God will own and stand by thee in
this thy act of grace: or God will prosper thee in thy enterprizes.
Verse 19. Of Joab - Hast thou not said and done this by Joab's direction.
Said - It is even so, thou hast discovered the truth. These words -
As to the substance of them, but not as to all the expressions; for
these were to be varied as the king's answer gave occasion.
Verse 20. To fetch - That is, to propose his, and the peoples desire of
Absalom's restitution in this parabolical manner. In the earth - Or,
in this land, in all thy kingdom; all the counsels and devices of thy
subjects.
Verse 22. Fulfilled - But it seems David had no power to dispense with
God's laws, nor to spare any whom God appointed him to destroy:
for the laws of God bound the kings and rulers, as well as the
people of Israel. How justly did God make this man, whom he had
so sinfully spared, a scourge to him?
Verse 24. Let him turn - Lest whilst be shewed some mercy to Absalom,
he should seem to approve of his sin. Likewise by this means
Absalom might be drawn to a more thorough humiliation and
repentance.
Verse 25. Beauty - This is noted as the occasion of his pride, and of the
people's affection to him.
Verse 26. Weighed - Others understand this not of the weight, but of the
price of his hair.
Verse 27. Sons - All which died not long after they were born, as may be
gathered from chap. xviii, 18, where it is said, that Absalom had
no son.
Verse 32. Kill me - For it is better for me to die, than to want the sight
and favour of my dear father. Thus he insinuates himself into his
father's affections, by pretending such respect and love to him It
seems that by this time Absalom having so far recovered his
father's favour, began to grow upon him, and take so much
confidence as to stand upon his own justification, as if what he
had done, had been no iniquity, at least not such as to deserve
death. See how easily wise parents may be imposed on by their
children, when they are blindly fond of them.
Verse 33. Kissed - Did the bowels of a father prevail to reconcile him to
an impenitent son? And shall penitent sinners question the
compassion of him who is the Father of mercy? If Ephraim
bemoan himself, God soon bemoans him, with all the expressions
of fatherly tenderness. He is a dear son, a pleasant child.
Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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