Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
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| Wesley
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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 21
A famine, caused by Saul's killing the Gibeonites, ver. 1-3.
Seven of his family put to death, ver. 4-9. Care taken of their dead
bodies, and of the bones of Saul, ver. 10-14. Battles with the
Philistines, ver. 15-22.
Verse 1. Then - The things related here and chap. xxiv, 1-25, are by the
best interpreters conceived to have been done long before
Absalom's rebellion. And this opinion is not without sufficient
grounds: first, this particle, then, is here explained, in the days,
that is, during the reign of David: which general words seem to be
added as an intimation that these things were not done after the
next foregoing passages, for then the sacred writer would rather
have added, after these things, as it is in many other places.
Secondly, here are divers passages which it seems improbable to
ascribe to the last years of David's reign: such as first, that Saul's
sin against the Gibeonites should so long remain unpunished. And
indeed that this was done, and Saul's seven sons hanged by
David's order before that time, seems to be intimated by that
passage, chap. xvi, 8, where he is charged with the blood of the
house of Saul: for which there was not the least colour 'till this
time. Secondly, that David should not remove the bones of Saul
and Jonathan to their proper place, 'till that time. Thirdly, that the
Philistines should wage war with David again and again, ver. 15,
&c. so long after he had fully subdued them, chap. viii, 1, and that
David in his old age should attempt to fight with a Philistine giant,
or that his people should suffer him to do so. Fourthly, that David
should then have so vehement a desire to number his people,
chap. xxiv, 1, which being an act of youthful vanity, seems not at
all to agree with his old age, nor with that state of deep
humiliation in which he then was. And the reason why these
matters are put here out of their proper order, is plainly this,
because David's sin being once related, it was very convenient
that David's punishments should immediately succeed: this being
very frequent in scripture-story, to put those things together which
belong to one matter, though they happened at several times. He
flew - Which was not only an act of cruelty, but also of
perfidiousness, because it was a public violation of that solemn
oath given to them by Joshua and the princes, in the name of all
the Israelites, of that and succeeding generations. "But why did
not God punish Saul whilst he was alive for this, but his children,
and the Israelites of this age?" First, God did severely punish Saul
for this and his other sins. Secondly, as God may justly inflict
temporal punishments upon any offender, either in his person, or
in his posterity, when he pleaseth; so it is meet he should take his
own time for it; and it is folly in us to quarrel with God for so
doing. Thirdly, the Israelites might sundry ways make themselves
guilty of Saul's sin, tho' it be not particularly mentioned, advising
or encouraging him to it; or, assisting him in the execution of it.
And whereas many of the people were probably innocent of that
crime, yet they also were guilty of many other sins, for which God
might punish them, though he took this occasion for it.
Verse 2. Sought - That is, he sought how he might cut them off with
some colour of justice, aggravating their faults, and punishing
them worse than they deserved; oppressing them with excessive
labours, and intending by degrees to wear them out.
Verse 6. I will - Having doubtless consulted God in the matter; who as
he had before declared Saul's bloody house to be the causes of this
judgment, so now commanded that justice should be done upon it,
and that the remaining branches of it should be cut off; as
sufficiently appears from hence, that God was well pleased with
the action; which he would not have been, if David had done it
without his command; for then it had been a sinful action of
David's, and contrary to a double law of God, Deut. xxi, 23; xxiv,
16.
Verse 7. Spared - For the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, it was
at David's choice whom to spare. Of Jonathan - This is added, to
distinguish him from the other Mephibosheth, ver. 8.
Verse 10. Spread it - As a tent to dwell in: being informed that their
bodies were not to be taken away speedily, as the course of the
law was in ordinary cases, but were to continue there until God
was intreated, and removed the present judgment. On the rock - In
some convenient place in a rock, near adjoining. Until water -
Until they were taken down: which was not to be done 'till God
had given rain as a sign of his favour, and a mean to remove the
famine, which was caused by the want of it. Thus she let the
world know, that her sons died not for any sin of their own, not as
stubborn and rebellious sons, whose eye had despised their
mother: but for their father's sin, and therefore her mind could not
be alienated from them by their hard fate.
Verse 11. David - Who heard it with so much approbation, that he
thought fit to imitate her piety, being by her example provoked to
do what hitherto he had neglected, to bestow an honourable
interment on the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and, with them,
upon those that are now put to death, that the honour done to them
herein, might be some comfort to this disconsolate widow.
Verse 13. The bones - Having first burnt off the flesh which remained
upon them when they were taken down. Compare 1 Sam. xxxi,
10, &c.
Verse 14. After that - After those things were done which were before
related; that is, after they were hanged up: for by that God was
pacified, and not by their burial.
Verse 18. After this - After the battle last mentioned.
Verse 22. Born to the giant in Gath - These giants were probably the
remains of the sons of Anak, who, tho' long feared, fell at last.
Chapter 21:
| 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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