Chapter 3:
| 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
2 Samuel 3
David's success and sons, ver. 1-5. Abner's quarrel with
Isbosheth, ver. 6-11. His treaty with David, ver. 12-16. He
undertakes to bring Israel over to David, ver. 17-21. Joab murders
Abner, ver. 22-27. David's concern and mourning over him, ver.
28-39.
Verse 1. Long war - For five years longer: for it is probable, Isbosheth
was made king presently upon Saul's death; and the other tribes
did not submit to David before seven years were expired.
Verse 3. Geshur - A part of Syria, northward from the land of Israel. Her
he married, as it may seem, in policy, that he might have a
powerful friend and ally to assist him against Ishbosheth's party in
the north, whilst himself opposed him in the southern parts. But
he paid dear for making piety give place to policy, as the history
of Absolom sheweth.
Verse 5. Eglah - This is added, either because she was of obscure
parentage, and was known by no other title but her relation to
David: or, because this was his first and most proper wife, best
known by her other name of Michal, who, though she had no
child by David after she scoffed at him for dancing before the ark,
chap. vi, 23, yet might have one before that time. And she might
be named the last, because she was given away from David, and
married to another man. Six sons in seven years. Some have had
as numerous an offspring, and with much more honour and
comfort, by one wife. And we know not that any of the six were
famous: but three were very infamous.
Verse 6. Strong - He used all his endeavours to support Saul's house:
which is mentioned, to shew the reason of his deep resentment of
the following aspersion.
Verse 12. Messengers - Who in his name might treat with David
concerning his reconciliation with him. Thus God over-rules the
passions of wicked men, to accomplish his own wise and holy
purposes. And who then dare contend with that God who makes
even his enemies to do his work, and destroy themselves? Whose,
&c. - To whom doth this whole land belong, but to thee? Is it not
thine by Divine right?
Verse 14. Ishbosheth - Whose consent was necessary, both to take her
away from her present husband, and to persuade her to return to
David. Hereby also David opened to him a door of hope for his
reconciliation, lest being desperate he should hinder Abner in his
present design. My wife - Who, though she was taken from me by
force, and constrained to marry another, yet is my rightful wife.
David demands her, both for the affection he still retained to her,
and upon a political consideration that she might strengthen his
title to the kingdom.
Verse 19. Benjamin - To these he particularly applies himself, because
they might be thought most kind to Saul and his house, and most
loath to let the kingdom go out of their own tribe; and therefore it
was necessary that he should use all his art and power with them,
to persuade them to a compliance with his design; and besides,
they were a valiant tribe, and bordering upon Judah, and situate
between them and the other tribes; and therefore the winning of
them, would be of mighty concernment to bring in all the rest.
Verse 22. A troop - Of robbers, or Philistines, who taking advantage of
the discord between the houses of Saul and David, made inroads
into Judah.
Verse 29. Let it, &c. - But would not a resolute punishment of the
murderer himself have become David better, than this passionate
imprecation on his posterity?
Verse 30. Abishai - For though Joab only committed the murder, yet
Abishai was guilty of it, because it was done with his consent, and
counsel, and approbation. In battle - Which he did for his own
necessary defense; and therefore it was no justification of this
treacherous murder.
Verse 31. Joab - Him he especially obliged to it, to bring him to
repentance for his sin, and to expose him to public shame.
Followed - That is, attending upon his corps, and paying him that
respect which was due to his quality. Though this was against the
usage of kings, and might seem below David's dignity; yet it was
now expedient to vindicate himself from all suspicion of
concurrence in this action.
Verse 33. As a fool - That is, as a wicked man. Was he cut off by the
hand of justice for his crimes? Nothing less; but by Joab's malice
and treachery. It is a sad thing to die as a fool dieth, as they do
that any way shorten their own days: and indeed all they that
make no provision for another world.
Verse 34. Not bound - Thou didst not tamely yield up thyself to Joab, to
be bound hand and foot at his pleasure. Joab did not overcome
thee in an equal combat, nor durst he attempt thee in that way, as
a general or soldier of any worth would have done. Wicked men -
By the hands of froward, or perverse, or crooked men, by
hypocrisy and perfidiousness, whereby the vilest coward may kill
the most valiant person.
Verse 36. Pleased them - They were satisfied concerning David's
integrity.
Verse 38. Know ye not, &c. - But how little, how mean are they made
by death, who were the terror of the mighty in the land of the
living.
Verse 39. Weak - In the infancy of my kingdom, not well settled in it.
The metaphor is taken from a young and tender child or plant.
These men - Joab and Abishai, the sons of thy sister Zeruiah. Too
hard - That is, too powerful. They have so great a command over
all the soldiers, and so great favour with the people, that I cannot
punish them without apparent hazard to my person and kingdom;
especially, now when all the tribes, except Judah, are in a state of
opposition against me. But although this might give some colour
to the delay of their punishment, yet it was a fault that he did not
do it within some reasonable time, both because this indulgence
proceeded from a distrust of God's power and faithfulness; as if
God could not make good his promise to him, against Joab and all
his confederates; and because it was contrary to God's law, which
severally requires the punishment of willful murderers. It was
therefore carnal wicked policy, yea cruel pity that spared him. If
the law had had its course against Joab, it is probable the murder
of Ishbosheth, Ammon, and others, had been prevented. So truly
was he in these, and some other respects, a bloody man, which
may be observed to the glory of the Divine grace, in his
forgiveness and conversion.
Chapter 3:
| 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.
Genesis
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Leviticus
Numbers
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1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
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Ezra
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Esther
Job
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3 John
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