PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel
Robert Payne Smith [1818-1895] · 562,410 words · 620 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED llY THE VERY REV. H. D. lYI. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND DY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. R…
1,161 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 2
Saul ha.d done much ; but in his last years he brought all to ruin, and at his death he left his country in abject thraldom, e.nd with all its national liberties tra.mplcd underfoot. In his foll Saul involved in equal ruin his son Jonathan, one of the most generous and beautiful chu,raoters that ever the world saw. A…
1,192 wordsSECTION 3The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 3
field. Like Promethens, he defied the Almighty, in deeds if not in words, but the heroism was gone, e.nd in that le.at snd scene, when, in mental o.nd more.I degradation, the despairing monarch sought the witch's cave, stubbornness alone remained. And, meanwhile, the other purpose of God was growing in strength, an…
1,201 wordsSECTION 4The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 4
became the voice of the nation's worship, the expression of its faith and love and trust in its God. In this there waFI e. distinct advance, anfl a most pure and ennobling and spiritnal element was added, not merely to the ritual of the, temple, but to the worship of God in the homes of the people. The sacrifice was fu…
1,187 wordsSECTION 5The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 5
memory of the feats recorded in the Book of Judges. Even then tho nation was sinking downwards. Jephthah and Samson were men of lower worth than Barak and Gideon. The ruinous defeat at Aphek, followed by the capture of the ark and the destruction of the national sanctuary at Shiloh, convinced Israel of its degradation,…
1,168 wordsSECTION 6The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 6
his sorrow at the death 0£ son after son, ea.need alike by hie own sin and theirs. If Sanl had wronght the rnin of hie kingdom, David had wrought the ruin of hie family and home. But the one was stubborn in hi.s perverseness, the other was humbled and penitent, and his sin Wl!,S taken away. And now, calm and thankfnl, …
874 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 7
no one to n.-siet them. His own share of the tance which DRvid Rnd his men had travelled tipnil Wits so large that he was able to send in three. And thus it followa that the YRlm,ble presents of sheep, oxen, and oamels be.Ltle at Gilboa. WRB fought on the very day t.o his friends in Judme.. probably not without of D…
1,051 wordsSECTION 8The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 8
Mount Gilbo&, The st(')ry of the Am&lekite own countrymen. Still, if ho harl tol,! the le nt vnri,.nce with tlle account of Bnul's truth, he would havo fared well; for he death givon in the Inst chapter of the brought news of great importanc(). Bnt preoedlng book, There, soro pressed and truth wB& not a. virtue much pr…
1,023 wordsSECTION 9The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 9
in which they had been plaoed by David's mienndentand the eJ:l\mlnation or the oul- "Want of faith. But David bad other reMOna prit summed up in vera. Ill, H, and also to beeidee patriotism for sorrow. Personally pnt aside all aooonnt of the deep and be had loet the truest of friends, and even agonizing sorrow which…
1,051 wordsSECTION 10The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 10
commentary uron the po.esRge. He snys a.re the heroee fallen· I " Thus J one.tho.n is that, 88 Ierael 8 defent e.t Gilboe. wo.e the certainly meant, and the heroes a.re the pree8ge of e. long struggle, 8ncl 8s the Philie- young prince e.nd hie father; and as the tines ho.d g8ined the victory thero by their hooted antel…
1,075 wordsSECTION 11The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 11
" There the shield of the heroes w1111 defl.led : women had patly improved. When a The 1hield of Baul no't anointed wi,th oil." nation ie in tlie mieerahle Dliigh t described in 1 8Rm, xiii. 19-22, there ia neither The tnterpret11tion put upClll theee worda safety nor oomtort for the weak; but when fn tht, Authorized…
922 wordsSECTION 12The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 12
stranger's story, the former had been killed by the hand of the narrator. 4. In evidence of the truth of his story, the man produces Saul's crown and bracelet. Waiting on Providence. David's retirement at Ziklag ie to be regarded in connectinn with his well-established conviction that he was the chosen servant destin…
860 wordsSECTION 13The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 13
i,eemed to the minde of hie dieoiplee (John xiv, 1; xvi. 19-22; Luke niv. 21) to be dieaetroue to hie cause; and yet all th'l'Ough he never distruated the Father, and in fulnees of oonfidenoe could anticipate the results of a steady unfolding of the Divine pu~pose (Joh~ x. Hi). So likewise we in secular and spiritua…
870 wordsSECTION 14The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 14
not to moke B profession of some interest In it B means of a.ttainin" to social position ond ma.teriol prosperity, so did he pay honour to the chosen eervant°or God for what he could golu thereby'. But the moin point in his conduct centres on David. He came prncUcally in the form of a tempter to one who had long bee…
891 wordsSECTION 15The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 15
Church life iB not free from the subtle temptation,,when we observe, In the deco.y o( rival part.ies or ·denominations, a probable ~ncrease to the strength of our own. Business men may argue that benefits to society a.rise from the downfall of housea tro.ding on an insecure basis, and Eo oover the real character of …
859 wordsSECTION 16The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 16
embodied in the conduct of the Amalekite in its contrast with that of David; and this cl\n perhaps be best expressed by setting forth a contra.at of states of mind. Hence notice- Secularity and spirituality of mind in contrast. The conduct of the Amalekite was very nl\tural, as we find men in general. So far a.s he ha…
864 wordsSECTION 17The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 17
follies of the unhappy monarch, and, instead of finding plce.aure in lil'oepect of hie own coming promotion, to foe\ II.I! though In the act done ·t,y the Amlllcltite a violence had been perpetrRt.ed against the most holy of institutions. So has it been ln all ages, and is still. Men can barter religious professions…
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own anguish of spirH-so tender and pathetic as it is-must be accepter! as the inler- p_reter of the act of public _mourning in Davi_d's camp. None but 11. deeply earnest and sincere mnn could thus wnte of the woe which came to men on the heights of Gilboa, 'l'ested by the principles that govern the secular mind, the …
886 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 19
It was the pride and joy of devout men th&t ler&el'e king governed , }leople chosen ol God for the aseertloti and expcraition of principles superior to those Wliicb obtained in the bea~be~ nations. 'l'he pledge of prosperity had been. given to the chosen people, and their history had demonstrated to the heathen again…
863 wordsSECTION 20The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 20
I. As thoro is a disposition on the part of iiTeligious men to find delight in the sins and frailtios of Christians, and also to find therein excuse for their own impiety, it DEHOVEB ALL wno HA.VE THE NAME ANO OJ.USE 011' CHRIST AT HJl]A.RT TO BE VERY GUAttOED IN 'J'HEIR REJJ'ERENOES TO THE SINS AND MISERIES OF BACKBLI…
855 wordsSECTION 21The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 21
crncu11JSTANOES. "Saul and Jonat.h:m were lovely and pleRSant in their lives and in their death they were not divided" (ver. 23). Yes; every heart says "yes." 'we feel the charm of Jonathan'& fidelity to his poor erring father even to the bitter end. David's appreciation of this is, under the circumstances (1 Sam. x…
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nntion." 2. It, laws were his revealed will, pertaining to the entire circle r,f civil an,\ religious life. "The commonwealth of the Jew~, difforent in that from all othcrn, wa.~ an absolute theocracy; nor wa.s there, nor could there be, any cliITerence between the comwonwe11lth and the Church" (Locke). 3. Jes sanction…
821 wordsSECTION 23The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 23
kingdom or the Mes~iah, but also a type or divinely ordP.ined forcsh11.dowh\g of it. 1, H rendered the oonception thereof mo,·e definite and vivid, "With the establlshment of th<.' ki~ly power, a new clMs of ide11.s WRS brought into view. ind developed, which for want of the requisite mat~rial groundwork con Id not …
1,698 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 24
"There never was a t1pecimen of manhood so rich and ennobled as David, the son ol Jesse, whom other snints haply m&y have equalled in single features of hie character; l1ut 11uch a combin&tion of manly, heroic qt,alitiee, such a flush of generous, godlike 11xcellenoee, h&th never yet been seen embodied in a sinf!;le…
884 wordsSECTION 25The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 25
governs, protects, nnd perfects his people. 6. Iris wide dominion. 7. Hie endless oontinuanco. "His N nme shall endure for ever." EXHORTATION. 1. Submit to his rule. "Kise the Son,'1 etc. (Ps. ii. 12). 2. Rejoice In hie e11,lv11tion, 3. Co-operate with his purposes. 4. Look forward to hie final trlumph.-D. Vere. 1, 2…
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appa.rent that its resnlt may be easily anticipated by all but the most obtnee. 2. A stnmger or an enemy frequently perceives the destination of a man or ability more clearly than those who are intimately connected with him, 3. One who ie supremely concerned about his otm interest is quick to &ee anything that may b…
861 wordsSECTION 27The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 27
falsehood with the truth he utters, for the sake of enhancing the value of his goorl offices. If he had been PBtisfled with simply telling the tidings of the death of Sct11l, nll would have been woll with him; but by his gratuitous inventions he entangles bimsolfln n dangerous snare. 6. Unconscious seif-accu.~ation. "I…
840 wordsSECTION 28The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 28
its infliction. At sunset he recalled the unhappy messenger, and having further quos• tioned him, testified his abhorrence of his deed, and ordered hie execution. Notice- I. THE CRIME which was laid to hie charge, viz. the intentional 1md unjustifiable taking away of the life <if another: 1. Proceeding, like every a…
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thus conduces to tho security of human life. Severity to one is mercy to many, On the other h11nd, it may be se.id that: 1. The claims of justice are adequately satisfied by a lifelong penal servitude, 2. Scripture, rightly interpreted, does not justify the infliction of dellth. The Noe.chic precept (if it be such) was…
874 wordsSECTION 30The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 30
chorus, twice repeated; and falls into three sti·ophic dit1isiona marked by its recurreuce, either et their commencement (Keil) or their close (Kitto, • Cyclopiedia of Biblical Literature'); or, according to more common arrangement, into five or six stanzas, "The putting of lamentations into poems made them the mo1-e…
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IIJ. AN IMPRECATION ON THE SCENE OF DIBABTER, "0 mountains in Gilboa, nor dew nor rain (be) upon you, Nor fields of &!ICred offerings I For thcro lies rusting the shield of heroPs, The shield of Be.ul nnanointed with oil." (Vor. 21.) "Over against the exnHant joy of victory of Israel's enemies, which he would be g…
661 wordsSECTION 32The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 32
triumph; and reminds them of the beneficence of Saul in distributing among them the spoils of war gained in hie former nctories. 1. The benefits conferred by an able and successful ruler upon his people are great, and deserve a grateful recognition. 2. The Talue of those benefits is seldom fully appreciated until th…
1,207 wordsSECTION 33The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 33
Ver. 26.- Wonderful love. Human love is, in proportion to its purity and strength, a gift of Divine·love. It also illustrates the love from which it proceeds, by reflecting its image as in a mirror. It is of a twofold natlll'e-viz. benevolence- or charity towards all, even the unworthy; and complacency towards those in…
1,163 wordsSECTION 34The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 34
tho proof nnd fniled; in the first instance (1 Sam. xiii.) by doing what he onght not to havo done, e.nd In the second (1 Sam. xv.) by leaving und,me what he ought to have done. Twice his dootn wns pronounced by Samuel, who then sorrowfully retired, lind left him to his own self-will and certain fate. But though he thu…
877 wordsSECTION 35The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 35
death. Yet the person to whom this que.stion was addrosscd could, perhnpe, haJ'dly apprC'Ciate its significance. Supposing hiH narratfre truthful, he may have been actuated by compassion in what he did; and he hoped for reward from David, in whom he saw the coming king of Israel. Dut, however this may he, the questi…
879 wordsSECTION 36The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 36
clnims ns one of life nnd denth-one in which e.11 that 18 most valued by them for the sake of thcmselvoe, their families, and society at large is involved. And it is due to the foeR of Christ themselves that this should be done. 'l'heir conscience& should be e.ddrossed ae well as their reaeoning faculty. Remonstrance s…
814 wordsSECTION 37The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 37
of his nntion, the Philistines. He l!lympathiied with the people in their lose and In the trouhle~ whioh would l!lurely spring from his death. But his lament over J~nathan was of another order. It W&8 the outbum of a paeeionate grief at the tragical death of an afreotionate and faithfnl friend, whom he tenderly love…
913 wordsSECTION 38The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 38
EXPOSITION. brought with him a powerful body of trained OHAPTER II. men. Ver. 1.-Unto Hebron. As soon as David Ver. 3.-They dwelt in the cities of Hebron. had assuaged his grief, his thoughts would Not only had David wives, whom he took naturally turn towards his country. Fuller with him to Hebron, but manv of hie n…
816 wordsSECTION 39The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 39
WM that De.vid me.int11ined friendly rele.- irlol. Origlm1lly ho was niimed EshbMl tiona with Aobish, and pe.id him tribute. (1 Chron. viii. 33 ; ix. 89), that is, " man This exple.ine the curious fact tbllt Zikle.g of B1111l," the word e8h. being merely a rontinued to be the prive.te property of the dialectio varia…
1,000 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 40
lmnnim lny upon the borclore of G11d 11nd pop11lnr ratification was necessary, some Mnn!IBACh, Abner would eoeily control these months may have passed before Ishbosheth two tribes, nnd Reuben, which was never Bn was publicly installed ns king, though noti vo or enterprising tribo, would follow Ab11er mnst have ncted in…
959 wordsSECTION 41The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 41
jmotifled in defending hie election to be king the hair. It 110ems cert!Lin, therefore, thnt over Judah. Th~ pool of Gi1-ft ie described this mutual butchery WIIII the "plRy; " nor by Robinson (' ReeParohes,' ii. 186) 118 "an oe.n we conceive of a more murderona and open 1iank about a hundred and twenty feet savage p…
1,023 wordsSECTION 42The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 42
three, Aa11hel, we.a remo.rke.ble for his per- ~ratuid, e.nd ao the Revised Version. sonnl nooompllshmenta, a.nil eapeoio.lly for The sight of their alo.ughtered brother swiftneee of foot, for which he We.& oompe.red me.de them only tbo more determined in the to the Zebi, the oe.mp-name or Jonathe.n purenit, o.nd doub…
1,129 wordsSECTION 43The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 43
challenge, both •rmiea would have aeparated eelled In the nee of arm1, yet the diepMity of ftll fril'nda. And .Joab still aohl upon the numbers i1 remarkable ; for the Benjamites 111me prinoiple of forbea.rance, and gives the were alao famous warriors. We oe.n only lrignal for 11topping the pnnuit. He WIMI BC<'Ount …
868 wordsSECTION 44The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 44
alfn.ire we sometimes meet with B similar beginning of prosperity. In so far as the pu.~sn.ge before us affords tenchiog on this subject, observe- I. 'l'nE BEGINNING OF PROSPERITY IS A TIME OF PECULIAR DANGF.B. In reading the narrn.tive of David's trials on the one side, and of his prosperous circumstances on the othe…
871 wordsSECTION 45The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 45
could not but think much of himeelf now u a free man, an objeo\ of publio intereet, on the high-road to affluence, e.nd about to enter on activities the.t would render him the chief objeot of intel'81!t. 'l'here would thue A.rise a new and perilous &elf-consciousness. The 110brieties, cantion, and eelf-restraint acquir…
896 wordsSECTION 46The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 46
nntuml co.uses directed by e. controlling mind towards e. single issue. Not only must Bnul be put aside e.nd Jonathan be rendered willing to give place to another, but the mass of the nation must be won. The hand that had won over Jonathan and removed Baul now operates silently on the hearts of the men of Judah-David's…
889 wordsSECTION 47The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 47
important city WO'lld become the centre of a great~t kingdom. The memorable historic aBBociatiot.s of the place (Gen. niii. 2-20; Jo~h. x. 36 ; xiv. 6-16; xv. 13, 14; :u:i. 11-13) could not but cre11te in the mind of David the feeling that he was succeeding men who were substantially engaged in the B&rue cause && hi…
844 wordsSECTION 48The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 48
we know to have been David's fait.h in tho coming kingdom of God ever Rince thll 11nointing by Samuel, it means this: ''You e.re perplexed and anxious ab0ut the interests of the people of God e.nrl their future. Do not yield to tbat state of mind. De true men; do your part e.s patriots in this time of change; for Saul,…
888 wordsSECTION 49The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 49
are parts of 11. great complex whole, and their worth in any particular concrete instl\nce depends on antecedent and concomitant facts. 'fher:i is a gradation or obligations, and virtues in name cease to be virtues in reality when they appear in isolation, or con- 11equent on a <lisregard of a higher law. The men of Is…
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Vere. 18-32.-Tho faots a.re: 1. Asahel, a younger brother of Joab, taking part in the pursuit, fixes his eye on Abner, and keeps on his track, and, being swift of foot, soon overtakes him. 2. Abner, conscious of superiority in arms, and remembering tho high family connections of the re.sh youth, chivalrously urges Asah…
718 wordsSECTION 51The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 51
Pond when itpplird to Cll8es in which their excellence can turn the scale of advantage. then the utmost zeitl may be displayed; but apart from this they may Involve us in great trouble. Jurlgment in the use of smllll gifts will often llChieve better reeulta t.hlln can he Recured by an indiscreet use of greater gifts…
852 wordsSECTION 52The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 52
give the world the full benefit of their exercise. 4. In e. choice of what seem to be opposing evils, we should endeavour to be guided by some clear and broad principle lrrospoctive of oonsequences. Tlie alternations of pa8sion and reason. The battle between the forces of Abner and Joab wns a small affair ae compared …
884 wordsSECTION 53The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 53
follo~·ed in their private life the heat of passion, are at l&st brought low by disnster or 11iokmi11s, and constrained, RA the fires of p&ssion become slack, to give heed to the higher authority within. Though life me.y ha.ve been w&sted, and, &sin Abner's case, me.y hBve caused much misery, there is hope of a bett…
953 wordsSECTION 54The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 54
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vore, 1-4.-(ZIKLAG, HEBRON.) Divine guidanr:;J. "David inquired of the Lord" (ver. 1). A new chapter in the life of David now opens. By the death of Saul and Jonathan the obstacles to his accession were, in part, removed. The time of patient waiting was gone, and the time for decisive acti…
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V. GRADUALLY 0ONFIRMED in the experience of him who obeys. "And bis men . . . and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron" (ver. 3). God went before them nnd prepared their way, eo the.t they met with e. peacoa.ble reception and found "a city of habitation." 1. '!'he operations of Providence concur with the teachings of th…
802 wordsSECTION 56The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 56
the other tribes would have followerl their example, and, by unitina in David, hava quietly submiUed to the appointment of God, as they themselves had done" (Chandler). In their conduct we seo- 1. AN EXALTED ESTIMATE OF ms PERSONAL WORTH. One of themselves (Deut. :xvii. 16), "chosen out of the people" (Ps. lxxxix. 19)…
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11-13). Their oonduct displayed: 1. Gratitude toward their benefactor, whose kind- ne88 they returned with kindness. 2. Fidelity toward their king, whose fo.ithfulnesa they repaid with faithfulness. 3. Reverence toward their God. 11 'l.'o bury the dead with the Jews was always reckoned an instance of humanity and ki…
1,199 wordsSECTION 58The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 58
Vers. 13-17.-(GmEoN.) Fratricidal strife. ".And that place was called Helkath- Ha.zzurllll." (ver. 16). The hostile attitude assumed by .Abner appeared to David to render necessary active measures in self-defence. It is not said that he inquired of the Lord. If he ha.d done so the conflict which ensued between brethren…
1,183 wordsSECTION 59The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 59
of itB attainment, ond expose themselves to great, risk and peril (Titus ii. 6; 1 Tim. vl. 9). "Ah I who con tell how hard it is to climb 'I'he steep where Fame's proud templo shines e.fe.r?" (Bel\ttie.) 3. Heedless of salutary warning. "And Abner looked behind him, and said," etc. (vers. 20-23). "Tum thee aside," e…
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forthwith depart.ed, not to Gibeon, but acroM the Jordan to Mahanaim (ver. 29). Regarding the question not merely as the utterance of Abner, nor from an Old Testa- ment point of view, we may ta.ke it ae expreSBive of- I. A CONVICTION OF TID: EVILS OF WAR, " Shall the l!Word dwour for ever?" By it: 1. NumberleSIJ lives…
795 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.