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 481
both plaoes Ashbel, who ia enumerat.ed as fore with it, in order that the day might not the third son in Gen. :r.lvi. 21, takes the be marred by its e.bsenoe. It came, but only IJl'OOnd place. We muat be content, there- to do mischief; and David went home with fore, to leave this matter in uncertainty; only its esco…
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time. But not longer than was to be ex- "men of Judah," after escorting David to pected, For the appointment wae so sur- Jerusalem, had a.II dispersed to their own prising that everybody mnet have been homes. ogape with astonishment. They wonld Ver. 8.-The great atone which is in naturally hove expeoted that Amasa woul…
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thie construction showe that the woman This is a conection of the Massorites to speaks in the name of the city, and conse- make the passage agree with eh. viii. 18. quently the Authorized Version, while pre- The K'tib has cari, a word which occurs in serving the grammar, loses the sense. It 2 Kings xi. 4, 19, where in …
1,009 wordsSECTION 484The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 484
thRt it wu tbe prinoipRl CRUIJe of the revolt "prophecy" (1 Ohron. xn. 1-8), fl'Om of the ten tribe!l from Rehoboam (l Kingi! which we learn two thinge. The firet that xii. 4). Unleee the leraelitee had themeelves David'e eervice we.s eeeentle.liy the so.me 1mff'ered severely from this exRction, they as iho.t ostablish…
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him from the stem grip of the ruthless writer he.s ever rea.ched so high e. level ol Joe.b. The moral lessons of this snd story e.re spirituality e.s David, though we may thank- beyond numbi,r, We see the se.int changed fully acknowledge that many of our best into a sinner. No privileges ee.ve him hymns do not fall far…
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Te!ltles11, unecrupulou11 !!J!irit reRdy to t&ke 1dve.nt&ge bf divergent lmntimente and form them Into e'ltpressione of positive opiniol'l e.nd e.nt11.gonigtic action. The m'l\n of Belie.I uRed up the elements of discord for securing what, at first, wl\B not contetnp!itted -namely, an open re1mdiation of the right o…
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IV, REVOLT AGAmST CHRIST IS A COURSE OJI' OONDUOT DEVOID OF POSITIVE REGULA- TIVE PRINOIPLE, Shebo.'s principles, so far as he had o.ny, were negative. There wa.~ nothing in his words or deeds that in<lico.ted any definite principle on which the state we.s to be governed. Hitherto the theocro.tic principle, enunciated …
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done. This possession of secret knowledge concerning others always gives increased power. Whoever knowa of the financial weakness of a commercial firm, or the private delinquencies of individuals, or of origiMl social inferiority of persons aiming to figure in society, if it be known that he knows, holds a power ove…
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having In mind the old law of Deut. xx. 11, 12, remonstr11ted with Joab because h~ had not sought to come to terms before having recourse to annR. And here we 8ee a fact embodying II principle, namely, that a people of one nation, speech, religion, and covenant relation to God, pause while engaged in II ruinous strife,…
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IV. IT IB THE DUTY OF PERSONS OF REPUTED WISDOM TO BRING ALL THEIR INFLU- ENCE TO BEAR ON THE PROMOTION OF PEA:OE AND HARMONY. 'l'he .. wise woman" and thOl!e of her mind in the city were but discharging a duty they owed to their city their king, and the kingdom, when, amidst the discords of the time, they brought …
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were still disquieted, like the sea after a storm; the independent action of Judah in conducting the king over the Jordan aroused the jealousy of the other tribes; at Gilgal (1 Bam. xi. 16; xiii. 8-10; xv, 12, 13), where the representatives of the latter assembled and met the king, a fierce altercation ensued (eh. xix.…
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from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri" (ver. 2) ; "Now will Sheba do us more berm than Absalom" (ver. 6). 'fhe insurrection: 1. Waa joined in by great numbers of the people. 2. Spread over the greater portion of the country. "He went thro~gh al_l ~he tribes of Israel," rousing them to action, and ga…
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malicious, and reckless than any other; his motive being jealousy of a rival. "No life Is safe that stands in his way, but from policy he never sBCrifices the most insi.~11ificant life without a purpose" (eh. ii. 27-30; xviii. 16; xx, 20). "By degrees m;n grow more and more bold and unfeeling in the commission of crim…
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(when not unde~ the influ_ence of ~Lb and revenge), and _their eueceptiblllty to the power of persuainon. 4. Being determined to make every posaible e,ffort and sacrifice and undergo any pel'IIOnlll risk and euffering for the Mke of peace. She was doubtleae ~ill• ing (as othel'll have been) to lily down her own life…
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TIEHARK8. 1. It is he.rdly po~sible to estimate too highly the worth of peace amon.,. men. 2. '!'hose who would me.ke peRce between others must themselves be at peac; with God, with their own bee.rte, e.nd with their neighbours. The peacemaker must not be a pea.cebreaker. 3. The greatest Pea.ceme.ker the world has ever…
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good subjects, until some bolder spirit beads a revolt, and "draws away disoiples after him" (Acts xx. 30). Or the pernicious influence may come from inconsistent Christians, unworthy ministers of religion, or corrupt Churches. Men do not sufficiently distinguish between Christ and his professed representatives, and fi…
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the no.tural product of the gospel in those who rea11y believe it. "The kingdom of God is righteousness nnd peace" (Rom. xiv. 17); "The fruit of the Spirit is Jove, joy, pence, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness" (Gal. v. 22, Revised Version); "Love truth and peaoe" (Zech. viii. 19, Revised Vers…
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I. CHRI~TU.NB ARE THE; LoRo's INHERITANCE. 'l'hat part of mankind which is specially his. 1. Whlch he hBB peculiarly appropriat.ed. All the world is his, but1 while he has left; the larger portion of it for a time comparatively waste, he hna in a special manner claimed and separah!d this for himself. 2. For which he…
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EXPOSITION. dually destroying the native races w;is too CHA.l''l'.ti;K XXI. much in accord with men's usual way of act- Ver. 1.-There we.a e. fa.mine in the days ing not to be continued, unless stopped by the of David; Hebrew, and there was. There justice of the ruler. We all kno,v how the is e.n entire absence of a…
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"the iroi:tl tba.t Binnetb it 8h11.11 die;" but tl,at mon pre.t:1tice in most semi-oivllized nntlon■ the Binner'8 eon, if he wlllk in God's st11.tntes, for a fine ~o be e.ccepted aa compensation for shall not die for the iniquity of his father; the sheddmg of blood. Aa no distinction he shall surely live. But the co…
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Ver. 8.-Miohal. H was Merab who that the Philistines had hanged the borlics borame the wife of Aclricl the Meholathite of Saul and of his sons ( I Sam. xxxi. 12). (l Sam. xviii. 19). Michal was childless The men of Jabeeh-Gilead; Hebrew, ,1,~ (see oh. vi. 23). Whom ■he brought up lords or owners of Jabe•h-Gilead. The f…
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genitor of the Rephn.im, but more probn,bly Pf?bRbly ~me unii:iiportAnt spot, except na it i• simply the singulo.r of" RephBim,'' n.nd bemg the e1 to of tins bn ttle, and the sari hcR "children of the Rn.phah" a more poetio knowing nothing about it, mBde correction~ WRY of deecribing the race. Three hlllldred 11,t t…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-14.-.A story of deferred retribution. The facts are: 1. A famine con- tinui1;1g for t_hree years, and inquiry b~in~ made_ of the L~rd bf David, he is informed that 1t was m consequence of Saul's sm m slaying the G1beonites. 2. David, askin"' of the Gibeonites whe.t he shall do for them by way of…
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fr.uit of sin. Man's moral nature ie in contact with the physical order by meaus of a material vehicle, and a.s his moral nature is supreme and cannot but affect by its deterioration and wrong direction, the vehicle by which it acts, so the lesser ~ust be disorder!'d by the disorder of the greater. The miseries of h…
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indicated, According to Scripture, all sin jg to be bronght h0me to the sinner. The time may p11ss, e.nd means for so doin~ ;may seem to be lacking; but the universe is God's, o.nd he ho.s in reserve agencies by which the guilty will be found out and the cl11ims of o. viol11ted law will be vindic11ted (Eccles. xi. 9)…
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to be a follower of Christ lends an unusual sanctity to everything In llrti. The Apostle Peter has suggested "what mRnner of persons" we ought to be by virtue of our holy profession, and our Lord himself expects more of his followers thnn cu.n be look~d for from others (Matt., v. 43---48). We should not forget that …
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foroee of ovi!-numerous, strong, tenacious. The power of sin ha~ laid hold of every form of human notivlty, and has entered into all the public and private ramific!l.tion~ ol !He. Our preachers at home and missionaries abroad have to face evils hoary with age, and yot strong with the vigour of youth. Nothing is more co…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS, Vers. 1-14.-(GIBEON, GIBEAH.) Fumine. "And there WI\S a famine in the days of David three years, year after year" (ver. 1). [Summary of the remaining portion (or appendix) of this book: 1. The famine. 2. Victorious acts in wars with the Philis- tines (vers. 15-22). 3. David's song of th…
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years dwelling peaceably among" the children of Israel and Judah" (Josh. ix. 17; eh. iv. 3), professing the same faith, and guilty of no offence; many of them being ruth- lessly slain, others escaping by flight. 2. Its effects were still felt by the "hewers of wood and drawers of water" (Nethinim, bondmcn), who survive…
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short of tltis. "We will have no ~ilvcr nor gold," etc. (ver. 4) ; no private com- pensation could a.tone for such a puhlic ci·ime and wilful 11in "before the Lot·d." 2. .A.ocorded with the ,·equirements of the Law (Gen. ix. 6, 6; Numb. xxxv. 31); or at lenst with the custom of blood-vengeance, and the then prevalen…
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Ver. 2.-(GIDEON,) Unrighteous zeal. "And Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah." When his attempt was made is not certainly knuwn; possibly soon after his sparing Amalek (and to make amends for it); or at the til)lll of his massacre of the priests at Nob (where the Gibeonites then ass…
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V ers. 15-22 (1 Chron. u:. 4-8).-Giants: a sermon to young peo-ple. "As for these four, they were born to the giant (Ha-rapha) in Gath, and fell by tbe ha.nd of David, and by tbe hand of his servants" (ver. 22). Of the age before the Flood it is said, "In those days were the giants [NephiJ,im, men of lofty stature a…
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but wns himself Rmitten down by the aid of Abishai. Pride is hau,.,hty sclf-cnnfirlcnt contemptuous, and presumptuous. It has overthrown many mighty ~en ; anrl is a~ ungodly, selfish, 1md most dangerous adversary. "Be not proud" (Jer. xiii. 15; eh. xxii. 28; Obnd. i. 3, 4; J as. iv. 6). (2) Falsehood, or deceit (1 Sam.…
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Ver. 1.-&eking Gor£sface. "David sought the face of the Lord" (Revised Version). The Authorized Version has here "inquired of the Lord," as in eh. ii. 1, where it is the traIJslation of a different phrase. Doubtless the substantial meaning is the same. But, as with words, so with phrases, two are seldom wholly synon…
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Ver. 10.-A mother's lone and grief. This verse is part of a narrative full of difficulty and darkness. It stands out a bright light in the midst of the darkness-a grand exhibition of a mother's love. I. A MOTHER'S LOVE IS MUCH TRIED. Not often RS Rizpah's was; bnt always in some way or other ; as : 1. By the conduct o…
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Vera. 16-22.-Giant-lcillers. These huge monsters were dangerous enemies. To 11lay them was to do valuable service to king and country. To assail them required much courage. Those who killed any of them gained great renown; and tbeir names and deeds were recorded in the chronicles of the kingdom, and, 11s to some of the…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXII. important point. n may be IP.Sked, then-Why should we notice them e.t a.II? And wl.iy DA:vm's PSALM OF Tlu.NXSGITING. urge them upon the e.ttention of scholars? This song, which is identical with Pe. The a.newer is that there exist fie.we and xviii., though with many verbal differences, …
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But tha soribos inserted it here, not eo The God of my rook, in whom I take much because of Its historical value, 11e be- refuge: My Shield and the Horn of my salva- oouse it is a national thanksgiving for the tion, founding of that empire by which Israel My Fastness and my Place of refage : became verily the theocrat…
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eion. But, "oorde of death" mean the fatal Lebanon, on which the skis■ seem to rest. en&N!I! of the hunter, and &re not in keeping The ■moke signifies hailstorms a.nd, perhaps, with "t,orrente of wickedness." "Belia\," e.leo the re.in driven in wreaths along the literally, "worthleseneBB," is by many sup• ground by …
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Terrllled. The verb eignlflee" to strike with For while he acknowled 0..es in them a ten- sudden terror and alarm" (see Exod. xiv. 24; dency to sin, ho affirms that he had been Josh. x. 10). It describes here the panic on his guard against it, end that h13 harl ooueed by the lightning, and by the violent ever kept God'…
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For by thoo do I run upon " troop; Ver11. 35--!17.~ In my God I leap over " wall. "He teacheth my ho.ode to we.r; God-hie wav is perfect: And mine arms ~n bend n bow nf bronze. The wc,rd or Jeho~,h is pnri6ed. And thou hast given me thy sn.ving shield; He is " Shield to all that trust in him." And thy hearing of me…
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haters" and "my enemies" being equive.- Vere. 47-49.- lent. There are several email variations between the text here and in Ps. xviii., suoh "Jehonh liveth; and blessed be my Rock, as " they cried " for they looked; and " I And exalted be the God of the rock of my emptied them dUt '' for I stamped upon them, salvati…
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or personRl history to be found in the Old Testament, and even in the entire Bible with the exception of that referring to Christ-seeing that that history was one of most strange vicissitudes, e.nd full of dangers. 'l'he story of David's life is so necessarily occupied with events e.e they appeared to men e.nd as th…
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IV. Tm: VISIBLE MEANS OF SAFETY USED BT RELIGIOUS MEN ARE AN mDEX OF A?I' INVISIBLl!I RESOURCE. h is just here that we get at the heart of David's meaning. A epecta.tor, obeerving how he set his skill age.inst that of Saul, how he baffled the cruel persecutor by fee.ta of de.ring among the caves and clefts of the rock,…
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heart& Ml'n llN! not condemned for not pr1tiRing God, but for being lovers of sin in thought, feeling, &.nd deed. Their condition nec8llsarily involves ll condemnl\tioa ns surely RB an &.narchical state involves, by its condition, its own destruction, '!'heir ~ot rendering aoknowledii:ments to God for his mercies is…
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forces of society nnd of nature seemed to go against him, and meanwhile the God of hie youth and enrly manhood was silent and apparently far away. Our only interpre- to.t)on of the faote is that God allows hie servants sometimes to be brought very low. He does not give them the immunity from pain e.nd peril which th…
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perfecting of tM deUtlffllfl.Ct!, So thorough WAB the reserve to be tbnt the swollen torrents and deep placea were to be entirely made bare of water in order to render eacape complete. We may look at our deliverances as from enemies human or fieb.dlsh, and we shall find that God does make himself known as our Friend, …
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the 11enee that all men BRTed, whether temporally or epiritue.lly, are, in their relation to him, sinful, or transgressors of the Law. But in rele.tion to others and in relation to spe~lfic o?lige.tions which he may impose on them, ~hey may be relatively righteous, and hie ee.vmg them may ho because they are so. 'lhus:…
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Vers. 81--51.-The facts are: 1. David asserr.s the ex.elusive perfection of God, 2. He states that his strength and power are from God, and that God teaches him• to move and act with ad vantage in times of war and difficulty. 3. He refers to the help received through the graciousness of God, and the fact that thereby h…
1,043 wordsSECTION 530The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 530
Tlie gentleness of God. This beautiful saying of David's, in ver. 36, is a wonderful illustration of the tenderness of his own heart, and of the deep and thoroughly evan- gelical thoughts he entertained of the character of God. There is mnch in this song to remind us of terrible power (vers. 7-18); but it was to David …
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IT. THE dONFLI0T IS PROTRA0TED AND CHARA0TEIUZED BY VICIBBITUDEB. From the day that Baul entertained a wicked jealousy of his powers (1 Sam. xviii. 8) till the revolt of Sheba, David had to be on his guard, a.nd in some form or other defenrl his person and his right to the kingdom. Now he is 1n deepest distress, a.nd n…
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may see that the accomplishment of our life's highest purpose is no occasion of praise to ourselves, but solely of glory to God. . I._ Goo _HAS CHOSEN us. David was called to leave the sheepfold, e.ud re.ised by the distinct will of God to be what he subsequently came to be. Never does ho forget this.' It. wn.s R!l…
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HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS .AUTHORS. ·;· V~rs. 1-51 (:i's. xviii.).-(JERUSALEM.) Davia's song of praise. "And David spake unto' Jehovah the words of this song," etc. (ver. 1). It is a song of: 1. The anoint.er!, (messiah) of the. Lord, his king (ver. 51), his servant (Ps. xviii., inscription). Like Moses and Joshua, David h…
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This language (comp. 1 Sam. xxvi. 13-25) neither implies entire freedom from sin nor indicates a boaetful spirit, but is expressive of sincerity, integrity fidelity· in contrast with the calumnies e.nd wickedness of enemies, in fulfilment of ; Divine ~ail, in obedience to the Divine will generally, and in the main cour…
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Ver. 24 (Pa. xviii 23).-Self-,preservation. "I kept myself from mine iniquity" (perversion, distortion, departure from the line of truth and rectitude), '!'be life of a, good man is a conflict (eh. J:. 12). " A man will never persevere in the practice of uprightness and godliness, unless he carefully keep himself fr…
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'which his character and dee.lings assnme toward them' is determined by their own character RDd conduct, am! is the necessary manifestation of his unchangeable recti- tude-on the one ha.nd, towa.rd the "loving," etc., full of love (a.II that is kind, desir- able, ond excellent); on the other, toward the " perverse," p…
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Ver. 50 (Ps. xviii. 49).-TM praise of God among the heathim. "Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, 0 Jehovah, among the heathen" (Rom. xv. 9). The purpose of God to bestow the blessingsCof salvation upon all nations was made known in the earliest ages (Gen. xii. 3; Numb. xiv. 21; Deut. x:u:ii. 43). "From the begin11…
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Inextinguishable life, ever conquering and to conq1161' in the four quarters of the work!; a kingdom one and alone since the world has been, embracing all climes and times, and still expanding, unworn by the destroyer of all things, time; strong ami<l the decay of empires; the freshness and elasticity of youth written …
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Ver. 4.-God •worthy to be :praised. The conjunction of ideas here is a little singular, " I will pray to the Lord, who iR worthy to be praised." It may originate in the feel• ing that it is fitting that, when we seek new blessings from God, we should not be unmi!ldfal of those which he has already bestowed. Praise s…
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be true, they have strong reasons for giving him thanks, since he is taking the wisest and best means to make them meet for the glory and joy in heaven which will at length ho their portion I 2. EBpedally by hiB 1'Weemed people. Who are the objects of his speoial regard and gracious operation, and to whom the work of p…
934 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.