32 4 And they took up Aſahel, and buried him in the {-pulchre of his fathzr, which was in Bethlehem : and Joab and his men went all night, and they came co Hebron at break of day. |
CHAP. 4 Tie war between the houſe of David and the houſe of Saul. Six ſons born to
David in Hebron, 1, --- 5+ Abner diſpleaſed with Iſbboſbeth 6,—— 11.
Revoltethro David ; who requireth of him that he bring with him Michal :
wich he does and communes with the elders of Iſrael : is feaſted by David
and diſmiſſed, 12, -—-- 21. Joab r turning ffom battel is d ſpleaſed w:th the King, and treacherouſly Murderet - Almer, 22,-—23; David curſetl Foab, 28, = =30, Mourneth over Abner, 3, —— MN there was long war @ between the houſe of Saul, and the houſe of David : but David waxed ſironger and ſtronger, and the houſe of Saul waxed weaker and weaker,
a For five Years longer : for it is probable that 1ſhb:ſheth was made King preſeatly upon Saul's death, ro give them countenance tor their Rebellion againſt David ; and the other Tribes did not fubmir ro David before ſeven years were expired.
2 © And * unto David were ſons born in Hebron : and his firſt-born was Ammon, of Ahineam the Jez- reeliteſs : |
3 And his ſecond Chileab 5, of Abigail + the wife of Nabal te Catmetice : and the third Abſaiom, the ſon of Maacah, the daughter of Ta.mai king of Gelhur c :
* b Calied alto Daniel « Chron: 3: 1. c A part of Syria, North- Ward from the Land of Jrael, Deut: 33 14: Foſs 12:5, See 2 Sam
M--0--B £
Chap. IIt | 13: 37: and 74: 13: and 15: 8. Her he married, as it may ſeem, * in Policy, that he might have a powerful Friend and Allie to affift him againſt Zbbojherh's Party in the North, whilſt himſelf oppoſed him in the Southern parts. Burt he paid dear for making Piety give place to Policy herein, as the Hiſtory of 45/a/om ſhewerh There were other Geſhurites Southward from Canzan, whom David invaded, 1 Sam: 27: 8: and it is not impoſſible bur they were a Colony of rhoſe in the North. - EY
4 And the fourth, Adonijjah the ſon of Haggith : and the fifth, Shephatiah the ſon of Abiral :
5 And the ſixth, Ithream by Eglah Davids wife & : theſe were born to. David in Hebron.
d This is added, either becauſe ſhe was of obſcure Parentage, and was known by no other Title but her relation to David : or, ro diſtinguiſh her from tome other Perfon of rhat name, who poſs bly might be of no good fame : or, becauſe this was his firſt ard mult proper Wife, beſt known by her other name of Michal, who, though ſhe had no Child by David afrer ſhe ſcofted ar him for dan- cing before the Ark. Chap: 6: 23; yer might have one before thar time. And ſhe might be named the laſt of rheſe here, becauſe the was given away from David, and marricd to another Man, when David took the other Wives, and therefore though ſhe had been firſt, yet now ſhe was become rhe laſt of them. Or, this Title, being put un the laſt place, may belong to all the reſt of the Women abovementioned, Ly a Figure called Zeugma, to diſtinguiſh them from his Concubines, 2 Sam: 5: 13- 1 whron; 3: 9.
6 © Andit came to pals while there was war between che houſe of Saul, and the houſe of David, that Abner made himſelf ſtr:-ng for the houſe of Saul e.
e He uſed all his endeavours to ſupport Saul's Houſe. Which is mentioned, to ſhew the reaſon ofthis deep Reſentment of the follow- ing Aſperſion. Or, He ftrenzthned himſelf in the Houſe of Saul ; i. e. he ſo managed all Afffairs, as to get all the Riches and Power into his own hands ; which made 1ſb4oſberh ſuſpe& that he aimed at rhe Kingdom, and ſought to Marry the King's Concubine in order to it, as the manner was. See 2 Sam; 123 8:and 16 21:and I Kings »: 17.
7 And Saul had a concubine whoſe name as * Riz- pah the daughter of Aiah : and Iſhbeſheth ſaid to Abner, Wherefore haſt chou gone in unco my fathers concubine f.
f Either, Firſt, To ſatisfie thy own Luſt. Or rather, Secondly, By that pretence to take away my Crown firſt: For this was that which ſtirred up his Jcalouſie and Rage, and cauſed him to ſpeak that to 4bner which oth-rwiſe he neither would nor durſt. But whether Abner were guilty or no, it is notevident from the follow- ing words ; for if it were true, great Men cannot endure to be told of their Faulrs, though they be true and great.
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Iſhboſheth, and ſaid, Am I a dogs head g, which againſt h Judah do ſhew kindneſs this day unto the houſe of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David s, that thou chargeſt me to day with a fault concerning this woman &.
g i.e. A vileand contemptible Creature, as a Dog was. See Deut: 23: 18: 1 Sam; 24; 14% 2 Sam: 9:8: and 16: 9: Job: 30: 1: Eccleſ: 9:4: And a Dogs head is put for a Dog by a Synecdoche, utuil both in the Hebrew and in other Languages, as the Head 1s ofr put for the whole Mr in the Latin Tongue. + So the Particle Lamed is well rendred, as el which among the Hebrews is contetſed!ly of the ſame nature and uſe, is ufe4 Eccl ſs 9: 14: Jer: 34:7: Exzk: 13: 9, 205 Amos 7: 15 . + Which | couldotr and eally have done. & Either that thou accuſeſt me falſly concerning this matter : or, that thou canſt not wink ar ſo ſmall a Fault ( for fo he eltcecmed it) as Cons verſation with this Woman, who, whatſoever ſhe formerly was, 1s now ſo impotent and inconſtderable,thar the can do thee ao ſervices as I have done-
9 * So do God to Abner, and morealſo, except as the LORD hath ſworn to David 1, even foldo to him :
{ Whence it appears that this wicked Wretch did all this while fight againſt his own Knowledge and Conlcience, and againſt God himfelt.
10 To tranſlate the kingdom from the houſe of Saul, andto ſer up the throne of David over Iſrael, and over Judah, from Dan even to Beerſheba.
11 Ard hecould not anſwer Abner a word again wm, becauſe he feared him s.
m Becauſe he durſt not provoke Abner further, leſt he ſhould really execute what he ſuppoſed as yer he only threatned. » As having a greater Interelt in, and power with both the Army and the reſt of the People, than himtelt had. :
12 Y And Abner ſent meſteugers to David on his behalf o, ſaying, Whole is the land p? ſaying aljo, Make thy league with me 4,and behoid my hand ſha# be with thee, to bring abour ail Iirael unto chee. ©