But he only comes to the altar because he is driven to it; because he can do nothing else. Yes, "it is too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice." Those who put off repentance till they can sin no longer find that such feigned repentance profits them nothing. There is a time when "the door is shut." 2. Because'' he shall h1111Je judgment without mercy that showed no mercy." Joa.b's murders could not have been more treacherous, more cruel. " The blood of war in peace." "Took him aside in the gate to speak with him peaceably" (2 Sam. iii. 27, ma.rg.). "Took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him" (ib. xx. 9). There is a lex talionis which governs the dealings of God with transgressors. The cruel murderer shall be cruelly murdered. The assassin shall be executed at the altar. He that " showed no pity " shall receive none. 3. Because God pays sure, even if he pays slowly. It was thirty-four years-an entire generation-since Abner's blood first cried from the ground. Eight years had elapsed since Amasa's death. And Joab, meanwhile, had maintained his position. Still " over all the host of Israel," still second _only to the king. If ever he or others had dreamed of punishment, they must by this time have given up all fear, or all hope. David had died and Joab still lived. J oab had conspired once and yet he was spared. Is there, men would ask, a retributive Justice? is there a "God that judgeth the earth''? Yes, though Joab has" hoar.hairs," though he has all but gone down to the grave in peace, his sin has found him out. And the blood which reddens those gray hairs, the blood which crimsons the sanctuary, proves that there is a Nemesis for crime: that if Justice has a halting foot, she nevertheless overtakes the fleetest offender; that " if the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small" 4. Because " without shedding of blood there is no remission." Only the blood of J oab could expiate the bloodshed he had wrought. Nothing else could cleanse the land. For innocent blood guilty blood; this was the law. How different is the gospel The blood of Christ speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, ay, than the blood of J oab. The blood of J oab made an atonement for the land. There the guilty died because of the innocent. The blood of JESUS made an atonement for the world. Here the innocent dies because of the guilty. The blood of J oab tells of vengeance, of retribution, of death. The blood of JEsus speaks of meroy, of restitution, of life and love and peace. Yes, the death of Joab may Slll'ely speak to us, but it speaks to little purpose, unless it tells us of" the precious blood of Christ."
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER II. 36-46. we.terconrse, wtidy. The Kidron is quite THE END OF Smm:r.-This fresh intrigue dry, except during e.nd for o. short time after of Adonijlili's wams the king tho.t he must the winter re.ins] Kldron [The Kidron is mentioned specie.lly because that wns be on his gua.rd and keep a watch over sua- the direction which, it might be presumed, pected persons. Prominent among these, Shi.mei would take, his old home being from his antecedents and connexions, would e.t De.huri.m], thou shalt know for certain be Shimei. that thou shalt surely die [The Hebrew Ver. 36.-And the king sent and called is, if possible, still Diore striking o.nd em- for Shime1 [probo.bly from Bahurim. But phatic, "To know thou she.It know the.t see on ver. 8] and sa.ld unto him, Bulld to die thou she.lt die." Shimei could not thee [Not uecesso.rily as "a gua.rantee for say that he had not been plo.inly warned] : his residence there" (Wordsworth). Jew- thy blood shall be upon thine own head. ish law would make a purchase difficult. [Cf. Lev. xx. 9, and especie.lly Joshua. ii. 19; Lev. xxv. 23. Cf.1 Kings xxi. 3] an houee 1n also ver. 31 of this chapter. Jerusalem and dwell there [where he would Ver. 38.-And Sh1me1 sa.ld to the king, be under surveillance and where his sinister The saying [or thing, mo.tter, i;i,;1, like :\.oyot influence with the men of Benjamin would pijµa, in Greek (cf. Sache, in Germ., from be neutralized] and go not forth thence any sagen) mee.ns (1) word e.nd (2) deed] 111 whither [or, " hither and thither," Weder good [Shimei cannot complain of the con- dahin noch dorthin. Bahr.] dition, remembering what he had done (2 Ver. 37.-For it shall be, on the day thou Se.m. xv. 5-7) and that Solomon was not goest out and paasest over the brook [lit., bound by his father's oath (2 Se.m. xix. 23)]: 46 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ CH. II, 86-40,