The 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 news would reach him every day respecting warriors were married, e.nd thus 'they 9.nd the movements of the Philistines, who, after their households formed a. numerous body so decisive e. victory, would quickly overrun of people, for whom Hebron could scarcely a.II the centre.I districts of Palestine, where finu accommodation. Moreover they ha.,! the b11ltle had been fought. And very flocks e.nd herds captured from the Amale- bitter must David's feelings have been. kitee, for which they needed pasturage. Had he coutinued in Israel, he and his six And therefore David dispersed them in the hundred men would now have hastened to towns and villages of which Hebron was the rescue, and all the braver warriors of the the capital, posting them in such e. manner land would have gathered round them. As as to render it easy for him to summon it was, he was too entangled with the them together, while taking care that they Philistines, and too much distrusted by the did not injure his tribesmen, or dispossess northern tribes, to be of much use. Still, them of their lauds. We may feel sure we learn from 1 Chron. xii., that brave men that he consulted the chief men of Hebron did continually swell the number of his a.s to these arrangements, and obtained followers. Detachments of the tribeR of Gad their approve.I. e.nd Manasseh, instead of joining Saul at Gil- Ver. 4.-They anointed David. Samuel's boa, went to David as he withdrew to Ziklag. anointing (1 Sam. xvi. 13) had been private, And while he remained there a consider- and, if we may judge by the manner in able body of men from Benjamin and Judah which Eliab treated David (1 Se.m. xvii 28), ea.me to him under the command of Amasa, even his own family had not attached much David's nephew. So numerous were they importance to it. It was nevertheless the as to alarm David, who went out to meet inuication of J ehove.h's purpose, and now them, fee.ring lest they had come to betray the anointing of David by the elders of him; and glad was ha to hear their answer, Judah was the first step towo.rds its accom- "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, plishment. And this was an independent thou son of Jesse." Thus .even as it we.s, act, though the_ knowledge of Samuel's hie forces daily grew more· numerous; for anointing had prepared the way for it; and "from de.y to day there came to Do.vid to David thus acquired a legal. right lllld help him, uutil it was e. great host, like the authority by the nation's will, which Samnel host of God" (1 Chron. xii. 22). But there could not ha\'e given him. So Sanl's we.a no national acknowledgment. With anointing by Samuel, and his election to his numbers thus continually increasing, be king at Gilgal, were independent acts; David was encouraged to make some attempt and while the former ge.~e the king his for the deliverance of Israel; but his position aaoredneas, the latter conferred upon him we.a one of serious danger. Great was the jurisdiction and power. King over the tiak, but ho knew where to go for guidance, hoUBe of Judah. How came the Philistines and determines, therefore, to put the matter to allow this? When subsequently he was into God's hand. He summons Abie.thar again anointed, nnd became King of nil with the ephod, and, in the presence of his Israel, the Philistines gathered their hosts ca.ptaine, asks for permission to go up to at once; not because he captured Jerusalem, some oity of his owu tribe. The answer is which was then e. mere hill-fort belonging fuvourable, and Hebron is the oity selected. to the Jebuaites, but evidently because they It was a pie.co of ancient sa.uctity, was well thought him dangerous. But why did they situated iii the mountains of Judah for not crush him now? One reason, probably, defence, and as the Philistines h11d not yet was thnt Judcea we.a a. dillicult country for invaded that region, but probably would militn.ry operations. The tribe, too, he.u won try to ravage it, the people would bti stood aloof from Saul, and its strength waa sure to welcome the presence of one who \IUbroken. Bu$ the chief ret1eon r.pporeotlv  36 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. n. 1-32.