The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 60

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 are comumed. The immediate and avowed object of war is the destruct.ion of men's lives; and its most effective instruments (to the construction of which the utmost ingenuity is devot,ed) are those that destroy the greatest number in the shortest poS!!ible time. "War is the work, the element, or rather the sport and triumph, of death, who glories not only in the extent of his conquest, but In the richness of bis spoil" (R. Hall, • Reflections on War'). Since its ravages began many times more than the whole number of tbe present popnlation of the globe have probably been its vict-ima. 2. Incalcm<ible s,,jferings are i,,fticted; on those who are left to die on the field, or are borne to hospitals and linger out a miserable existence; on the non-com- batant population among whom the devourer pursues his way; on whole nations. and multitudes of desolate and sorrowing homes far distant from the scene of strife. 3, Enormous cost is incurred; in the maintenance of armies and the provision of materiel; besides the withdrawal of great numbers from the operations of productive industry and serious interference with commerce; immense national debts are accumulated and burdensome taxes imposed on present and succeeding generations. There are nearly thirteen millions of men in Europe who have been trained for arms, and between four and five millions actually under arms, costing in all ways about five hundred millions sterling a year. The sum total of the national debts of the European nations amounts to nearly five thousand millions of pounds(' Statesman's Year-Book'). 4. A perniciO'll,/l influence is e:re-rted, wi,th respect to morality and religion. "War does more harm to the n morals of men than even their property acd their persons (Erasmus). It has its origin in unregulated desire (Jas. iv. I; I John ii.16), which it excites, manifests, and intensifies. "The causes of all wars may be reduced to five heads: ambition, avarice, revenge, pro- vidence (precaution), and defence" (Owen Feltham, 'Resolves'). "If the existence of war always implieJ; injustice in one at least of the parties concerned, it is also the fruitful parent of crimes. It reverses, with respect to its objects, all the rules of morality, It is nothing less than a temporary repeal of the principles of virtue. It is a system out of which almost all the virtues are excluded and on which nearly all the vices are incorpo- rated" (R Hall). What angry feelings does it stir up between nations whom "God haLh made of one blood" I What infuriated passions does it arouse in contending armies I What cruel deeds does it commend I What iniquitous courses of conduct does it indnce ! What false views of glory does it inculcate I What bitter and lasting enmities does it leave behind! • • '. " One murder makes a villain, Millions a hero! Princes were privileged to kill, And numbers ee.nctified the crime I .Ah! why will kings forget that they are men, And men that they are brethren? Why delight In human lill.Cri:fice? Why burst the ties Of natnre, that should knit their souls together In one eoft bond of e.mity and love?" (Bishop Porteus.) Is wM, then, unuler all circwmstances, inexpedient and wrong 1 It 1B maintained that: (1) The state, like the individual, ha..e a natural right of self-defence, and is bound (in fulfilment of the purpose for which it exists) to protect its citizens by repelling external invasion as well as repressing internal violence (Whewell, 'Elements of Morality·,• Paley; Gisbome; Mozley,• University Sermons'), (2) By means. of war national sub• jection is sometimes prevented, national grievances are redressed, national honour is upheld, aggression checked, pride abased, lib_erty! peace, and prospirity secured, patriotism kindled, powerful energies and heroic virtues developed. (3) It has often received the Divine sanction (Exod. xvii. 14; Josh. viii. 1; 1 Sam. xi. 6). "Perpetual peace is a dream, and it is not even a beautiful dream. War is an eleme,nt in the order of the world ordained by God. In it the noblest virtues of mankind are developed- courage and the abnegation of self, faithfulness to duty, and the spirit of sacrifice; the 11oldier gives his life. Without war the world would stagnate and lose itself Jn on. 11. 1-32.] 'fHE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 59