The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 66

CHAPTER m a.re due both the crimes which stained his character and the distress of the last twenty Ver. 1.-There was long wa.r. As Ish- years of his life. (For Amllon, his first-born, bosheth reigned only two years, and as see oh. xiii.) " the house of Saul " is the phrnse used., V ers. 3-5.~ee.b. The Midrash ex- it BeeillS probable that after Ishbosheth's plains Chileab as meaning " Quite like the murder, during the five years before David's father." He is called Daniel in the parallel election to the throne of all Israel, the house genealogy in l Chron. iii. l, and this wa.s of Saul had some puppet representative at probably his real name, and Chilee.b a name Mahanaim, and some commander in Abner's of o.trection. He must have died young, for place. But after the death of this able man Adonije.h appears as David's eldest BOil matters would go from bad to worse, and, a.ft.er the death of Amnon and Abse.lom ; thongh David probably remained on the and it is thus natural that he should still defensive, yet the oontre.st between the be known by the llBme he bore e.s a child. pea.c,e and good govemment of Judsh and Geshnr. The word signifies "Bridgeland," the misery i.n Israel me.de all the tribes wish and is the name of two districts, one of to put an end to a he.re.ssing civil war. It which formed the northern part of the tribe is plain, too, thst the Philistines, repelled of Me.ne.sseh, e.nd extended on both sides of at first by Abner's skill, had again gained the Jordan, from the little Hermon to the the ascendant, and regarded themselves so see. of Gennese.reth (Dent. iii. 14; Josh. xii. completely e.s the rulers of the country, that 5; xiii. 13). The other was in Syria (eh. they resented immediately with summery xv. 8), and probably we.s situated upon violence the bold a.et of the northem tribes 110me river, tliongh its exact position is not in choosing David to be their common yet known. Te.Imai, its king, now gave his king. daughter to be one of David's wives, and Ver. 2.-Umo David were aona born. though he was probably only a petty prince, This i.ncresse of bis wives is mentioned as still it is e. proof of David's growing power a proof of David's prosperity. For though thst a potentate living e.t BO great a distance contrary to the Law (Dent. :z:vii. 17), it was we.s willing to make e.n alliance with him. yet looked upon as part of the state of a Of the other wives and their sons nothing king, and e.s such had been practised by is known except of Adonijah, who inherited, Gideon (Jndg. viii 30), who approached on the death of Absalom, the dangerous more nearly to the royal dignity than any position of firstbom; and who, after trying to other of the judges. But it is the rule of make his rights good, was put to death by the Books of Samuel that they generally Solomon (1 Kings ii. 25). As Eglah is abstain alike from prail!e e.ud blame, and eapecie.lly called David's wife, the Jewish allow facts to speak for themselves. But interpreters hold that she w11,s the highest never did a history more clearly de11erve in rauk in hi11 household, and therefore the title of• A Vindication of the Justice of identical with Michal, who was restored to God.' Alike in Eli, i.n Se.nl, aud in David, David while at Hebron. But she wa11 child- their sufferings were the result of their sins, less; and more probably the words are to be i.ud t,o the FOlyge.i:oy &nd lu,t <>f tbe la.et taken as &imfly cloeing the ~a.native, a11d err. m. 1-39,] 'l'HI~ SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 1;5