The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 68

A nrl fnr this real!On Da,·id sent liis mes- not t'Ommitted this wrong, Da\"hl miid1L ~en~c1-. dil'\.>0tly tn lehbosbeth, because the nc,·er have sought RII evil solace in multi- i11,port,mco of Michal's SUITender to him plying to himself othor wives. Ja_.- iu it,; being e. public acl. of the state. Vor. 17,-And Abner had communioation I•'or ftlicl,al, in eh. xxi. S, we ought to read with the elders of Israel, Most probably }llcral, (sec note there). this had 1,0,ken place before Abner escorted Yc•r. 14.-A hundred foreskins. This Miehe.I tn Hebron, and that ho paid David wne 1,he number which Saul had requirC'd but one ,·isit-the.t recorded in ver. 20. Ho (l Sam. x,·iii. 25), and David acted rightly would probably not take so deoided a stop in not boasting that he had really given as the surrender of Michal without sound- twi<'e as me.ny (I Se.m. xviii. :!7). As be ing the elders, that is, the lace.I sheikhs, nnd had paid her father the stipulated price, finding out how fe.r thef were inclined to lllicLal, by Oriental le.w, was David's pro- support David e.s king o e.11 Ismel. When perty. everything was ro11.dy he would te.ko Michal Yer. 15.-Phe.ltiel the aon of Le.ish. Iu to Hebron, e.nd so he.ve the opportunity of 1 Se.m. uv. H he ie ea.lied Phe.lti. This e.rre.nging with David for future action; "·ord, in Hebrew lexicons, is usually regarded e.nd though lshbosheth would dislike the as a contraction for Phe.ltiye.h, "Jehovah matter and suspoot Abner of ulterior pur- is deliverance," while Phe.ltiel means "El poses, yet he could not refuse so specious is deliverance." The substitution of El for a plea. e.s the escorting of his sister. His YaJ, is one of those changes which a.rose previous fo.il ure, too, had taught him the.t out of the superstitious reverence for the Abner was master. We may further be sacred name which to this de.v ea.uses the sure that David he.d everywhere many. word LoRD to be ree.d in our Bibles where adherents. All Israel knew the.t he we.s in the Hebrew e.re the four consonant~ me.rked out by prophecy to: be their king,. Y, B, ,, H, which, by e.tw:hing to them a.nd, moreover, "all Israel e.nd Judah loved the vowels belonging to the Hebrew word him." (1 Se.m. xviii. 16). But ~hQn Aimer edot,fl!/ (or, ad,may, lord) we make into says, Ye sought for David _in times past to "Jehovah" ( Yelwooh). be king over you, he me.k~s .it probable Ver. lti.-Rer hneband went with her that, e.t some time after the defeat e.t Gil boa, alOJlg weeping behind her. " Along weep- the attempt he.d even been we.de to elect ing" is e. -.ery awkward rendering of the David king. But Abner he.d then opposed, Hebrew phrase, "going e.nd weeping." The it, e.nd his success in resisting the. Philis- Revised ,· ersion is far better, " weeping e.s tines, 8Jld David's unfortune.te entangle-. he went 8Jld followed her." Phe.ltiel he.d ment with those inveterate enemies of been Miehe.I's husband for eight or nine Isre.el, he.d me.de the attempt fe.il. And years, and his sorrow e.t losing her excites now Abner's attempt was to ·be equally sywpathy for tLem both. They he.d evidently unsuccessfnl. loved one another, e.ud she was now going Ver. 18.-The Lord he.th spoken. Here to be but oue of me.ny wives; e.nd though egain Abner's statements go fe.r beyond the Da"id may he.ve desired her restoration text of anything recorded in Holy Scripture,: boo,mse he valued her e.nd cherishP-d the but probably they give the popular inter- remtmbrance of their youthful affection, pretation of the prophecies respecting David. yet there was e. large admixture of political It will be noticed also tbe.t Abner endeavours motive iu .his conduct. At Gallim she he.d to meet the gener11.l prejudice age.inst David !)een Phaltiel's one jewel, and he.d been by asserting that he we.s Israel's destined loved for her own se.ke ; e.t Hebron she deliverer from Philistine oppression. As would have me.ny rivals. But women of Abner's speech is virtually e.n e.cknowleclg- royal rank have often to pay the price of ment of failure, we me.y also be sure that sacrificed e.tlections for the ends of state- he had found himself uue.ble e.ny longer to craft. Near :Bahnrim, on the roe.d from make hee.d againHt the Philistines on the J erusalcw to Gilge.l, in the valley of the western side of the Jordan, and that Judah Jordan, the convoy a.pproe.chcd the borders we.s the only tribe there the.t enjoyed tran-, of Judah, and A hnc:r will not allow the quillity. Everywhere else they had once weepiug husband to enter David's dominions. ago.in este.bli.oLE>d their supreme.cy, Thout:?b Painful e.s was his fate, he had himself done e. brave soldier, Abner wa8 inferior, not only wroug in marrying anotLer man's wife; e.nd to De.Yid, but e.lso to Joab, both e.s states- if Le ,rns weepiJ1g now, we may well believe man and general; and tile weak Ishbosheth that David Lad felt eque.l anguish when was no help to Lim, but the contrary. Michal WW! toru from hiru e.u<l sold to Ver. 19.-In the ears of Benjamin. Thia ,mo1her,-for fatLer~ in those days received tribe alone, probably, we.s really loyal t,, i118k:&.d of giving a dowry upon the me.r- the house of Saul, their kinsman. But ria/!'e of their daughters. Saul in this since the withdrawal of the court to M~ 1,.attcr ww; most to blamt, aDd if he had hanaim, they got hut little good from ir. on, m. 1-30.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUIU,. fi7