The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 84

The incidence of guilt. When a great crime ha.s been committed, the first question in the pnblic mind is-Who is guilty? In national affairs, where personal actions are supposed to ~ connected with public interests, it is not always clear at first whether one or another party is to be charged with blame for what ha.s been done. It was impossible, even judged by the low standard that too often governed the conduct and opinions of Ea.stem people, but that the death of Abner would be regarded with con- sternation, and men would be swift in their judgment. It was, therefore, only natural that Da,id should take steps to let it be known that, although Joab was a public servant, the guilt in this case must rest on the individual himself, and not in any sense on the government under which he served. , l. IN EVERY CA.SE, AS TO TBE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF GUILT, THERE IS NO UNOER• TAD."'TY IN TBE MTh""DS OF THE PARTIES CONCERNED. To men of low moral type in Judah, who may have suspected Abner's zeal and who were disposed to judge of David as they would of themselves, it might be an open question as to whether he did not really connive at the treachery of Joa.b. To men in Israel, who were mindful of Abner's former antagonism to David and who were themselves of implacable temper, it might be conceivable that David was an inactive partner in the crime. In the absence of any superior court of inquiry, or of any statement from David, disquieting rumours may have gained temporary currency. Meanwhile the real fact would stand clear before the conscience of both Joa.band the king. Popular discussion never avails to alter the facts of conscience. Joab knew himself to be solely guilty, with consent of his brother (ver. 30); David knew himself to be entirely innocent. Each carried within himself the judgment of God. It is here that we see the dividing line between the opinions and discussions of the world and the invisible moral sphere, where actual facts a.re registered in clear and ineffaceable lines so as to admit of no shadow of doubt. What though outsiders cannot ascertain reality, it is there, and it is only a question of time as to its being seen by others besides those now familiar with it. The secrecy of the guilty is only a play with an advantage for a short time. Men charged with public crimes, and men who live in sin against God, know that there is no mistake in the incidence of guilt. They possess exclusive knowledge, perhaps, but there is no con- solation in that. Likewise those wrongly charged with complicity in evil are possessors of a secret knowledge which enables them to see that the permanent moral order is on their side, and that it is only a question of time, more or less, when their "righteousness shall be brought forth as the light," and their "judgment as the noonday." Il. A SACRED CAUSE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOB THE DEEDS OF ITS PROFESSED BUP- POBTEBS. A hasty judgment would conclude that, as Joab w08 a prominent supporter of the Davidic cause, it must bear the shame and guilt <,fhis murderous deed; but the only warrant for that being a true view of the case would be that the general spirit of David's administration favoured treachery, and that the master and servant were in secret collusion,-neither of which suppositions can be for a moment entertained. Kings and their officers, masters and their servants, are to be held jointly responsible only when the service generates the wrong. A6 a fact, governments and employers do suffer temporary.,loss of prestige when those in positions of trust act out t.heir own individual wickedness ; but in due course men will distinguish the manifestation of the individual baseness from the public interests with which it was associated. The separation of these is important in many relationships of life. The divinely appointed kingdom and just rnle of David must not be confounded with Joab's malice. The goverpment of a country should not bear the guilt of men whose position enables them to violnt.e CH, Ill, 1-39.] 'rHE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 83