marriage into which he now entered" (Edersheirn). In addition to his three wivco, Michal, Ahinoom (mother of Amnon), and Abigail (mother of Chileab, who appearn tc, Jmve died earl1,), he had ",Moocoh the,daughter of 'falmai king of Geshur" (mother r,f Absalom nnd fnmor), Haggith (mother of Adonijah), Abital, and Eglah; and he after- wards still further enlarged the royal household (eh. iv. 13-16). "None of his sons here mentioned were eminent for virtue, and some of them were notorious for their sins." Polygamy was tolerated by the Law of Moses (1 Sam. i. 2), although the king wns forbidden (Deut. xvi i. 17) to "multiply wives to himself; " and it was practise, t by David in conformity with ancient and prevalent custom, from political considera- tions and natural inclinations, without reproof (eh. xii. 8); but (as his subseqncnt history shows) it fostered in him a sensual tendency, undermined his moral strength, and produced innumerable enmities and other evils in his family. "One deadly clement of future woe mingled itself with the establishment of the kingdom of David- he brought into his family the curse of the harem. An utter lack of discipline was one of its first fruits; ond it brought yet deeper ill even than that; for it poisoned all the springs of family life, and tainted it with ever-recurring impurity; working in him and all around him Ha universal fruits of impurity, jealousy, hatred, incest, and blood" (' Heroes of Heb. Hist.'). "It was the immemorial custom in all those countries for the magnificence and power of a ruler to display itself in the multiplication of his establish- ment, that is, of his wives; for every wife involved a separate establishment. It shows the utmost depravity when Christians seek to shelter their own unjust and shameless lives under an appeal to that of David, and that, too, although none of their other proceedings show the smallest trace of David's noble spirit, and although they are by no means ren.dy to bear as David did the consequences of their shame" (Ewald). "If we want exemplifications of all the miseries and curses which spring from the mixture of families and the degradation of woman in the court and country where polygamy exists, David's history supplies them. No maxims of morality can be half so effectual as a faithful record of terrible effects like these" (Maurice). In view of these effects we learn that no strength or pros~ty can be lasting where "the friendship of the world" is cherished, and "the lusts or the flesh" are suffered to prevail; and that victory over some opponents may be followed by defeat by other more subtle and dangerous foes.-D. •
Ver. 6.-(MAHANAIM.) The character of .Abner. Abner, son of N er, was first cousin of Saul, probably about the same age, commander-in-chief of his army (1 Sam. xiv. 50), and contributed greatly to his early successes. He introduced David to the king :i.fter bis victory over Goliath, sat at the royal table (1 Sam. xx. 25), was well acquainted with their relations to each other, took part in the persecution (1 Sam. xxvi. 14), and, after the battle of Gilboa, became the main support of the house of Saul (eh. ii. 8). "' Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul,' but God strengthened David, whom Abner knew to have been designed for the kingdom by God" (Wordsworth). Notice: I. Elis eminent abilities-military skill, prudence, energy, courage, and perseverance; as shown by the honourable position he so long held in the service of Saul, and his successful efforts after his death (eh. ii. 8-12). "Abner's act was not an ordinary act of rebellion against the person of David and his rightful claim to the throne; because Jehovah had not yet caused David to be set before the nation as its king by Samuel or any other prophet, and David had not yet asserted the right to reign over all Israel, which had been secured to him by the Lord, and guaranteed by his anointing as one whom the nation was bound to recognize" (Keil). Nor was he destitute of generous sentiments. If he could not be called a good man, he was "a prince and a great man " (ver. 38). 2. His worldly ambition and carnal selfishness. This was probably the main, if not the only, motive of his opposition to the Divine purpose; and to it Ishbosheth evidently attributed the conduct with which he charged him, regarding his act as an assertion of royal rights (ver. 7). His pride and self-esteem are also apparent in his haughty answer (ver. 8).
"Ambition's like a circlo on the water, Which never ceoses to enlnrge itself, Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought." 'l'RE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [UH, II[, 1-3!),