The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 90

3. Hu passionate resent=t, which, as is commonly the case, was an indication of the truth of the che.rge brought age.inst him; nor did be deny it, but contemptuously declared the.t be we.s too gree.t a man and bad rendered too many services to be accused of such e. "fe.ult;" 11.Ild then took e.n oe.th to avenge the insult by translating the kingdom to David, " as the Lord bad swom" to him (vers, 9, 10). "'fhis was Abner's e.rroge.ncy to boMt such great things of himself, as if he be.d carried e. king in bis pocket, e.s the.t great Earl of Warwick in Edwe.rd IV.'s time, is said to have done" (Trapp). " No man ever beard Abner godly till now; neither bad be been so at this time if he he.d not intended a revengeful departure from lshbosheth. Nothing is more odious than to make religion a stalking-horse to policy" (Hall). 4. His altered pur- pose.~. The change, although right and good in itself, was due to a passionate impulse and probably the desire of personal advantage; and, in its announcement, Abner betrayed bis previous ungodliness 11nd present hypocrisy. "Alas I how eloquently can hypocrites employ the Ne.me of God, and take the sanction of religion, when by such means they think to advll.Iloe their present interests!" (Lindsay). But, on the other hand, it may be said that his sudden wrath was only the occasion of his open avowal of an irrepressible and growing conviction of duty, and of bis taking the decisive step which be had been long contemplating; and that be henceforth faithfully endeavoured to make amends for his former errors and sincerely sought the welfare of the nation. "When an opposer of God's Word honestly turns, we should, without reluctande, give him the hand, without undertaking to pass judgment on the motives that are bidden in his heart" (Erdmann). David, unlike Joab (ver. 26), put the best construction on Abner's conduct. 5. Hui energetic action and extensive influence. He ~ent messengers "immediately" (LX.X.) to David, recognizing his authority, etc. (ver. 12); had communication with the elders of Israel (ver. 18); spake in the ears of llenjamin (ver. 19), who might be jealous of the transfer of sovereignty to Judah; and, having obtained their consent, came himself to Hebron with twenty men, "representa- tives of Israel, to confirm his overtures by their presence," partook of an entertainment "of the nature of a lea.,uue," and went away in peace. "David believed that in this offer of Abner a Divine providence was to be observed which would make, as he hoped, a full end to the unhappy civil war" (Krummacher). 6. His cruel/ate. "Now is Ishbosheth's wrong avenged by an enemy" (Hall). Even though bis present course was in fulfilment of the Divine purpose, it averted not the consequences of his former conduct; and retribution came upon him suddenly, unexpectedly, and by a wicked hand. "One wicked man is made to be another's scourge." "Human sin must serve the purp:>ses of God's kingdom" (Ps. lxxvi. 10). "David's kingdom is not promoted by Abncr's treason, as David so expected, but rather by the taking away of Abner; thus the Lord, in the promotion of his kingdom, chooseth not the instruments nor alloweth even the means which appear good to men; but, by the contrary, he taketh away the same instruments and means in which men have most confidence, and by others more unlikely. and without men's expectation, he advanceth the cause of the Church and worketh great things" (Guild).-D. Vers. 7-11.-{MAllANAilL) The dissensions of the wicked. 1. The 'Union of wicked men rests only upon regard for their own interests. It is not founded on mutual esteem, and does not constitute true friendship (1 Sam. xviii. 1-4). " The friendships of the world are oft Confederacies in vice, or leagues in pleasure." (Addison.) 2. When their interests come into collision, their dissensions begin. And occasions of such collision are sure to arise. " Let us mark the inherent weakness of a bad cause. Godless men banded together for selfish ends have no firm bond of union. The very pa.,;.sions which they are united to gratify may begin to rage against one another. They fall into the pit which they have dug for others" (Blaikie). 3. Wicked men, engaged in a common enterprise against God, are not indifferent to their reputation in the sight of one another. "Am I a dog's head," etc. (ver. 8)? Their conscience, though per- verwl, is not dead; their self-esteem and love of approbation are fully alive; and they estirw,te VJ the full their claims upon the gratitude of others. They would even have OH, Ilr, 1-30.) 'fHE SECOND IlOOK OF SAMUEL, RO