The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 141

the temple services more than their worldly but with no grea.t loss; and so with unbroken prosperity. Even Saul he.d valued the strength they again invade the country, and national religion, e.nd had established its march up once more to Jerusalem, prepared head-que.rters at Nob; but, giving way to to fight a pitched battle, and seize that the ungoverned anger of a despot, he he.d fortress ns the prize of victory. Again, destroyed his own work. It we.a left to one Do.vid, with fu.r lu.rger forces, surprises them, who to the bmvery of e. soldier e.dded the and, driving them from ridge to ridge, so discernment of a statesme.n to oonsolid,.te utterly vanquishes them that the power of the tribes into e. ne.tion by establishing their Philistia was destroyed for ever. It was religion upon e. sure e.ncl. influential basis. after this double victory that Hiram, King For this reo.son e.lso he me.de their services of Tyre, whose dominions bordered upon full of delight e.nd enjoyment by the in ■ti­ the Philistines', and who had found them tution of chore.I che.nts e.nd the use of instru- disagreeable neighbours, made a close alli- ments of music; while the pse.lms which his ance with Da.vid; and so at length, free siD.gers recited were so spiritue.l e.nd enno- from all fear at home, and honoured abroad, bling the.t we to this do.y use them in our he WRB able to turn his thoughts to the solemn worship. Gre.nting the.t there are consolidation of his kingdom and the estab- expressious in them he.rsher e.ud more in- lishment of Jehov8h's worship. And in tolere.nt tho.n e. disciple of the loving Jesus the Book of Chronicles we ha.ve the details would now e.pply to e.uy earthly enemy, yet, of tha.t spiritual service of psalmody which as e. whole, the Psu.lms, written .in these David e.dded to the Levitical routine of 10ugh far-off times, still form our best hook so.orifice, and which bears the significant of devotion! In the parallel ple.oe in the no.me of "prophecy," as being the expression First Book of Chronicles we be.ve the narra- of the moral a.nd spiritual side of the tive of this re-establishment of the Mosaic Mosaic Law (1 Chron. xxv. 1). Instead of Law given as looked at on the Levitical side, "A.gain Da.vid gathered," the words of the and with me.ny interesting additions. Here Hebrew are "A.nd David gathered together the narrator looks at it with the eye of all the chosen men of Israel." The first a statesman. We must not, however, sup- gathering was at Hebron (eh. v. 1), and pose that the history there given is arranged before they came David must have given in chronological order, as, if so, the two hie consent to their wishes, and invited victories in the Valley of Rephaim would their presence at his e.nointing. They have both taken place in the three months soon gather together a second time to during which the ark was resting in the endow their new kingdom with the safe- house of Obed-Edom, If this were HO, then guards necessary for their spiritual welfare, David would first have he.d more than three and the maintenance among them of morality hundred aud forty thousu.nd warriors with and virtue and the fear of God. Chosen him at Hebron to anoint him, and with men. This usually means picked men fit their aid would have captured Jerusalem. for war. But doubtless on this occasion the He would next have assembled thirty thou- elders and all good men possessed of power sand picked men to bring the ark np to and influence wonld be present to strengthen Zion; and yet would have had only hie the king's hand. Thirty tholll!and. A large body-guo.rd of" mighty men" wherewith to number, but not too large. David probably fight Isro.el's battles and win its indepen- chose one of the great feasts for the dence. Most probably the order, both here occasion, and by the presence of a large and in Chronicles, is not chronological, and number of warriors, e.nd the display of the course of events was as follows. With much militRry pomp, he would impress upon the help of the men gathered at Hebron the minds of the people the value of re- David captures JerusRlem. A.s soon as it is ligion. They would thus learn also to made sale they withdraw, and leave him respect their new ea.pita.I as being the place occupied with plonning out and building where was the presonce of their Deity, and his city. Alarmed at the vast concourse at where they were to come to worship him. Hebron, and me.de angry by David's seizure Ver. 2.-From :Baale of Judah. We learn of a strong fortress, the Philistines hu.stily from Josh. xv. 9, 60 that Baolah, or Ki.rjath- .pounce upon him in numbers too vast for Bae.l, "the city of Baal," was the old him to resist. He escapes, leo.ving but a Canaanite name of Kirjath-jearim, the '' city fow men to defend Jerusalem, and hides in of woods." It lay about eiglit miles .west- his old fo.stness. Encouraged there by find- ward from Jerusalem (see l Sam. v1. 21; ing three of his mighties more than a. ma.toh vii. I, 2). The preposition "from" is very for the ga.rrison at Bethlehem, he go.there start.ling, as realiy David weut to Be.ale. the mciro valiant spirits, aud makes a sudden Yet all the versions have it, but they put attack upon the Philistiues, who were en- on Baale an incorrect mca.uing. Baal ga.geu in mvaging tho country o.■ 11 punish- meuns "lord," "mastt>r," and they render, ment for its rebellion. They a.re defeated, "D!l.l'id went with all the people that were 144- THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en, vr. 1-23,