The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 145

1tncl hie nnointing WAA n, solemn consecration tho mi<let of his public dutic~, was not for- to n, religious offioe. '.fo have burned incenae gi:tful of the nearer claims of hia own family. or offered ee.criflco would hnve been to Doubtless there also a joyful feast would bo invnde the priestly office, an office pe.rallel prepared, and all be gathered together to to" tho ndminhtration of the Word and the praise God andrejoicewith oneconsent. Who eacramente," ,lenied, in the Thirtv-Beventh uncovered himself , .. a, one of the vain Article of the Ohuroh ofEI)gland, to princes. fellows shameleaely uncovereth himself! To wear the garb of 0, servitor was to do David's offence in the eyee of Micha.I was, honour both to Jehov0,h and to his priests. not his dancing, but his divestin" himself of Ver. 16.-Miohal Saul's daughter. Poe- his royal robes, and appearin"~before his eihly theso words are merely to ide11tify subjects cla.d in the dress of° an inferior Michal, but they suggest the thought that, class. The Levites were to occupy a humble as a king's daughter, she valued her royal social position (see Deut. xiv. 2!.l; xxvi. 12), di"nitv. The procession evidently passed and Miehe.I's words are a proof that such nc~r David's palace, e.nd his wives and was in David's time the case. The lan~aae children wou Id be eager s pectato1·e. of Michal is that of a woman vexed a;;'d Ver. 17.-In the midst of the tabernacle irritated. After reminding David of his (i.e. tent). This tent woul<l be arranged as high office as "King of Israel," she re- nearly as possible like that erected by Moses proaches him for appearing on a grand in the wilderness. The ark would be placed public occasion without the upper and be- in the holy of holies, a shrine probably of coming robe in which au Oriental enwraps cedar-wood, and the burnt offerings and himself. And this he had done before the peace offerings would then be offered; e.nd female slaves of his own servants, with no would consecrate the whole. When it is more self-respect than that shown by the snid that David offered them, it means that " vain fellows." " Vain" is the " re.ea " of the sacrifices were at his cost and by his Matt. v. 22, and means "empty," void of eommand. virtue, void of reputation, and void of worldly Ver. 18.-David . .. blessed.the people in means. The Hebrews, when expressing the the name of Jehovah of hosts. Blessing greatest possible contempt for a man, called the people was an important priestly func- him an" empty," and no word could be founcl tion, for which a special formula was p1·0- better conveying the meaning of thorough vided (Numb. vi. 22-26). But this did worthlessness. not deprive the king, who was Jehova.h's Ver. 21.-It was before the Lord. The anointed representative, of the right of Hebrew is mnch more forcible than the also blessing them, and Solomon, •at the confused rendering of our version. " Before consecration of the temple, followed his Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, father's example in a very solemn manner and above all his house, to appoint me (2 Chron. vi. 3). • prince over Jehon,h's people, O'l'er Israel, Ver. 19.-A cake of bread, and a good yea., before J ehovnh I have rejoiced" (Autho- piece . . . and a flagon. Of the :first of rized Version, "played;" but see notes on the three gifts there is no doubt. It was the ver. 5). The preference of David over Saul round dough cake baked for sacrificial meals was proof that that king's affectation of (Lev. viii. 26). So, too, there is no doubt of royal state, and his self-importance, were the third; it mee,ns ."e. cake of raisins ::,. not pleasing in God's eyes, (see Ce.nt. ii. 5; Hos. iii. I, in which le.tttff' Ver. 22.-And of the maidservants wbioh place raisins, or dried grapes, are expressly thou hast spoken of, of them sha.11 I be had mentioned, boldly rendered in the Authorized in honour. These words have been variouslv Version " wine "). The Revised Version has interpreted, but their simplest meaniD.g is given the correct rendering of the passage. also the best; that even the most uneducated The second word occurs only here, but the women, thongh surprised at first at David's rendering of the Authorized Version is that want of stateliness, would, on rAflection, be of the J ewe; and as it is some common • led to a right understanding of the greatness domestic term not likely to be fonnd in of God ; and would then feel that even literature, but well known in every kitchen, a king was right in owning himself to be they al'e most probably right, On the so.me nothing in God's presence. sort of local authority Jerome renders it in Ver.23.-There!ore Michal. The Hebrew is, thtl Vulgo.te "a piece of beef for roasting." and Michal had no child. Miehe.I's barren- As it is coupled with the bread and the ness was long antecedent to this outburst of ro.isin-cake, we may feel sure that it was pride, and was not II punishment for it. It a' portion of the flesh of the animals whioh is noticed as a proof that the blessing of God had been killed in sncrifioe, and whioh the did not rest upon her; and as such it was people were now permitted to take to their regarded by the people, and doubtless it homes. lessened David's affection for her. We must Ver, 20.-To bloss hie household. Davicl, in not, however, suppose thElt he imposed upon us THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [oR. VI, 1-28,