The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 284

lo burial; and finally like Luarna, given Btrong onl", llnd literally means "thou hnBt over to <'-Orruption. murdore,.l him," though the sword was thnt Ver. 5.---8hall aurely die. It is strange of the enemy. langunge to deole.ro that a man shall be put Ver. 10.-The ■word ■hall never depart to death and then fined four lambs. But from thine hou■e; that is, thy crime she.II not Da,·i<l says nothing of the sort, but that the be expiated by ono slaughtE"r, but by many man is "a son of dC'ath," that is, a wretch so that thv punishment shall oenAe only et who dE1serves to die. The Revised Version thine own death. This sentence wns fulfilled C'orreotly rendera, "is worthy to die." The in Amnon's murder (eh. xiii. 28), who had •~ntence actually passed, of fonrfold rostitu- been encouraged in his crime by his fllther's tion, is exe.ctlv in e.l'oordanoe with the example. Upon this followed Absalom's llfos11ic Le.w (Exod. xxii. I). but the moral rebellion and death (eh. xviii. 14); and turpitude of the offence WRS far greater than finally, when in his Inst hours Dnvid me.de rould be atoned for bv the legal pene.lty. Solomon his suooessor, he knew that ho was Rightly, therefore, David expressed his in- virtually passing sentence on Adonijnh, the dignation, and regretted that the sentence eldest of his surviving sons. But what a was BO light; but a judge must not strain fearful choice I for had he not done so, the law, which necessarily has regard ohiefl.y then Be.thsheba and her four sons would to the outward offenoe. doubtless have been slain, whereas there Ver. 7.-Thoue.rtthem.an! Abruptlye.nd was 'some hope that Solomon might spa.re with sudden vehemence comes the applica- his brother. That A.donijah was unworthy tion to David himself. So skilfully b11d the we gather from the fact that be had ceased pa.rnlile been contrived, that np to this point to be cohen, and that this office was con- David bad had no 8U8pioion that he was the ferred, after Absa.lom's rebellion, on Ira. the rich man who had e.oted so meanly by his JaiJ:ite (eh. xx. 26), Solomon being then poorer neighbour U rie.h. And now he stood too young to hold such a position. Until self-condemned. Yet even so self-love might he committed this crime, David's family have me.de hisindignation bree.k forth against had probably dwelt in concord, and it was Nathan; but probably the reproof only com- his own wickedness which broke lip their pleted a work that had long been secretly unity, and introduced among them strife, in progTeas, and brushed away the last mutual hatred, and the shedding of blood. obstacles to repentance. I e,nointed thee. Ver. 11.-He Bhall lie with thy wives. The solemn anointing made David the re- Fulfilled for political purposes by Absalom, presentative of Jehovah, and thus his sin under the advice of Bathsheba.'s grandfather was aggravated by the degradation in the (eh. xvi. 22). The punishment was thus eyes of the people, both of the kingly office complete. For the murdered Uriah there nnd e.1ao of Jehovah himself. Rank and was fourfold restitution, according to David's authority are given to men that they may own sentence. FiJ:st there was Ba.thsheba.'s lead others to do right; it is a fearful mis- child lately born, then Amnon, thirdly use of them when they give prestige to sin. A.bsalom, and lastly A.donlja.h. For the Ver. 8.-I ga.ve . . . thy master's wives adultery there was open disgrace wrought into thy bosom. These words probably mean upon bis royal dignity " before the sun," that, as the whole possessions of his prede- in open daylight. A.s he he.cl brought cessor belonged, by Oriental cnstom, to the she.me and dishonour upon the family re- next occupant of the throne, David might lations of his neighbour, so were his own have claimed the entire household and the family rights violated by his rebellious son. wives both of Saul and Ishbosheth as his And, es is often the case, the sins which own. though ·apparently he had not done followed were worse than those which pre- so. _Ai!, far as we know, Saul had but one pared the way.: Vice begins as a small wife (1 Sam. xiv. 50) and one concubine, stream trickling through the opposing dam, Rizpah (eh. iii 7). Of lshbosheth's family but it quickly breaks down all moral -re- arrangements we know little, but his harem, straints, and rUBhee along like a desLroying if he had one, would beoome the property of flood. David. But independently of this, the per- Ver. 13.-I he.ve lllllJled against J'ehova.h. mission of polygamy had me.de it possible Saul had used the same words, and had for him to take any of the daughters of meant very little by. them; nor had he Israel and Judah to wife, and he had freely added ''against Jehovah," hope.nee his pur- availed hi.ml!elf of this licence. Yet, not pose we.a to appease Samuel, and prevail upon content, he had lusted after a married him not to disgrace him before the people. wmnan, and had got rid of her husband by David's confession came from the heart. murder, meanly wri.ng the sword of the There is no exc\lee-me.king, no attempt at Ammonites to acoompli.sh his own criminal lessening hie fault, no desi,e to eve.de purpose. The word used in this clause, and punishment. Pe. lL is the le.sting testimony, rendered "thou b.lM!t elain him," ii a very not only to the reality, but to the tenderne11 OIi, XII. 1-31,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 289