The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 322

Ver. 18.-A garment of divan ooloun. "the being cut off in the eight of the people" This WIU! probably a long tunic "'ith 11leevee, (Lev. xx. 17). But how could David, who had "o woven Ill! for the colours to form pattemll himself committed crimes for whioh dcRth like tho~o of the Scottish t&rtltne (~ee on was the appointed peno.Ity, CRrry out the Gen. xxxvii. 3). The next sentence is pro- law against his fustbom for following hie ·bnbly B note, which has crept from the example? Still, he might have done more margin into the te:i.:t, &nd which literally is, th~n merely give Amnon words of reproof. "For so king's daughters, while unm1trried, Eh had done as much, ond been puniel1ed ~Yore over-mantles" (me'ils; see note on \\-ith the denth of his sons for his negleot of l Sam. ii. 19). Both the Authorized Version duty (1 Saw. ii. 34). The sin of David's and the Revised Version so render a.s if the son had been oven more heartless than coloured chetoneth and the me'il were the theirs; and could D11vid hope to escape the same; bnt the meaning of the note rather is like penalty? It would have been wise to to guard BgBinst the supposition th1tt the have given proof that hie repentance included princess, while wee.ring the close-fitting long the suppression of the orime to which his tunic with sleeves, had dispensed with the previous conduct had given encouragement. comely m&ntle. It is, indeed, possible that, But David was a man whose conduct woe while bnsy in cooking, she had la.id the me'il generally governed by his feelings. He was by, and now rushed away without it. But a creature of warm and often generous im- it wns the tunic with its bright colonrs which pulse, but his character le.eked the steadi- made both Amnon's servitor &nd also the ness of thoughtful ond consistent purpose. people aware that she was one of the king's Ver. 22.-Ab9Rlom spake , .. neither good daughters. nor bad. (On this phrase, see Gen. xxiv. 50; Ver. 19.-Tamar put ashes. There was xx:xi. 24.) Abse.lom'e outward demeanour no concealment of her wrong, but, thrust out was one of utter indifference, concealing e. of the inner chamber intowhichAmnon had cruel determination. It is strange how un- enticed her (ver. 10), she cast ashes upon like the son was to the father. her head from the very fire which she had Ver. 23.-Absalom had sheep-shearers in just nsed in cooking, and, rending her gar- Baal-hazor. The sheep-shearing was a ment, hastened away with her hand on her usual occasion for feasting o.nd holiday-keep- head, and 'l\·ith cries of lamentation. If ing (see 1 Sam. xxv. 2, 8). Be.al-hazor was David ha,l foreseen this sad sight when apparently the name of Absalom's estate, gi~ing way to hie pe.esion for Bathsheba, he situated near the town Ephraim (2 Cl:iron. would have felt that sin is indeed "folly," xiii. 19), which, according to Eueebins, lay and that its pleasure is followed by shame about eight miles north of Jerusalem. As and bitter anguish. Ephraim was near the wilderness of Judah, Ver. 20.-Rath A.nm.on 1 The Hebrew it was probably the same town as that to has .Aminon, e. diminutive, which some which our Lord withdrew (John xi. 54). authorities regard e.e expressive of contempt. The phrase beside, literally, near, Ephraim, More probably it is an e.ccidente.l variety of shows that it mnet be the town, and not the spelling. Hold now thy peaoe. We must tribal territory, which is here meant. Two not suppose that Absalom did not comfort full years; Hebrew, years of days. his sister, and make her conscious of his Ver. 25.-But blessed him. These words, love. He wo.s, in fact, so indignant at her in the courtly la.ngnage of the East, not tr<:atmcnt e.s to have purposed the sternest only mean that David parted from Absalom vengeance. But ihis he concealed from her, with :kindly feelings .and good. wishe~, e.nd counselled patience, not merely because but that he made him a riClh p?esent (see she would have dissuaded him from a course note on 1 Sam. xxv. 27, where the same so full of danger to himself, bnt because it word occurs; and observe 'the nature of "'e.s the duty of both to wait and see what Abigail's blessing described there), Do.vid•s course David would take. Where polygamy court had ·evidently become lavish, when is permitted, it is the duty especially of the thus e. visit from him to his son's farm brothers to defend their sisters' honour would be too costly for the yonng prince's (Gen. :u:xiv. 31). But David was !both her means; but had he so increased his present father and the chief magistrat.e; and, more- as to have made it reaeouable for himself over, he had been made an instrument iu and his chief officers to go, Abealom m~st his daughter's wrong. They must be have deferred hie crime. As it was, the patient, and only if David failed in his duty invitation put David off his guard, and, for- would Abealom'e turn come. Meanwhile, getting the fatal consequences of his good_ Tamar dwelt in his house desolate, as one nature in permitting Te.war's visit to Amnon, whose honour and happiness had been laid he allowed hiH sons to go to the festival. Nor WIU!ie. must we blame him for hie compliance. He Ver. 21.-David ... wa.s ver, wroth. The had probably at first been full of anxiety ns lc::;111 pnniehment for A.mnon'11 crime we.a to the courtie AbBBlom might pur11ue, but  CII. ::mr. 1-39.J 'rI-IE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 327