Amnon (ver. 4), we see the kind of friend that should not ho chosen. I. lle is dis- tingui8hcd for subtlety, not for virtue and, piety. "In the choice of a friend, Jet him be virtuous; for vico is contagious, smd there is no trusting of the sound and the sick together" (Seneca). "Friendship is nothing else but benevolence or charity, under some modifications, viz. that it be in a special manner intense, that it be mutual and that it bo manifest or mutually known. It cannot be but between good men, be~ause an ill man cannot bo.ve any true charity, much Jess such an intense degree of it as is requisite to friendship" (J. Norris, 'Miscellanies'). A companion is sometimes chosen solely for his cleverness and insinuating address ; but his superior intelligence (however desirable in itself), unless it be combined with moral excellence, enables him to do all the greater mischief (Jer, iv. 22). 2. In professing concern for anothers welfare he seeks only to serve his own interests; his own pleasure, gain, influence, and advancement '(ver. 4). True friendship is disinterested. Jona.dab appeara to have cared only for himself. Hence (to avoid getting himself into trouble) be gave no warning to others •of what he foresaw (ver. 32). "This young man, who probably desired to make him- self of some importance as David's nephew, was clever enough to guess the truth from the first; but it is sad to think that his thought and his advice were never founded on anything but a knowledge of the devil in man" (Ewald). 3. When he is acquainted with the secret thoughts of another, he fails to give him faithful counsel. (Ver. 5.) Such acquaintance is often obtained by flattery-" thou a king's son "-and frequent question- ing; but it is not followed, in the case of improper desires and purposes, by admonition. "No flatterer can be e. true friend." "Had he been a true friend, he had bent all the forces of his dissuasion against the wicked motions of that sinful lust" (Hall). "Faith- ful are the wounds of a friend." 4. Whilst he devises means/or another's gratification, he smootlies his way to destruction. His aim is only to please. He advises what is agreeable, but what is morally wrong; and thus incites to sin; for which, with all its consequences, he is, in part, responsible. "In wise counsel two things must be con- sidered-that both the end be good, and the means honest and lawful. Jonada.b's counsel failed in both." "The rapacious friend, the insincere friend, the friend who speaks only to please, ancl he who is a companion in vicious pleasures,-recognizing these four to be false friends, the wise man flies far from them, as he would from a road beset by dnnger" ( Contemporary Review, xxvii. 421). "A companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Prov. xiii. 20; i. 10).-D.
Ver. 7.-Tamar. A princess; the daughter of David and Maacah (of Geshu:-), and sister of Absalom; distinguished for her beauty, modesty, domesticity, obedience (ver. 8), tender-heartedness, piety, and misfortunes. In her we see an illustration of (what has often occurred): 1. Purity pursued by licentious desire (ver. 2). 2. Simplicity beset by wily designs (ver. 5). 3. Kindness requited b~ selfish ingratitude (vers. 9, 10). 4.. Confidence exposed to enticing persuasions and perilous temptation (ver. 11). 5. Virtue overpowered by brutal violence (ver. 14). 6. Innocence vilified by guilty aversion (ver. 17). "So fair had she gone forth on what seemed her errand of mercy, so foully had shE> been driven back" (Edereheim). " Let no one ever expect better treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction ; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to commit the least Rin" (Matthew Henry). 7. Sorrow assuaged by brotherly sympathy (ver. 20). 8. Injury ave.?Jged with terrible severity (ver. 28).-D.
Ver. 21.-Impunity. "And King David heard of all these things, and was very wroth;" but "he did not griove the spirit of his son Am.non, because he loved hio, for he was his firstborn" (L:XX.). And he did not punish him (1 Sam. iii. 13); which must be looked upon as- J. AN OMISSION OF MANIFEST DUTY. If he had been only a father, he would have been bound to chastise his children for their misbehaviour ; but, being also a king, he was under still stronger obligation to puuish the guilty. To do this: 1. Properly belonged to the authority delegated to him. 2. Was expressly enjoined in the Divine Law (Lev. xx. 17). 3. Urgently demanded by the sense of J°ustice. 4. Indispensably necessary to the protection of his subjects. "Kings, then, have not absolute power to do in their government what pleases them; their power is limited by God's W or.l ; so 836 THF. SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ell. XIII, 1-:39.