The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 334

prnnJty. "The reYenge whioh he took for the foul wrong that his sister hRd auITcred Rt the h11.nds of Amnon did not shock the men of Israel as it shocks us. 'l'o him, by the feeling of all Oriental nRtions, belonged the special guardi11.nsbip of her honour; 11.nd subtly as the punishment was inflicted, it was nothing more than the tnonetrous t.urpitude of the guilt deserved. Had David been true to his kingly calling, instead of passing the crime over with a weak sorrow and a yet weaker leniency, there would have been no occasion for the Yengeance which Absalom felt himself bound to take. The two long years of waiting which followed on bis revenge, must have been a time in which disappointment, irritation, bitterness against his father, were gaining, slowly but surely, the mastery over him" (Plumptre). ll. lTs SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS. 1. Enduring and implacable hatred (var. 28); a malicious purpose formed from the first (as his intimate companion read in his countenance, ver. 32), but concealed that it might be the more effectually accomplished when opportunity served. "A man that studieth revencre keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise wonld heal and do well" (Bacon). 2. Subtle and deceitful scheming (vers. 24, 26); under pretence of kindness; and taking a base advantage of affection, consideration, and confidence. Ver. 25 is "the first instance history offers of the ruinous cost of royal visits to those who are honoured with them" (Kitto). 8. Pitiless and treacherous cruelty (ver. 28; eh. xi. 13). Another instance of indulgence in intoxication (1 Sam. :xxv. 36, 37; eh. xi. 13). "Absalom calls the execution of this base cruelty in his servants, courage and valour; being indeed but treacherous and cowardly murder; which shows that vices are ofttimes coloured with the name of virtues, as drunkenness is called good fellowship, avarice good husbandry, subtlety to deceiYe wisdom, and pride ma,,crnanimity" (Guild). It is not improbable that he wished to get rid of A.mnon as an obstacle in the way to the throne. "'l'he wild acts of Absa.lom's life may have been to some extent the results of maternal tre.ining; they were at least characteristic of the stock from which he sprani" (Smith, 'Diet.'). "From his father he inherited nothing but his regal priden (Ewald). "He was a man who could scheme deeply, bide his time patiently, and then strike with decision and daring" (D. Macleod). III. lTs EXCEEDING 6INFULNESS. 1. Disbelief in the presence and justice of God, who, though man fa.ils to punish, "will by no means clear the guilty." 2. Insensi- bility to his forbearance, which should teach the like (1 Sam. xxiv. 13 ; Matt. v. 48). 3. Disobedience to the Divine Law, which is "fulfilled in one word," etc. (Gal. v. 14), and to many special injunctions (Rom. xii. 9; Matt. vi. 15). 4. Fruitfulness in wjckedness and crime (1 John iii 15), with all their evil consequences to others and to a man himself (vers. 36, 37). "Absalom fled from man, who only could kill the body; but he could not fly from blood-guiltiness and an accusing conscience, nor yet from the hand of God's justice, which did reach him afterwards" (Guild). "It was asked of the sage, 'In what one virtue are all the rest comprised?' 'Patience,' was bis answer. 'And in what single vice are all oti:iers concentrated?' 'Vindictiveness'" (Rabbi Salomon Ihn Gabirol). "Whereas some may be apt to suspect that the patient bearing of one injury may invite another, I believe it will be found quite otherwise, that the revenging of one injury brings on another; the one is like the with- drawing of fuel or combustible matter, which will soon pnt out the fire, and the other is continually furnishing fresh fuel. mixed with oil and gunpowder and such inflaming materials as are a.pt to spread the fire of contention, but not to extinguish it" (J. Blair: 1740). Cot-cLUSION. How odions is the spirit of revenge! He who gives way to it might as well cherish a. venomous serpent in his bosom. "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. xii. 21).-D. Vere. 30-39.-(JEBUBALEM.) Parental eorrows. "And the king also and all his servants wept very sore" (ver. 36). David's intense feeling appears in his affection (vers. 6, 25, 89), his wrath (ver. 21), and his grief (ver. 31). The delight which a father finds in hia children is seldom unalloyed. His sorrows, on their account, ere- I. 0FTTIMES PEOULI.ARLY SEVERE. 1. Their misbehaviour. "A 'house-cross' is the hee.viest of all earthly crosses. The gall which is mingled in our cup by those who are nearest to us surpasses all others in bitterness" (Krummacher), OH, Xlll, 1-30,] Tirn SJ<:COND BOOK OF SAMUEL.