The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 351

hapless son, or tho I\Vengers of blood, wns intended, adapted, and employed: 1. To ex~it~ compassion toward the u-nfortunate: I\ son who had slain his brother "ummares" (Numb. xxxv. 11) in the field, and whose life was imperilled by the avengers "the whole family" (ver. 7); and his widowed mother, whose only stay and comfort he was, whoso "live coal which is left" would be quenched, and whose husband's "name anrl posterity" would be destroyed. "The power of the discourse lies in the fact that thrw nre represented as already doing what their words show to be their purpose." 2. 'io procure p,·otection against the avengers; who, according to ancient custom, s0u!7ht to tnke bis life (oh. iii. 22-30); their conduct being portrayed as persistently pitiles~ (ver. 11), "nnd actuo.ted, not eo much by a wish to observe the Law, as by covetousness and 11 desire to share the inberHance amon!!,' themselves" (Kirkpatrick); obscurely su!7gestivc of the hostility exhibited toward Absalom. "Her circumstances (as a widow and Jivin,,. at some distance from Jerusalem, which rendered the case difficult to be readily inquired into), her mournful tale, her widow's weeds, her aged person, and her impressive manner, all combined to make one united impression on the king's heart" (A. Clarke). "In all this she intended to frame a case as like to David's as she could do; by determinin~ which in her favour, he might judge how much more reasonable it was to preserv~ Absalom. But there was a wide difference between her case and his, however plausible soever their likeness might appear" (Patrick). 3. To obtain assurance of preservation from the king; which was given at first as an indefinite promise (ver. 8), afterwards (through her importunity) in a more definite engagement (ver. 10), and finally confirmed by an oath (ver. 11). "Had David first proved and inquired into the matter which with ·cunning and deceit was brought before him, he would not h!!.ve given assurance with an oath" (Schlier). "We should learn from David's example to be more 11,'Uarded over. all our feelings and affections, even such as are in their proper degree essential to a religious character" (Lindsay). "Neither sbalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause " (Exod. xxiii. 3). II. AN EFFECTIVE BUT FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT (vers. 13, 14); based upon the assumed: resemblance between the case of the hapless son, of whom she had spoken, and that of Abealom, to whom she alluded as fully as she might venture. For her appeal had" a double sense," or twofold purpose-one clear, immediate, feigned, subordinate; the other dark, ultimate, real, supreme ; and to the latter she now comes. "Ana why dos_t thou think [,Qevise] such a thing [as that of which I am now permitted: to speak] against people of God? And by the king's speaking this word [' As JEfuovah livetb,' etc., ver. 11] he is as one that iJJ guilty [ or, '-self-condemned'], in thliii the king does not bring back his banished one." . "My banished one!" he must have thought, as the main object of the woman's appeal flashed upon him. But she went on : "For we must die [' shall surely die,' Gen. ii.17], and are as water poured out on the groucd that is not gathered up. And God takes not away a soul [nephesh, equivalent to 'individual life'], but thinks thoughts [devises devices] to the end that be may not banish from him [utterly] a banished one." She thus sought to persuade the king to recall his son by: 1. The obligation of his oath, in which "he had acknowledged the possibility of an exception to the general rule of punishment for murder;" sworn to save her son, who had killed his brother under severe provocation; and was consistently bound to spare and restore his own son in similar circumstances. But the difference between them, here kept out of view, was fatal to the argument. Absalom's crime was deliberately planned, executed by his servants under his order, and seen by many witnesses. ~- The welfare of the people of God, involved in the preservation and return of the heir to the throne. Although the king's sons and the whole court were against Absalom (ver. 7), a large party of the people was in his favour. But the general welfare would have been more promoted by his just punishment, l)r continuance in exile, than by his restoration, as the subsequent history shows. 3. The mortality of men-the inevitable and irreparable decease of Amnon, AbsBlom, the king _himself; the consideration of which should induce compassion and speedy help, lest 1t should be too late. But, "even compassion, amiable as it is, will not jnstify our violation of the Divine Law, or ne"lecting the important duties of our station" (Scott). 4. The clemency of God; in fo~bearance and lon!7-sulferin"' towRrd sinful men, and devising means for their 0 restorntion to his presen~e; such aa David himself had experienced (eh. xii. 13; Ps. \i. l] ), His exE1mple should be imitated. But his forbearance is limited-he pardoas only  356 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH, XIV. 1-33,