The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 393

dercr 11,nd wor11llcee man." Sbimei could ie supported by tho Septuagint R.nd Vulgn.to, 11C&rccl'r ha"re referro,\ to the murders of The Syriac llR.s " my subjection," possibly o Iehbot!hC'tb and Abner, whioh were too froo trn.neln.tion of the SR.me reading. llut remote to he.ve eo re.nklod in bis memory; the writton text (K'tib) hR.s "my wroug," bnt RB ~h. xxi. is not in its chronologice.l either tho wrong I he.ve done, and of which order, whe.t probe.bly called forth hie e.nger I am bearing the punishment, or, RB in tho was the surr11nder of Se.ul's sons e.nd grand- Revised Version," the wrong done unto me." sons into the he.nds of tbe Gibeonites. The correction of the MA.Ssorites (K'ri), 8himei. probnbly, even resented Dnvid's is litemlly " my eye," thRt is, " my tears." te.l,.ing the side of the Gibeonites, and treo.t- Ver. 14.-Wee.ry. Evidently the name ing as a crime to be severely punished what of a place; for David "refreshed himself he and all Saul's partise.ns regarded as there." It was probably a oo.mvl\nserui, the ri~ht<'om zeal for Israel. The throe yeR.re' full nR.me of which was, "Rest for the famine, followed bv the execution of Saul's weary," but gradually the title was shortened i;ons. mRde more trngic by the noble conduct down to the last word, " Weary," Hebrew of Rizpa.h, contributed largely to the revolt .Ay~hiin, which the Revised Version puts of the nation from David, and helps to as a proper nR.mo in the margin. explain that abandonment of him by the Ver. 17.-ls this thy kindness to thy people, which otherwise seems so be.rd to friend! After carrying the king to Aycphi.m, understand (on the date of the famine, see on the banks of the Jordan, the narrator now note on eh. x.xi. ). turns back to Abse.lom, because David was Ver. 9.-Then said Abillhai. Abisbai's to wait at the caravansere.i for news from indignation was natural, and it is evident, Jeruso.lem. And immediately on his arrival, from ver. 10, that Joab she.red it. Shimei's Hushe.i hastens into Absalom's presence, oouduct was abominable, and David finally loudly exclaiming, "Long live the king! " coudemnod him to death for it (l Kings ii. for such is the meaning of the Hobrew. 8, 9), ha'l'ing probably found that, even after The young man is surprised; for Hushai his pardon. he was au implacable enemy. was De.vid"s friend and trusted confidant. His re'l'ilings now must not only have been Yet he does not suspect this sudden breaking painful to David, but depressing to all the of old ties, but, looking at tbe bright side people that wP.re with him, n.nd there must only, sees in it a proof tbat his party was have been mo.ny a murmur in the ranks at looked upon as sure of success, and David's the king allowing such conduct to go un- cause as hopeless. He welcomes, therefore, punished. But he was in a state of great so notable an adherent, and Hushai'e pre- mcnto.l distress and self-condemnation. He tences confirm his self-deceit; for he pro- had borne sorrow after sorrow since the day fesses to regard Absalom as king, not by when, by his own great sin, he had opened fraud and violence, but by the formal choice the floodgates of wickedness ; and now the of both Jehovah and the people. On this son whom he dearly loved, and who had assumption, obedience to the nation's choice first been put wrong by a crime which beca1De a religious duty, and Hnshai's love might never have been committed but for to the father was a pledge of love to tbe son. his owu ex.iunple, was seeking both his We must not, however, condemn Abee.tom crown and his life, and had me.de hiB cup for too easy credulity. The nation was in of sorrow full to the brim and running ornr. hiB favour, and, had he acted with prompti- At such a time of agony it was even a relief tude, David's ea.use would have been lost. to have outward affliction to bear; for it Ver. 18.-The men of Israel Here and brouuht the consoling thought that the in ver. 15 the men of Israel are not con- Divi~e cbe.stisement had its merciful limit. trasted with the men of Judah, but inolude Jehovah had bidden Shimei revile him, and them (sec eh. xv. 10). Abealom's rebellion he would bear it because it was Jehovah's began at Hebron, in J udaia, and the selection doing. "It may be that Jehovah will look of Amasa, a first cousin both of David and upou my wrong, and that he will requite me Joab, as commander-in-chief, suggests the good for his <:ursing o~ me thi_~ day." Go conclusion that Absalnm's chief streagth over. Abi.<hai'e word 16 expla.ined by ver. la.y in David's own tribe, though men from JS. David's route eeem8 to have lain in a a.ll the t.ribes on the west of thl' Jordan had narrow valley, and Shimei, running along also flocked. to his standard. Besides them, the ridge on one side, was near enough for Hushai speaks of this people, that is, the his word£ to be heard, and for his stones to citizeDB of Jerusalem. For, while there come ntar the king's rttinue. Abishai, had been general lamentation a.t David's therefore, rLBked pe:rmission to croBB over to departlll'e (eh. xv. 28), yet the citizens had 6himei's side of the steep ravine with a few admitted Absalom without a struggle, and meu. who would seize him and put him to submitted to him. Davio,l's adherents are death. also constantly called "the people," bccauso Ver. 12.-Kine afBiotion. Thie reading they did n<>t belong to any ~pecial tribe, on. xvr. 1-28.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 399