accidental circumstances, the devices and efforts of the transgressor, a.re so ordered that he shall not go unpunished (Prov. xi. 19, 81; xiii. 21; xxii. 6; xxviii. 17, 18). II. ExEOUTED BY HUMAN VIOLENCE, SIMILAR TO ms OWN. (Vers. 14, 15.) As he had slain Amnon (eh. xiii. 28, 29), so was he slain by Joab. "He that was a solicitor for the king's favour (eh. xiv. 1, 2, 33) is his executioner against the king's charge" (Hall); iulluenced partly by zeal for the king's interest and the public goo<l, partly by revenge for private injury (eh. xiv. 30), and jealousy for his own position (eh. iii. 27; x.ix. 10). He shared the resentment felt by his men against Absalom; was an instru- lnent by which the wrath of Heaven was inflicted ; and perhaps deemed himself justified in becoming such, because of the excessive fondness and blamable weakness of David toward his son; but herein he punished disobedience by disobedience, exhibited a pitiless severity and daring presumption, incu1Ted the king's displeasure (eh. xix. 13), involved himself in deeper crime (1 Kings ii. 5), and ultimately in a. violent death (1 Kings ii. 32). III. BURIED JN A SHAMEFUL GRAVE, in contrast with the splendid monument which "in his lifetime he had taken and reared up for himself," etc. (ver. 18). "He had thought that he would be there, some time or other, bnried as king; but he is now buried as an outlawed evil-doer, as an outcast from among men. Till this hour that grave speaks to ua with a loud awakening voice. Violations of the commandment, • Honour thy father and thy mother,' for the most part, indeed, escape the judgmeot of human authorities; but the Almighty has reserved it to himself to inflict punish- ment with his own hand, and for the most part even on this side eternity, as he has promised for this world also a gracious reward to those who keep it holy, according tn the promise annexed to the commandment, 'that it may go well wito. thee'" (Krum- macher). "The great pit in the wood,'' with "a very great heap of stones laid upon him "-this was the end of his ambitious career (Deut. x.xL 22, 23; Josh. vii. 26; viii. 29). The site both of his grave and of the "marble pillar in the king's dale, two furlongs distant from Jerusalem" (Josephus), has been for ages unknown; and even the monolith in the valley of the Kidron (probably of the Herodian age, but associated with his name) is "unto this day" regarded with scorn by the passer-by, as he casts another stone, and mutters a curse upon his memory. " Shame shall be tht: promotion of fools" (Prov. iii. 35 ; xxx. 17). "Hear this, ye glorious fools, that care not to per- petuate any memory of yourselves to the world, but of ill-deserving greatness. The best of this affectation is vanity; the worst infamy and dishonour; whereas the memory of the just shall bo blessed, and, if his humility shall refuse an epitaph and choose to h_ide himself under the bare earth, God himself shall engrave his name upon the pillar of eternity" (Hall).-D.
Ver. 18.-(THE KING'S DALE.) Posthumous fame. "Absalom's place" (literally, "hand," equivalent to" monument," or" memorial," 1 Sam. xv. 12). To live in the memory of men after death is, in a sense, to be immortal on earth (eh. vii. 9). Of this earthly immortality observe that: 1. It is an object of natural and legitimate desire. To be wholly forgotten as soon as we are laid in the dust is a prospect from which we instinctively turn away with aversion, as from death itself. The natural love of life, of reputation, of power, of pre-eminence, implies the desire of their continuance, in so far as it is possible, not merely of exerting a continued influence (as every one must do), but also of having one's name kept in continued remembrance; and this desire exists in those who have little or no knowledge of personal immortality. It is well the.t men's thoughts should extend beyond the narrow span of their own lifetime. But the memory of themselves which they wish to be perpetuated should not be of their shining qualities and extraordinary achievements, but of their genuine faith, their holy character, and their beneficent deeds, as an incentive to the like (Ps. ixx.viiL 7; Prov. xiii. 22; Heb. xi. 4); for such a wish alone is of any moral worth. 2. The desire of it often leads to mistaken and unworthy endeavours in order to its attainment. Absalom "had taken and reared up for himself the pillar,'' etc. Imbued with selfish and vain- glorious ambition, he imagined that the sight of it would call forth the admiration of posterity. In the same spirit he subsequently madtl his attempt upon the throne. So others have reared imposing monuments, built huge pyramids and palaces, fought great battles, and rushed into daring enterprises, heedless of the rectitude of their conduct or 454. THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMU~L. [en. xvm. 1-88,
the welfare of mankind (Gen. :d. 4; Ezek. nix. 3; Dan. iv. 30). "Their Inward thought is," etc. (Ps. xlix. 11-13). The character of their &im determines the nature of th~ir efforts; and only those efforts which proceed from a right spirit eneure an endunng and honourable" name." 3. The result o.f 11uch endeavours is shame lznd ever• lasting eon~mpt, instead of immortal honour and glory. "Absalom's hand," which was intended to indicate to fu~ure gene~tions bi8 magnificence, indi~ated ouly his ignominy, Even that at length penshed (Ps. 1x. 6; Prov. x. 7). .And his memory remains as a solemn warning against transgression. ., In what different lights, In what differei'it aspects of character, the human beings of past time are presented to our thoughts I How many of them are there that an odious and horrid character rests upon! They seem to bear ('ternal CUl"88S on their heads. A Tindictive ray of Heaven's liahtnina- seems con- tinually darting down upon them. They appear as the special point~ of co~munication and at.traction between a wicked world and the Divine vengeance'' (J. Foster). But "the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance" (Ps. cxii. G; Matt. xxvi, 13-• Acts x. 4; 2 Pet. i. 15).-D. • '