The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 456

of Just. The guilt of elRying Absnlom w11e be mRny legitimiate who would coneidor thnt ee nothing compared with the.t of sll\ying the orown belonged to Saul's heirs, and who -Uriah, nor was it eo baee 118 the aeeaeein&tion would watch the course or events for any of Abner, which David he.d tolerated, though opportunity favouro.ble to their views. made Rngry by it. The diemies&l of Joab David's victory ruined their hopes, and tho oou ld hn vc been effected only by putting him public sets or Shimei and Zibo. removed o.11 to death, and this certainly he did not de- fear of public disturbance on the port of eer..-e at David's hands; and the 1tttempt, Saul's friends. unlees carried out secretly, would have led Ver. 17.-They went over lordan before to tumult and inenrreotion. Joab, too, was the king. This might mean that, in bringing a far more skilful general than Amas&, who, the king a.cross. Shimei and the Benjamites with larger foroes, had juet suffered a disas- led the way. But, first, the verb, which is trous def01tt; and if Joab was removed e. re.re one, means that they dashed through secretly, hie brother Abishai remained to the river impetuously; and secondly, before avenge him. Dand was. in fact, blinded the king, means "in the king's presence." by love for the son -whom for so many While the tribe of Judah remained on the vears he bad treated with coldness. There left bank to receive the king on hie landing, was a strong reaction DOW in the father's Shi.mei and Ziba sought favour by .e. show mind, and under its inflnenoe he wns pre- of excessive zeul, and forded the J orde.n, so pared to sacrifice the nephew who had been as to be the first to welcome him (see ver. faithful to him and saved him, for the 20). nephew who had joined in Absalom's re- Ver. 18.-And t]!.ere w~t over e. ferry- bellion. Bnt possibly it had e.n immediate boat; more correctly, and the jerry-boat kept good effect, as Amas&, assured of forgiveness crossing, went backwards and forwards to and promotion, now took David's side. bring the king's household over. Shimei t'er. 14.-.&.nd he bowed, etc. It wae • . . fell down before the king, e.e he was not .Amasa., but Dan.d, who made all the oome over lordan. If this translation were members of his tribe unanimous in his recall. right, instee.d of fording. the river, Shimei And not only were the high priests active would have waited on the western bank. in his canse, bnt David, -we may feel sure, Some COil).mentators ·do take this view, but sent numerous messages to all the more it is contradicted by the latter part of ver. powerful men. a.searing them of forgiveness 17. Really the Hebrew words signify no and favour. In his general policy he was more than- "at his crossing the Jordan," right. After the solemn anointing .of that is, at l!Qme time or other during the Ahse.lom, it was neceeee.ry for him to we.it pe.sse.ge. Shimei's. course was not only the until some equally pnblio and national act boldest, but also the wisest. For, in the first authorized his resumption of the royal place, his prompt surrender would commend power; and delay was dangerous. Every itself to David's generosity; and, secondly, day now epent at Mabanaim might give the had Abisbe.i'e counsel been ta.ken, it would opportunity for freeh troubles. have offended the thousand Benjamites who Ver. 15.-Gilgal. As Gilge.l lay upon the formed his escort, and also all the warriors west be.nk of the Jordan (Josh. v. 9), near present there from Israel (see ver. 40). Jericho and the fords, it was a convenient Trouble and discontent would certainly have place for the elders of Judah to awe.it there followed upon e.ny attempt on David's part the king. During the crOBeing, two interest- to puni.ili any of his enemies, and there ing events happened-the meeting of Shimei might even have beeu armed resistan® to and David. and the leave-taking of Btl.l'zille.i his crossing. . the Gile11dite. Shortly afterwards came the Ver. 20.-Tll.e Arst ... of all the house of apology of Mepbiboshetli. but itis uncertain J'0&eph. Shimei, who was e. Benjamite, whetl..u,r l,e was among those who had come could not have thus claimed to be the to Gilge.l to welcome the king. representative of the northern tribes, had he \er. IG.-Shimei the aon of Gere.. The remained on the western bo.nk, where "hulf fact that he ea.me attended by e. thousand the people of Israel" were assembled. meu of the tribe of Benjamin is a proof, not Strictly," the house of Joseph" signified the only that he was e. person of influence, but tribe of Ephraim (Judg. i. 22, 35; and that Le Lad exerted liiweelf to bring over comp. Ps. Juviii. U7), and in this sense his tribesmen to D&.vid's side. Hie adher- Shimei did not belong to it. But Ephraim ence was, therefore, of importance. Zibe. claimed e. supremacy over all Israel; and had always professed allegiance to David, one ea.use of the opposition to David ontaioly e.nd as he virtne.JJ y represented the house of was the transference of the leadership to Saul, his presence was also valuable, evcu if the tribe of Judah, Even the long reign of prompted by the desire to keep Mephibo- Solomon fe.ilerl to weld tbe tribes together, sheth's land. For though Absalom seemed and as soon as the reins of power fell into to be the ne.po12'11 cb.oioe. yet shere would tLe weak hands of Rehoboe.m, an Ephraimite, OH, XIX, 1-43,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. i67