The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 473

inherlte.nce. 5. The friendly greeting of the faithful. (Vers. 31-39). Barzillai, an aged end "very great man," representative of the tran1-Jorrlomic inhabitants; testifyinu his devotion to the king in prosperity, whom be had aided in adversity, and receiving his graterul benediotion. How ditforent is it with David now from what it had been at hie former orossing (oh. xvii. 22) I "This pBBsage of the Jordan was the most memoroble one since the days of Joshua." 6. TM zealous emulation of the tribes. (Vere. 40-43.) Their strife for pre-eminence; "Ephraim envying Judah, and Judah vexing Ephraim "'(Isa. xi. 13), lee.ding to e. fresh revolt, which, however, is speedily overcome. David's troubles, so incessant, so varied, so great, "from his youth" (ver. 7), are not yet ended; but they. are all ordered by the hand of God for bis good. "Sanctified affliction is spiritual promotion." 7. The oompkte establishment of the kingdom. (Oh. xx. 3, 22-26.) He sees again the habitation of the Lord (eh. xv. 25), and rules over a peaceful anrl united nation. His return is like the commencement of a new reign (ver. 22). "The remainder of David's life-a period probably of about ten years -flowed on, so far as we oan gather, in a bright calm, and an undisturbed course of improvements" (Ewald).-D. • •Vers. 16-23.-(THE JORDAN.) TM pard()'11, of Shimei. The conduct of Shimei towards David in his flight (eh. xvi. 5) was base and iniquitous. "The wheel tnrne round once more; Absalom is cast down and David returns in peace. Shimei suits his behaviour to the occasion, and is the first man, also, who hastes to greet him; and had the wheel turned round a hundred times, Shimei, I dare say, in every period of its rotation would have been uppermost" (Sterne). But he may have been actuated by something better than selfish and time-serving policy ; at least, the history affords no intimation that his repentance was insincere and hypocriticaL And he was forgiven by David (of whose clemency he had been persuaded)- !. ()N THE 0ONFESSION OF WRONG-DOING (vers. 19, 20) with : 1. Deep abasement. He "fell down before the king." 2. Free, full, unqualified, and open self-condemna- tion. "Thy servant did perversely," and "doth know that I have sinned." 3. Fervent petiti()'11, for mercy. "Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me," et.c. 4. ;professed devoti()'11, and zealous endeavour to repair the wrong which had been done. "And behold I am come the first this day," etc. He had brought with him a thousand men of Benjamin, to do honour to the king whom he had formerly despised; perhaps, also, to show the value of his reconciliation and services (which were really important at such a time, in the light of subsequent events, eh. x.x. 1). Confession must precede the assurance of forgiveness; and, when made in a becoming manner, should be graciously treated (Luke xvii. 3, 4). God alone knows. the heart. II. AGAINST THE DEMAND FOB PUNISHMENT (vers. 21, 22); in which Abishai dis- played, as before (eh. xvi. 9): 1. An impulse of natural vengeance toward the evil- doer; unaltered by change of circumstances, unsoothed by Shimei's repentance. 2. A desire for the rigorous exec-uti()'11, of the Law, according to which the traitor and blasphemer should suffer death "without mercy." Its stern and relentless require- ments, unmodified by its deeper and more merciful principles, are represented in " the sons of Zeruiah." 3. A spirit of reckless imprudence; not less injurious to the king's interests on "this day" of his triumphant return than it was on the day of his perilous flight. 4. An assumption of unjustifiable authority, and interference with the king's rights and privileges, feelings and purposes; incurring a repetition of the rebuke, "What have I to do with you," etc.? "Ye will be an adversary [satan, Numb. xxii. 22 ; 1 Chron. xxi. 1] to me ; " hindering the exercise of mercy and the joy of my return (1 Sam. xi. 12, 13). "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Matt. xvi. 23). "Our best friends must be considered as adversaries when they would persuade us to act contrary to our conscience and our duty" (Scott). III. WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MEROY, "Thou she.It not die" (ver. 23; eh. xii. 13). "And the king sware unto him." From: 1. An impulse of personal feeling of the noblest nature; by which (re"arding Shilllei's offence as a personal one) he was raised above the level of ".the Law/7 and anticipated the forgiving spirit of a higher dispensa- tion. 2. A sense of the exceeding mercy of God toward himself; by which he was disposed to show mercy toward others. 3. A perception of the wisest policy to be adopted on such an extraordinary "day" as that of bis restorfltiou to the throne. 484 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [cR, XIX. 1-43,