The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 482

time. But not longer than was to be ex- "men of Judah," after escorting David to pected, For the appointment wae so sur- Jerusalem, had a.II dispersed to their own prising that everybody mnet have been homes. ogape with astonishment. They wonld Ver. 8.-The great atone which is in naturally hove expeoted that Amasa would Gibeon. Gibeon is situated in the moun- be punished. Instead of this, he is com- tains of Ephraim, in the tribe of Benjamin, miasioned to gather the militia in David's north-west of Jerusalem. The great stone name. And men would hesitate about was probably some isolated rock well known joining such e. leader. Was he really loyal? in the neigbbomhood. Amaea went before or would he embark them in a new rebellion? them; Hebrew, Amasa came before them· And who.t would Joab do? He was not e. the.t is, came in view with the levy of me~ man likely to bear such a slight tamely, and he had raised in Judah. And J'oab's gar- David ought to have foreseen that he was ment, etc. ; more correctly, and Joab waB sowing for himself e. crop of discord and gird,ed wit~ his military coat as his garment, enmity. and o-ver it Wa.8 the strap of hiii swo-rd in it,, Ver. 6.-David said to Abishai. David a1uiath, and it (masculine, equivalent to " the thus gives the command to tbe younger shee.th ") came out,and it (feminine,equiva.- brother, e.nd we find in ver. 7 that even lent to "the sword") fell. This change of "Joab's men," his own special troop, were gender is very harsh, and has ea.used the placed under Abishaes command. There Authorized Version to apply the masculine seems always to have been e. firm friend- verb to J oab, and translate, and as he went ship between the brothers, and at first Joab forth it fell; but a very slight change, sup- acquiesces. The king was, in fact, in so pm;ted by the Septue.gint, gives us a more grim a humour that he probably felt that satisfactory sense, namely, and it (the swo-rd) he had better keep with his men, who would came ou.t and fell. It is generally e.ssumed protect him, instead of remaining at Jeru- that all this was arranged beforehand on salem, where he would be in David's power. Joab's pa.rt, who had so placed his sword When Arne.ea joined them, Abiahai would that he could shake it out of the sheath. have to resign to him the command ; and More probably it was an accident, of which David probably expected that, after a suc- he took instant advantage. He had felt cessful campaign, and with the aid of the th.e.t his position wae insecure, e.nd that if men of Judah, who were rebels like himself,. David he.d the support of .A.masa., and a Amasa would be able to crush Joab. But powerful band of the men of Judah at Joab did not intend to wait for this; and Jerusalem, he would probably order his immediately on meeting his rival he execution for slaying Absalom; and Amasa murders him, and assumes the command. would carry out the command willingly Thy lord's servants. These a.re the men enough, as he thereby would secure the enumerated in ver. 7, e.nd formed David's high position offered him. We know David's usual military attendants. When war broke feelings towards Joe.b from his dying com- out, they were reinforced by a levy of the mand to Solomon (1 Kings ii. 5), and pro- people. And escape llB, The meaning of bably he had given various indications of the Hebrew is uncertain. It may signify, his deep-seated resentment. J oab, therefore, "and withdraw himself from our eyes.," determined to stop .A.ma.sa's growth in power, which gives the sense of the Authorized and also to give David a rough lesson. Version, and is supported by the Vulgate. And this accident gave him an early oppor- The Septuagint renders, "and overshadow tunity, which he used with ruthless energy. our eyes," which might have the same Ver. 10.-In the fifth rib; in the abdomen meaning, but, as others think, may signify, (see note on eh. ii. 23). He struok him not "and cause us anxiety." Many modem again. When his sword fell out of its commentators render, "and pluck out our sheath, Joab picked it up with his left hand, eye;" that is, do us painful damage. Either which was not the he.nd for action, and as this or the Authorized Version gives a good he could not put it into its place without sense, and, anyhow, rapid a.otion was ne- taking it into his right hand, his continuing cess11ry, or Sheba's revolt might become to hold it while he took his cousin's beard dangerous. in his right hand and kissed him, was too Ver. 7.-There went out after him-that natural to a.waken e.ny suspicion. But hold- is, under Abishe.i's command (comp. ver. ing down Amasa's head, he struck him with 2)-Joab'a men, The men who formed his his left he.ud so fiercely that no second blow regular attendants, and to whose number was necessary; and then continued his belonged the ten armour-bearers who slew march forward e.s if wh.e.t had occurred we.a Absalom (oh. xviii.15). Joab retained their a me.tter of little importance. commEmd, and probably they would not have Ver. 11.-One of .Joab's men. Joab left served under any other person. It is evident one or his personal followers to prevent any from the enumeration in this verse that the halt of the people round Amasa's body, and  4f14 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [err. xx. 1-20. -------------------------------- f,<I 1>11ggest that he was n trttitor. For he age.inst them (lee.. :kxix. 8; :itx:r.vit. 83; Jor. "'"RB to stty to them RB they Mme up, not vi, 6); and Joob'e work he.d advanced so only t.hRt" whosoever ho.d pleasure in Joe.b," fe.r RB to be level with the outer line of but e.lso that "Rll who wel'6 for David, were defon-ce. The name of the llity in the to go after Joab." AU loyal men were to Hebrew is not Abel of Beth•Me.nohah, but regard him as ca.pta.in of the host, Rnd to .Abel-beth-Maachah. Battered. 'fhis is a disobey him would be rebemon. Naturally word ta.ken from Roma.n warfare. The thev would conclude from this that Aml\811. Hebrew ea.ye, "And all the people tho.t had not l'Clllly been true to David, and that were with Joab were destroying the wall to his death wo.s the punishment inflicted on make it fall," most probably by undermin- bim for his pRBt guilt. ing it. Ewald even asserts that this is the Ver. 12.-Jle removed Amas&. The ad- meaning of the verb, and translates, " were monition to move on foiled; for the sight digging pits under the wall." The Revised WILi! terrible and tragic, and all as they came Version adopts this for the margin, where along stopped to see what had happened, it gives "undermined.'' The Septuagint e.nd inquire the cause (comp. eh. ii. 2S). and Chaldee have a different and probo.ble 'l'he man, therefore, he.d the corpse carried reading, "And e.ll Joe.b's people were de- out of the way, and threw over it a cloth, vising (contriving) means to throw down :really a coat-the loose upper mantle worn the wall." This would be the next opera- over the tunic (see note on beged, l Sam. xix. tion after the mound had been carried up 13). Whereupon the people renewed their to a level with it. march, most of them not knowing what had Ver. 18.-They were wont to speak, etc. occurred, and the rest urged to it by the The Hebrew literally is, tlley used to say in we.rning voice of Joe.b's servitor. ol,d time, They shall wrely ask at .Abel; ant:l Ver. 14.-.b.d he went through, etc. It eo they finished (the ~natter). But of these wo.s not Joe.b, but Sheba, who, by David's words two completely distinct interpreta- prompt action, Wllll compelled to make a tions are given. The Jewish Te.rgum rapid retreat, seeking help in vain from tribe records the one: •• Remember now that after tribe, bnt rejected of e,ll, and unable to which is written in the book of the Law, me.ke e.ny defence until be had reached the to ask a city concerning peace at the first. extreme north of the land of Turael Unto Hast thou done so, to e.sk of Abel if they Abel, and to Beth-llhaohe.h. The conjunc- will make peace?" The woman, that is, tion probably ought to be omitted, es the wes referring to tho command in Deut. l[l[, proper name of the place is Abel-beth- 10, not to besiege_ a city until pee.oe he.d Me.achah, and it is so given in ver. 15 (see been offered to the inhabitants on condition below), and in 1 Kings xv. 20; 2 Kings xv. of their paying tribute. When a city we.s 29. H is the place called Abel-Maim, the captured the lot of the inhabitants, as the .. water-meadow," in 2 Chron. xvi. 4--ao woman declares in ver.19, was utter destruc- u.bel being e. place where the grass grows tion; and the Lsw mercifully gave them the re.okly from the e.bnnde.oce of springs. It chance of escaping such a fate. Joa.b ho;d thus forms pa.rt of the name of various not complied with this enactment, but had placee, u Abel-Mizre.im (Gen. L 11), Abel- e.esnmed .that the people would supp01·t Mehole.h (I Kings iv. 12), etc. Abel-beth- Sheba, and was proceeding to the le.et ex- Maachah was a fortress in the most northerly tremity without consulting them. This part of the tribe of Ne.phte.li, and is identi- interpretation gives e.n excellent· sense, but fied .vith the modem village of Abel, a few cannot be wrung out of the present Hebrew miles above Lske Holeh, the ancient" Waters text without violence. The other interpre- of Merom." And e.ll the Berl.tea. No place tation is tha.t of the Authorized Version, or people of this name can be found, but that the woman was commending her words Jerome, when traosle.1ing the Vnlgate, had to Joab, by reminding him that Abel he.d before him a different reading, which seems been famed in early times for its wisdom, and clearly right, " And all the chosen men of had probably been the seat of an oracle in war ...-ere gathered together, and went after the old Ce.naa.oite times, When, therefore, hi m. " people had carried their dispute to Abel, Ver. 15.-It stood in the trench. This is both sides were nootent to abide by tho e. literal translation, e.nd yet gives a wrong e.o.ewer given them, and so the controversy sense. The Hebrew " stood" means "rose was ended. Literally, these words mean, up io," "stood level with;" and the"trench" "tlley shall surely inquire at Abel," the is what in modem fortifica.tioilll is called verb being thP,t specially used of inquiring .. the glaci.8," and includes the n·1ter wall of God. of defence. The Reviaed Versio1.1 renders, Ver. 19.-I am one of them that are, etc. "it stood again11t the rampart." The usual The Authorized Version translates in this way of capturing cities in ancient times way, because, while" I" is singular," peace- WIIB to c.ast up e. ~nk or mound of earth able" and " faithful" are plnra;l. Really OR, XX, 1-26,] ,THE SECOND BOOK OF SA.MUEL. 495