The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 488

done. This possession of secret knowledge concerning others always gives increased power. Whoever knowa of the financial weakness of a commercial firm, or the private delinquencies of individuals, or of origiMl social inferiority of persons aiming to figure in society, if it be known that he knows, holds a power over these parties which they dread, and which, if he be unholy, he can use in most painful form. Those are to be pitied indeed who have caused their failings and sins to become the secret of unholy men. IV. Fnm,IARITY w1TH SUFFERING. Bad as great power is in a man of strong passions and possessed of special knowledge, it is a more terrible thing when the moral ~ensibilities have been blunted by familiarity with sufferings. Joab bad seen many a man dying in ai:onies. War does not improve the feelings of men. It was with no compunctions of conscience, as far as we can see, that he slew Amasa. What was a bleeding corpse to the man who had smitten many a hero, and who now was governed by jeal()usy, hatred, contempt, and pride? It is this loss of moral sensibility which has made such men as Napoleon I. so terrible a scourge. There are other men of, perhaps, equally strong will, but their moral susceptibilities restrain them from brutality. V. CLEARLY DEFINED PURPOSE. Joab knew what he intended to do. The narrative shows that be watched for opportunity. He did not wish to encourage revolt against royal authority, but he did wish and purpose to avenge his displacement from supreme command by the death of his rival, to prove his power to David by actually assuming the leadership and suppressing the revolt, and to vindicate before the people his superiority in the state. Purpose, clearly defined, is a practical addition to power. It avoids waste of energy, and converts subsidiary appliances into instruments of great significance. By such purpose the whole nature of the man and all his strong and unhallowed passions are condensed and concentrated into one channel. GD."'ERAL LESSONS. 1. Vfe see the supreme importance of prayer for the converting power of the Holy Spirit, so that men of great natural powers may have them governed by a principle according to the will of God. 2. The appearance of unhallowed feelings in the heart should be at once an occasion of prayer and self-control, as they will be sure to combine to influence us to deeds of wrong, 3. There is more real honour in being a man of lowly abilities, but under the sway of holy dispositions, than in possessing the highest powers destitute of such a disposition. 4. If we can only secure progress in life or continued possession of privileges by using abilities wickedly, it is infinitely better to lose all than thus sink deeper in moral and spiritual degradation. 6. According to our abilities will be the account we shall have to give unto God. Vers.14-26.-77ie cawies and remedia of reUgious strife. The facts are: 1. Joab and his forces, pursuing Sheba till they came upon him in the city of Abel, lay siege to it. 2. A wise woman of the city remonstrates with Joab for attacking the city, and refers to the fact that when Sheba. with his armed followers threw themselves into the city, the people felt sure that when the pursuing foes came up they would open negotiations with the authorities, and so bring the conflict to an end. 3. Urging the i.mpolicy and wrong of seeking to destroy a part of the inheritance of the Lord-a. city which was as a mother in Israel-she obtains from Joab a disclaimer, and a declaration that it was only the rebel and traitor Sheba that he was fighting against. 4. The wise woman, conferring with the inhabitants, secures that the head of Sheba. be thrown over the wall to J oab, who then retires with his men to Jerusalem. 6. A reorganization of the officers of state is made, and Joab regains his former position as head of the army. The patriotism of Joab and a rough kind of fidelity to David ma.nifested itself in his prompt and eager pursuit of ~he rebel force till it ~k r~fuge in a city and ~ega1;1 to act on fue defensive. There 16 no evidence that the inhabitants had forma.lly 1dent1fied them.elves with the cause of Sheba, though proba.bly there as elsewhere some dis- affected men of Belia.I were to be found. It is not always within the competence of a city to prevent an armed force entering within its w~ls and virtually turnin~ its resources against pursuers. The conflict between the opposmg forces was becoming desperate, and threatened, if persist.ad in, to result in the destruction of the city. The horrors and wasting issues of civil war were impending. At this juncture, the more peaceably inclined portion of the inhabitants, encouraged by a woman who had gained reputation for wisdom, were anxioUB to avoid the calamities of conti.u.ued strife, and probably Ott. xlr.. 1-28,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 501