The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 510

short of tltis. "We will have no ~ilvcr nor gold," etc. (ver. 4) ; no private com- pensation could a.tone for such a puhlic ci·ime and wilful 11in "before the Lot·d." 2. .A.ocorded with the ,·equirements of the Law (Gen. ix. 6, 6; Numb. xxxv. 31); or at lenst with the custom of blood-vengeance, and the then prevalent idens of justice. If (ns is probable, ver. 1) the hands of the sons of Sa.ul were stained with blood, the Law demanded their death; ir (a.s may have been the case) they were personally guiltless, they suffered from their intimate relationship to the murderer, as a "vicarious sacrifice," and for the benefit of the nation. "To understand this procedure, wo must bear in mind the ancieut Oriental ideas of the solidarity of the family, strict retaliation nnd blood-reYenge-idee.s that, with some limitation, remained in force in the legislation of the old covenant" (Kurtz). 3. WAs restricted by merciful consideration for the assuredly innocent and steadfast fidelity to II solemn engagement. "And the kin"' spared Mephibosheth," etc. (ver. 7). "'l'he obscurities of this narrative probably may ne\·er be entirely cleared up. One thing, however, is certain-these seven descendants of Saul were not pretenders to the crown ; and David cannot be suspected of having embraced such an opportunity to put them out _of the way. Neither is it to be sup- posed that Da,id delivered up the innocent contrary to the Law (Deut. xxiv. 16). They were, therefore, delivered up to the avengers of blood and punished with death, not on account of the crimes of Saul, but for the murders which they themselves, with the connivance of Saul, had committed on the Gibeonites, and for which they had hitherto remained unpunished" (Jahn,• Heh. Com.,' xxxii.). VI. AFFORDING SALU'l'ARY INSTRUCTION (whether the victims be regarded as having actually taken part in the crime or not). ".A.s seen by the people, the execution of Saul's sons (who were not charged with being in any way personally accessory to their father's crime) was a.judicial act of retribution; but this aspect of the transaction was only an 'acco=odation' to the current ideas of the age. Viewed in its essential character as sanctioned by God, it was a didactic act, designed to tench the gui_lt or sin'' (Kirkpatrick); to produce repentance, and prevent its recurrence. That melancholy spectacle of a sevenfold crucifixion "on the mountain before Jehovah," in "Gibeah of Sa.nl" (1 Sam. x. 5; xxii. 6), declared.: 1. The exceeding culpability of unrighteous zeal, of the wanton violation of sacred pledges, of the unjust taking away of human lire. "Let us here learn the danger of trifling with oaths and solemn engagements. Four hundred years had elapsed since the treaty made with the Gibeonites; and yet in the sight of God it was as sacred as ever; so that he who presumed to inrringe it drew down a severe judgment on the whole nation" (Lindsay). 2. The inevitable, rigorous, and imparti.a.l execution of Divine justice. Princes are not above its correction, nor bondsmen below its protection. 3. The far-reaching consequences of transgression; to the children and children's children of the transgressor. "'l'he evident intention of God in ordering the death of so many of Saul's family" (which, however, is not expressly stated) "was to give public attestation of the abhorrence of Saul's perfidy an<l cruelty, and to strike into the hearts or his successors on the throne a salutary dread of committing similar offences. The death of these seven persons, therefore, is not to be regarded as a punishment inflicted upon them for personal offences, even though they might have a share in their father's persecution of the Giheonites, but an act commax.ded by God in virtue of his sovereign rights over the lives of all men, to teach princes moderation and equity, and to prevent the perpetration of enormous crimes, which are inconsistent with the welfare of the civil government as well as incompatible with the principles of true religion" (Chandler). VII. FoLLOWED BY MERCIFUL DELIVERANCE. "And after that [the expiation] God was entreated for the land" (ver. 14). "Long-forgotten sin had been brought to mind and acknowled"ed and expiated; homage had been paid to justice; the evil of unfaith- fulne~s had he;n exposed; the honour of the uation had been purged from foul stains; it ha.d been shown that neither kings nor princes can do wrong with impunity; IID1.temal fondness had been touchingly displayed ; a long-forgotten duty had been attended to; a noble example had borne fruit; and after that Gori wae entreated/or the land. The generous heavens poured down t.heir showers, the languiKhing life of field and vineyard revived, and the earth ·was clothed with beauty and teemed with fruitfulness again. There was one more proof of the everlasting truth, 'Ilighteousne~11 exalt.etb a nation'" (C. Vince).-D. Oil. XXI, 1-22.j 'l'HE SECOND BOOK Of<' SAMUEL. G23