David. He was a sinner for a comparatively short period, and he was a sorrowing, afflicted, and tortured penitent for the rest of his life.

13.-I have sinned against the Lord.] David's penitent psalms, especially the 51st, composed on this very occasion, express most pathetically the depth of his humiliation and repentance, and the earnestness of his entreaties for pardon. Let all of us, who like David have sinned, in whatever instance it be, greater or less, repent like David too; and instead of perversely defending ourselves by the bad part of his example, resolve immediately to reform ourselves according to the good.

-The Lord also hath put away thy sin;] It was, probably, not immediately after David's confession of his guilt, but after he had sincerely repented, that Nathan pronounced this absolution upon him.

The readiness of God to forgive the penitent should encourage us to ask His forgiveness whenever we fall into sin. At the same time, if we expect to be pardoned for our sins, as David was, we must remember heartily to repent and reform our lives, as he did. Men are but too apt to abuse the mercy of God; and to indulge them. selves in sin the longer, because He is ever ready to receive those who truly turn to Him, as He did in this instance of David. It may be useful therefore to observe, that though David's life was spared, yet God inflicted those temporal judgments upon him, which the prophet denounced, that his soul might be saved in the day of the Lord, and that others, admonished by his example, might be more afraid to offend.

14.-hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme,] When they hear of so great a crime committed by the man after God's own heart.

25. he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.] He gave Solomon this additional name, because the Lord loved him. "Jedidiah" signifres beloved of the Lord.

27.-the city of waters.] That part of the city which lay upon the waters.

31. and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, &c.] These words admit of being translated, "He put them to the saw, to iron mines, and to iron axes, and transported them to the brickkilns;" meaning, that he reduced them to slavery, and put them to hard drudgery.

There is no ground nor authority from the original words of Scripture for supposing that David was guilty of the barbarity which the common translation of the passage in our Bibles represents.

CHAP. XIII.

Verse 5.-make thyself sick:] Feign thyself

sick. This advice of Jonadab was execrably wicked, thus to indulge a most criminal passion in his friend, and suggest the means by which he might accomplish it, at the expense of his own honour and his sister's innocence,

13.-thou shalt be as one of the fools of Israel.] Every one in Israel that hears of this foul act shall condemn thee of great wickedness and folly.

for he will not withhold me from thee.] She seems to have said this merely to deliver herself from her present danger: for she could not but know that her marriage with her half brother was forbidden by Law.

15.-Amnon hated her exceedingly:] The vil lainy was no sooner committed, than shame and vexation, the natural attendants of exorbitant vices, changed his burning love into the contrary extreme. of an implacable hatred.

19.-laid her hand on her head,] Probably, covered her face with her hands, as ashamed to be seen, after the dishonour done to her by her brother.

20. but hold now thy peace,] He seems to desire her to put up with the injury in silence, that it might not bring too much disgrace on the family; but, in truth, that he might the better dissemble the revenge he intended.

37. But Absalom fled,] Having committed a wilful murder, he fled out of the country for safety. Thus did God, by leaving Amnon a prey to his own passions, "raise up evil to David out of his own house" a daughter ravished by her own brother; that brother murdered by another brother; and that other in exile on this very account, and destined soon to perish by a fate which would have been more deplorable, if it had been less deserved.

39.-he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.] As Amnon could not be recovered to life, his grief for him gradually subsided, and his affection for his banished son began to revive; and he wished to discover some method by which a reconciliation might be brought about.

CHAP. XIV,

Verse 2.-a wise woman,] That is, a prudent sensible woman, who was able to manage such a måtter properly.

5.-I am indeed a widow woman, &c.] The woman, at the instigation of Joab frames a case so like David's, that he, by determining the said case in her favour, might be induced to think, how much more reasonable it was to preserve Absalom.

7.-so they shall quench my coal &c.] That is, deprive me of the only son I have left to comfort

if she represented her case wrong, the guilt might rest on herself and her family, and the king remain innocent.

10. Whosoever saith ought unto thee,] Meaning, whosoever attempts to seize her son.

11.-let the king remember the Lord thy God,] She begs him to confirm what he said by an oath.

13-Wherefore, then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God?] Here she discovers her real intention; and from the concessions which she had drawn in the king to make, in favour of her son, she argues the propriety and reasonableness of his making the same in favour of his own son, from the regard he had to the desires and inclinations of the people.

14. For we must needs die,] She pleads for further pity for him from the consideration of our common mortality.

- yet doth he devise means, &c.] Alluding to the cities of refuge.

15.-because the people have made me afraid:] Rather, "though the people have made me afraid;" that is, she ventured to do it, though they had discouraged her from the bold attempt of so approaching the king.

19.-none can turn to the right hand or to the left &c.] No evasion can conceal the truth from my lord the king.

26.—it was at every year's end that he polled it :] Or rather, " at stated times;" he cut off his hair at certain seasons, when it began to be heavy on him.

-two hundred shekels] About three pounds and two ounces of our weight. It was the custom to anoint the hair with fragrant oils, and to powder it with dust of gold, so that we may easily suppose it would be very weighty.

CHAP. XV.

Verse 6.—Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.] He won their affections, by his civility and condescension, and the interest he pretended to take in inquiring into their causes.

11.they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. They knew nothing of Absalom's evil designs.

19.-return to thy place,] Return to Jerusalem and abide with Absalom, who is king by usurpation. Ittai being a stranger newly settled in Jerusalem for the sake of enjoying peace, David thought he could not reasonably be expected to follow him about in his wanderings and be made a partaker of his troubles.

28.-to certify me.] To certify him of Absalom's designs, in order that he might direct his course accordingly.

33.-thou shalt be a burden unto me:] As he was no soldier, he could not be useful in the field, and would contribute to distress David for provisions.

CHAP. XVI.

Verse 3.-for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom &c.] This was a fiction of Ziba's, but well contrived; for the family of David being now broken, Mephibosheth might think that the crown of his grandfather Saul might descend to him. On this occasion, however, David seems to have been too credulous, and rashly to have condemned Mephibosheth, before he was heard in his defence, not imagining that Ziba would come to him with a notorious falsehood.

5.-he came forth, and cursed &c.] That is, he cursed David and those who were with him.

10.-the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David.] In this expression, and that which follows, verse 11, "The Lord hath bidden him," it is not meant that God put any wickedness into Shimei's heart, but that He left him to his own wickedness. David considered Shimei as an instrument in the hand of Providence, and endured his abuses patiently out of a consciousness of his own sinfulness, and a reverence for God who had brought him thus low.

17.-Is this thy kindness to thy friend?] That is, to David. Absalom knowing the friendship that had been between Hushai and David, is pleased and surprised to find that he had not joined David's cause, as it appeared to him he had not.

21.-Go in unto thy father's concubines,] Ahithophel's intention in giving this wicked advice, appears from what follows, to have been to make the father and son irreconcilable enemies, and to convince all persons that they could never come to an accommodation.

8.—as a bear robbed of her whelps] He compares the desperate resistance which David would make, to that of a bear exasperated at having her young taken from her.

12.-as the dew falleth on the ground:] The dew in warm countries falls fast and sudden, and is therefore a proper emblem of an active and expeditions army. Also the dew falls upon every spot of ground, not a blade of grass escaping; a numerous army may be compared to it in this respect, being able to carry the strictest search into every part.

13.-then shall all Israel bring ropes] An hy perbolical way of speaking, which implies, that the army would be sufficiently numerous to pull down with ropes the walls of a fortified city, into the ditch which surrounds it.

16.-speedily pass over;] Over the river Jordan: he feared that Absalom might change his resolution, and incline again to the counsel of Ahithophel.

23.-hanged himself, and died,] His pride was mortified at seeing another's advice taken in preference to his own. He also dreaded the evil consequences which would result to himself from the ruin of Absalom's cause which he foresaw would be brought about by the course he had resolved upon.

The tragical end of Ahithophel, who hanged himself when he saw that his advice was not taken, and that Absalom could not support himself, is a remarkable example of the divine vengeance upon traitors, and upon those who form criminal and unjust enterprises.

CHAP. XVIII.

Verse 8.-and the wood devoured more peoplethan the sword] There were more slain in their fight through the wood, and in endeavouring to hide themselves in it, than in the fight in the open field.

13.-I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life:] He means, that he should have brought his own life into danger, and therefore would not have been true to himself.

14.- may not tarry thus with thee.] I must not lose time in such discourse. Joab was probably influenced to kill Absalom by the desire of revenging the wrongs he had received from him, and by the fear that David, in his fondness and affection for him, might restore him to his favour, and give him further opportunities of causing publick disturbances. Still, though Absalom well deserved death, Joab was not to be justified in inflicting it, contrary to the king's positive order to spare him.

CHAP. XIX.

Verse 6. In that thou lovest thine enemies, and

hatest thy friends.] In whose preservation he seemed to take no pleasure, but only to grieve for the loss of a rebellious son.

8. the king arose, and sat in the gate.] He presented himself to the people in the gate, as was usual on publick occasions.

9.-the people were at strife] Strove who should be most forward to bring back the king, blaming one another's slackness in it.

13. And say ye to Amasa,] Who, though he was David's uncle (and therefore "of his bone and of his flesh") was general of Absalom's forces, and who therefore might be both ashamed and afraid to look David in the face, till encouraged by some kind message.

22.What have I to do with you,] David knew as well as Abishai, that Shimei's submission proceeded from mere worldly policy, to prevent the punishment he deserved. But he, who had received forgiveness from God, judged piously that a like forgiveness to his enemy would not only be a seasonable act of mercy, but the most proper imitation of the Divine goodness, as well as a testimony to himself and to the world, of his own sincere repentance.

24.—had neither dressed his feet, &c.] He had wholly neglected his person, as was customary in times of publick sorrow.

26.— my servant deceived me:] Mephibosheth means, that he had ordered an ass to be made ready for him, to carry him to David; instead of which, Ziba saddled it for himself, and went with the false story, mentioned Chap. xvi. 3.

29.-Why speakest thou any more of thy matters?] As though he had said, It is enough: I now perceive that Ziba has slandered thee.

-I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.] Meaning that his first grant should stand; when he had decreed that Mephibosheth should be lord of the estate, and Ziba should manage it for him, Ch. ix. 10. As for the other grant he made Ziba, Ch. xvi. 4. he now recals it, as being obtained unjustly under false pretences.

He

35. I am this day fourscore years old: &c.] The loyalty and affection which Barzillai shewed to David are truly admirable. He adbered to him in his lowest estate, and provided him and his army with sustenance; yet now refuses any other recompence of his faithful services, but the pleasure and satisfaction of having done his duty. only begs leave to retire, that he may die at home. He is also an excellent example to men in years, to retire, some time before they die, from the cares and vain pleasures of the world, that they may the better prepare for another, and may have nothing else to do, when death comes, than to depart in peace.

DD

41.-stolen thee away,] Taken thee secretly, as it were, from the rest of their brethren.

42.-the king is near of kin to us:] Is of our tribe, and therefore we have a peculiar interest in him. "Wherefore then be ye angry for this matter," especially as we have put the king to no expense for our attendance, and received nothing from him in return for our zeal to serve him?

43.-the words of the men of Judah were fiercer &c.] Or more weighty and reasonable. As David did not think fit to interpose, the men of Israel thought that he favoured Judah; and hence arose a new rebellion, as follows in the next chapter.

CHAP. XX.

Verse 1.-We have no part in David,] As much as to say, Let the men of Judah have him for themselves; he cares not for us uor we for him.

3.-the king took the ten women—and put them in ward,] David's reason for clearing the place of the concubines which had been defiled by Absalom, and shutting them up in close and perpetual retirement, seems to have been, that they might no more be seen abroad, to revive the memory of his son's wickedness.

9.-took Amasa by the beard-to kiss him.] This is still the custom among the Eastern people, who take one another by the chin or beard, when they would give a hearty salute.

15.—and it stood in the trench:] That is, Joab's army had advanced so far in their works, as to have filled up the trench, and stand at the very foot of the wall.

18.-They were wont to speak in old time,] The meaning is by no means clear: the best sense seems to be, The inhabitants of the city spake in the beginning of the siege, saying, Surely they (Joab and his army) will ask us whether we will make peace before proceeding to hostilities; and so will quickly end the matter on our coming to an agreement with them.

23. Now Joab was over all the host &c.] It has been matter of reproach, against David, that he suffered Joab to continue in the command, after the atrocious murder of Amasa, as if he acquiesced in that murder. But that David greatly resented that murder, is evident from his last advice to Solomon, in which he gives it in charge to him, to do justice on the assassin Joab. The fact seems to have been, that Joab was at this time too powerful a subject to be brought to any account; and he seems to have usurped the command of the forces, in defiance of his master's inclination, and without his order or appointment.

CHAP. XXI.

Verse 1.-It is for Saul, because he slew the

Gibeonites.] Why this transgression was punished so long after, is hidden among the mysteries of Providence. Perhaps the punishment was sent at this juncture to visit the nation for their recent rebellions against God and the king, in which the house of Saul took an active part.

4.-neither for us shalt thou kill any man] Except those mentioned in the next verses.

6.-the king said, I will give them.] This seems to be contrary to the Divine law at Deut. xxiv. 16. which forbids that the son should die for the father's fault: but that law relates to proceedings in human courts, not to Divine judgments; for God visits the sins of fathers upon the children, in many temporal calamities. Exod. xx. 5. God's intention in ordering the death of this part of Saul's family, was to give a publick attestation of His abhorrence of Saul's perfidy and cruelty, and to caution others against committing the like offences.

10.- until water dropped upon them out of heaven,] That is, till it pleased God to send rain to shew that He was appeased, which was the more remarkable, because the rain was thus sent in summer, when it was not usual to rain in those countries,

17.-that thou quench not the light of Israel. That is, lest thou be killed. Good kings are in Scripture justly called the "light" of the people.

CHAP. XXII,

The hymn of thanksgiving contained in this chapter forms the eighteenth Psalm. See the notes there.

CHAP. XXIII.

Verse 1.-these be the last words of David.] Some of the last words which he spake on the approach of death; or the last words which he spake by the inspiration of God.

5. Although my house be not so &c.] My house or kingdom is not so with God; that is, is by God's appointment destined to excel the forementioned comparisons taken from natural things: for they are none of them stable and constant. Whereas God hath made with me an everlasting covenant (a covenant of an everlasting as well as glorious kingdom) ordered in all things aright and sure: which is chiefly to be understood, and is fully true, of the kingdom of Christ. For this kingdom of Christ that is to descend from me, is that wherein is founded all my salvation, and all my desire.

6.-because they cannot be taken with hands:] He says that wicked men shall not prosper, but shall be thrust away, as thorns are with some instrument, because they cannot be taken with the hands without hurt.

17.-is not this the blood of the men &c.] He considers the water brought at such hazard of the men's lives, who went for it, as blood, which by command of God was to be poured on the ground.

CHAP. XXIV.

Verse 1.—and he moved David against them] Rather, as the Hebrew will admit, "David was moved against thems" that is, by Satan, as is expressly said at 1. Chron. xxi. 1. It is not unusual with the sacred writers, to represent God as doing that which He only permits to be done.

2.-number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.] This was an act of pride in David, who was now too much elated in his prosperity. His conduct was also culpable because it implied that he put confidence in the number of his people, when his whole confidence should have been in God.

3. And Joab said &c.] Joab endeavours to dissuade the king from numbering the people, lest it should offend God, as proceeding from a principle of pride.

Though pride is so imperceptible often to our ourselves, it is commonly obvious to others. Even Joab saw it in David; a wicked man discerned it in a saint.

11.-seer,] That is, Prophet. 1 Sam. ix. 9. 14.-let us fall now into the hand of the Lord;] Meaning hereby that he preferred the pestilence to either of the other punishments. War and other calamities proceed from causes visible to all

men; whereas none sees or knows whence the pestilence proceeds; which is therefore referred more peculiarly to the immediate interference of the Deity.

15.-to the time appointed:] Not to the end of the three days; for (verse 16), "the Lord repented Him of the evil:" it means, probably, the appointed time of evening prayer, about the ninth hour of the day.

there died-seventy thousand men.] If it should be thought strange that God should destroy 70,000 men of Israel for David's fault, it should be recollected, that God has an absolute right over the lives of His creatures; and that, if ever He does any thing seemingly hard, He knows how to make them ample amends. But "the anger of the Lord was (also) kindled against Israel," verse 1; the people themselves had sins many and great, which deserved punishment, and for which they would probably have been before punished, had it not been for God's favour towards David, who would have suffered in common with them; now, therefore, when both king and people had deserved a correction or judgment, God was pleased to let loose His anger against both.

16.-the Lord repented him] God did not change His mind, but only revoked that which He had decreed on a certain condition: which was, that three days' pestilence should come upon the country, unless David and his people repented.

23.-did Araunah, as a king, give] As a king; that is, in a bountiful and royal manner.