Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
S E C O N D S A M U E L
CHAP. II.
David had paid due respect to the memory of Saul his prince and Jonathan his friend, and what he did was as much his praise as theirs; he is now considering what is to be done next. Saul is dead, now therefore David arise. I. By direction from God he went up to Hebron, and was there anointed king, 2 Samuel 2:1 - 4 . II. He returned thanks to the men of Jabesh-Gilead for burying Saul, 2 Samuel 2:5 - 7 . III. Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, is set up in opposition to him, 2 Samuel 2:8 - 11 . IV. A warm encounter happens between David's party and Ishbosheth's, in which, 1. Twelve of each side engaged hand to hand and were all slain, 2 Samuel 2:12 - 16 . 2. Saul's party was beaten, 2 Samuel 2:17 . 3. Asahel, on David's side, was slain by Abner, 2 Samuel 2:18 - 23 . 4. Joab, at Abner's request, sounds a retreat, 2 Samuel 2:24 - 28 . 5. Abner makes the best of his way 2 Samuel 2:29 ), and the loss on both sides is computed, 2 Samuel 2:30 - 32 . So that here we have an account of a civil war in Israel, which, in process of time, ended in the complete settlement of David on the throne.
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE SECOND BOOK OF
S A M U E L.
This book is the history of the reign of king David. We had in the foregoing book an account of his designation to the government, and his struggles with Saul, which ended at length in the death of his persecutor. This book begins with his accession to the throne, and is entirely taken up with the affairs of the government during the forty years he reigned, and therefore is entitled by the LXX. The Third Book of the Kings. It gives us an account of David's triumphs and his troubles. I. His triumphs over the house of Saul 2 Samuel 1:1 - 42 Samuel 1:1 - 4 ), over the Jebusites and Philistines 2 Samuel 5:1 - 252 Samuel 5:1 - 25 ), at the bringing up of the ark 2 Samuel 6:1 - 72 Samuel 6:1 - 7 ), over the neighbouring nations that opposed him 2 Samuel 8:1 - 102 Samuel 8:1 - 10 ); and so far the history is agreeable to what we might expect from David's character and the choice made of him. But his cloud has a dark side. II. We have his troubles, the causes of them, his sin in the matter of Uriah 2 Samuel 11:1 - 122 Samuel 11:1 - 12 ), the troubles themselves from the sin of Amnon 2 Samuel 13:1 - 392 Samuel 13:1 - 39 ), the rebellion of Absalom 2 Samuel 14:1 - 432 Samuel 14:1 - 43 ) and of Sheba 2 Samuel 20:1 - 262 Samuel 20:1 - 26 ), and the plague in Israel for his numbering the people 2 Samuel 24:1 - 252 Samuel 24:1 - 25 ), besides the famine of the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21:1 - 222 Samuel 21:1 - 22 . His son we have 2 Samuel 22:1 - 512 Samuel 22:1 - 51 ), and his words and worthies, 2 Samuel 23:1 - 392 Samuel 23:1 - 39 . Many things in his history are very instructive; but for the hero who is the subject of it, though in many instances he appears here very great, and very good, and very much the favourite of heaven, yet it must be confessed that his honour shines brighter in his Psalms than in his Annals.
