flower of the nation, is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen how suddenly and dreadfully are they slain! He knew the enemies would triumph, and therefore adds, in a beauti20 ful apostrophe, Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph; he wishes if possible to conceal it, for the honour of God; lest even the women should rejoice, and celebrate their idol gods as the authors of it. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. An execration on the mountain where the battle was fought : let there be no rain upon it; no fruitful field, from whence tythes and offerings shall be brought to God's house; let it remain barren, and be a sad and woful monument of this calamity for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, that they might run the faster; the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with 22 oil, as if he had been a common soldier, and not a king.* From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty; Saul and Jonathan were used to be victorious over their 23 stoutest enemies. Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were courteous and kind to the people, loved one another and the nation; Jonathan stuck close to him till death, which proves that there was no conspiracy against Saul: they were swifter than eagles in pursuing their enemies, they were stronger than lions 24 in overthrowing them. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel, adorned you with the spoils 25 taken from the enemy. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places, in the high places of thy own country, which thou hadst so valiantly 26 defended. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women: here his grief for Jonathan breaks out again in an abrupt manner, whose love to him was as sincere, ardent, and delightful, as the highest conjugal affection. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! This was the burden of the song; How are the mighty fallen, and the military glory departed from Israel !† 1. W REFLECTIONS. E may observe, that worldly minded men are apt to measure the minds of others by their own. This Amalekite thought David would be glad to hear that he had killed David probably refers here to the spoil of Saul's dead body, and to the indignation and joy with which the enemy tore off his armour, and set it up as a trophy. It is impossible to do justice to this fine porm. Dr. Watts is the best version, and comes nearest the spirit of the original. See Watt:' Miscellanics. Saul his inveterate enemy, with his own hand; but more especially to see the crown which he brought with him, and expected that he would have amply rewarded him. Thus men of base and sordid minds think others are like themselves; and those who are most ready to cast reflections on the temper or conduct of others, have often more of the very temper and conduct which they censure so freely. 2. We learn, from the example of David, to conceal the faults of others, especially of those who are dead. In this elegy we meet not with the least trace of Saul's cruelty to him; he remembered nothing but the brave man, the valiant commander, the magnificent prince, God's anointed, his once indulgent master, his Michal's and his Jonathan's father. He said nothing of his disobedience, or his acts of tyranny. He did not insult him now his honour was laid in the dust, and his crown fallen from his head. Thus acted the man after God's own heart. We may judge then what they are, who forget all the virtues of wise and good men, who are either living or dead; who rake together their faults, and pour out censures on their heads or their ashes. Charity should teach us to say the best of every one. If we know no good, let us say nothing; but cover their faults with a mantle of love. We must speak evil of no man. 3. Pity and tender affection are no way inconsistent with true courage and firmness of mind. David's heart melted within him; all the tender passions of his soul were affected at once, and burst forth into these elegant but melancholy strains; and while he shows a heart impressed with the strongest emotions of affection and grief, he displays a most martial and courageous spirit. A compassionate temper is not a contemptible weakness; the poem before us, compared with the whole of David's conduct, shows it. The celebrated Mr. ADDISON, who was an excellent judge of human nature, being told that a soldier wept at a moving scene in his Cato, said, He will fight never the worse for that; it is a sign he is a brave man.' We should all cultivate a tender and an affectionate disposition in ourselves, and especially in our children; for without this we cannot possibly be happy in relative life. A greater than David hath set us an example of this, even the Son of God; whom it is our glory, and will be our highest happiness to resemble. CHAP. II. In this chapter we have an account of David being made king in Judah, and of another king set up by Abner; which occasioned a civil war; but at length a cessation of arms is agreed upon. 1 ND it came to pass after this, That David inquired of up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron, the principal city, which lay in the middle of 5 2 the tribe. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carme 3 lite. And his men that [were] with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron, where he provided for them according to their merits and 4 his ability. And the principal men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah :* And, upon inquiring after the body of Saul, they told David, saying, [That] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they] that buried Saul. This was his first royal act, and it showed both his prudence and piety. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Saul, and have 6 buried him. And now the LORD Show kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have 7 done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them ; fear not any evil from me, for I am so far from bearing you any ill will for your kindness to Saul, that I esteem myself for that reason bound to protect you, and hope for the same friendship and allegiance from you. : But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, the general of the army, and Saul's relation, took Ishbosheth the son of 9 Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim ; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel; many of the Israelites were brought over to him out of the rest of the tribes. 10 Ishbosheth Saul's son [was] forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of 11 Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12~ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon, to make 13 war against David. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, who was Da. vid's sister, (therefore Joab was his nephew, and the chief commander,) and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.* No doubt they had taken measures to have an unanimous election; but that failing. they appointed him king over their own tribe only; they did not pretend to determine for all Israel. On this occasion many thousands came to him, as we read in Chronicles. 4 He not only prays that God may reward them, but does it himself; and promises to de fend them from the Philistines, if they should come to punish them for entering into their ty and taking away the trophies of their victory. Abner knew that David, by Gol's appointment, was designed for the kingdom, ch. iii. 9. nevertheless he set up another, in hopes of having the chief command, and out of envy and personal pique to David, who had bantered him about his care of Saul. Ishbosheth was a weak ut, and Abner intended he should have the name of king, but that he himself should have the governinent. He set him up at a great distance beyond Jordan. It was two years before there were any hostilities between the house of Israel and the case of Judah. It is probable that Joab had orders from David not to overtake them, but to act on th Jefensive; haying sworn to Saul that he would not cut off his seed. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us; let a certain number of our choice soldiers try their skill in handling their weapons, and encounter one another, which may be a kind of diversion to us; Abner intended by this to dis15 hearten David's men. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the ser16 vants of David, of known and approved valour. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together :* wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, that is, the field of strong men, which [is] in Gibeon; and the consequence was, that both armies 17 were exasperated. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild roe, very 19 swift and strong. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner; he was intent on killing the greatest man in Israel, and 20 so put an end to the war. Then Abner looked behind him, and 21 said, [Art] thou Asahel? And he answered, I [am.] And Abner gave him fair warning of his danger, and said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, do not venture to engage an old soldier, and, that you may not return without spoil, take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of 22 him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Abner knew Joab was a fierce, revengeful man; he firobably imagined that he should want Joab's assistance to make friends with David. 23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner, by a back stroke with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth [rib,] that the spear came out behind him, and he fell down there, and died in the same place and it came to pass, [that] as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still, fearing to share the same fate, or to take care of the 24 dead body. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner, not knowing of their brother's death: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that [lieth] before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill; they rallied, and stood in a body, as if they would renew the 36 fight. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end ?† how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the peoIt has been generally thought, that all the twenty four were slain; but I rather think that David's twelve men slew the others, and that not one of them were slain. + What in the morning he called playing, he now calls devouring. Whoever conquers in civil war, the nation loses ple return from following their brethren, children of the same 27 father, who worship" the same God? And Joab said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, made that challenge, (v. 14.) and thereby provoked us to fight, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother, 28 marched home again in peace, without bloodshed. So Joab blew a trumpet, sounded a retreat, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim, not choosing to halt near an army who 30 had beaten them. And Joab returned from following Abner : and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel; a very small number; which makes it more probable that the twelve men above 31 mentioned were not slain. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died; this was not a great loss for a conquered army, but probably David had given orders to avoid bloodshed. 32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which [was in] Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebrón at break of day, and gave David an account of the action. 1. W REFLECTIONS. E may infer, that it will be our wisdom and duty to follow the leadings of Providence. David was designed for the throne; but instead of hastily summoning the Israelites when Saul was dead, he inquired of the Lord. Thus should we seek direction, even in prosperity, when second causes smile, and things go on happily. In all our ways we should acknowledge God, and he will direct our paths. 2. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Abner's confidence was soon defeated, nor could Asahel's swiftness save him. Let this abate our confidence in any accomplishment; for many are betrayed by those excellencies which they are most fond of; and their defeats and disappointments are grievous, in proportion to their pride and vanity. May we cultivate humility and moderation, and not depend too much upon any advantages we may possess above others. Let not any man think more highly of himself than he ought to think; let not the young man glory in his youth, nor the strong man in his strength ; but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord. 3. It is a maxim of true wisdom not to begin any important affair, without considering the consequences which may ensue. Had Abner attended to this, he had not been defeated; but he saw his folly when it was too late. He might have known, that it would be bitterness in the end, and therefore should not have given the chal |