a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; (for Beeroth also 3 was reckoned to Benjamin: And the Beerothites fled to Git4 taim, and were sojourners there until this day.*) And Jona◄ than, Saul's son, had a son [that was] lame of [his] feet. He' was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fied and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became 5 lame. And his name [was] Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay 6 on a bed at noon, according to the custom in hot climates. And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they would have fetched wheat, that is, corn for the soldiers, who were maintained at the king's expense; and they smote him under the fifth [rib:] and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. Now Abner was dead, and Ishbosheth's kingdom in a tottering situation, and but little hopes of advancement from him, B they took this step, expecting an ample reward from David. And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.‡

9

And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, [As] the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought] that I would have given him a reward It for his tidings: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person, who hath done them no wrong, but was their friend and patron, and in his own house upon his bed, when he suspected no danger? shall I not therefore now require his 19 blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, who were his guards, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hang

The Benjamites possessed it; but when Saul was slain they fled to Gittaim, and the Philistines got possession of it. This was formerly a city of the Gibeonites, (Joshua ix. 17.) who having been destroyed by Saul, he gave the city to his relations; and it is remarkable, shat two men of the sity, who succeeded the Gibeonites, cut off Saul's son, the only stay and hope of his house.

This is mentioned as what emboldened these two men to put Ishbosheth to death. Me phibosheth was now only twelve years of age; and being lame, was not likely to push for the crown, or avenge his uncle's murder.

To recommend their service, they put David in mind of Saul's enmity and persecution of him, which they had revenged on his son; and impudently add, the Lord hath avenged the ting, when it was their own pride and ambition. God had forbidden all treachery and murder, and David resented it with indignation.

David here expresses his gratitude to God for his deliverance; and intimates, that he Beeded no wicked acts for his preservation and advancement; he then reminds them of what he did to the Amalekite, who slew Saul at his own desire, and when he was wounded. Probably they had heard of this, but thought David would not resent it, as Ishbosheth was a usurper, and nor the Lord's anointed.

ed [them] up over the pool in Hebron, in a public place, to testify his abhorrence of the action. But they took the head of Ishbo"sheth, and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron, « sepulchre which David had made to honour the memory of Abner.

TH

REFLECTIONS.

HE unhappy accident which happened to Mephibosheth, may remind us of the dangers to which infants are expos ed, and should make us thankful for the use of our limbs. His nurse apprehended the Philistines would seek for him, and she fled in a fright, and dropped her charge. To such accidents are little ones exposed; nor are the children of great and good men free from such dangers. What reason have we to be thankful for all our near escapes from death, and for the preservation of our bones; that none of them are broken, or rendered useless, or less useful than they otherwise would have been. It is God who holds us up from the womb, and preserves us through the feeble and dangerous state of infancy; all our bones therefore should say, Who is like unto thee, O Lord!

2. Let the recollection of God's kindness to us, prevent us from taking any unlawful methods for our own security and advancement, or being pleased with others who do it for us. David depended upon God, and found him kind and faithful. He would not be beholden to any man, especially when taking such unjustifiable methods to serve him. Those who have observed the divine care, and seek deliverance from heaven, need not the aid of treachery: he that be lieveth will not make haste.

3. We may observe the righteous judgment of God on treach ery and villany. Little did these captains think that death would be the reward for their intelligence: yet their evil doings were turned upon their own heads. God abhors bloody and deceitful men, and they should have no countenance from us. Such will be the case of those who think to serve the cause of Christ, the son of David, by war and persecution, by fraud and rapine; who, under colour of religion, murder princes, break solemn contracts, and act deceitfully and treacherously. But,' as Mr. HENRY observes, 'however men may canonize such methods of serving Christ and the catholic church, Christ will let them know another day, that christianity was not intended to destroy humanity; and that those who think thus to merit heaven, shall not escape the damnation of hell?

CHAP. V.

David is anointed king by all Israel; he takes Jerusalem ; and car» ries on a successful war against the Philistines.

1

HEN came ambassadors from all the tribes of Israel, to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh. This was a reason why they should choost

him, and a proof that he was qualified by law, being one of their 2 brethren. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel; the strongest reason was the divine designation, that he should feed, that is, rule and govern Israel, 3 and watch over them, as a shepherd over his flocks. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; the ambassadors, having met with such a favourable reception, made their report, and the leading men of authority in every tribe came to make him king and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD, to govern them justly and kindly, according to the law of God, and they to obey him constantly and faithfully, according to that law:* and they anointed David king over Israel a 4 third time.† David [was] thirty years old when he began to 5 reign, [and] he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

:

And now, being such a numerous army, and having a valiant commander, and their spirits raised by this princely entertainment, 6 they were resolved to undertake some great atchievement; And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land : which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither thinking David cannot come in hither.|| 7 Nevertheless David, notwithstanding all this boasting, took the strong hold of Zion: the same [is] the city of David; 8 he called it after his own name. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame, and the blind [that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and captain :*] wherefore they said, The blind and 9 the lame shall not come into the house.t So David dwelt in

This was done before the Lord; they bound themselves by this solemn league, by sacri. fice, and appeal to God, who was more immédiately present in the congregation of Israel.

The first time was only a designation to the office, and was done privately, (1 Sam. xvi. 13.) the second, only over the tribe of Judah, (ch. ii. 4) this third, over all Israel. He was probably anointed by the high priest; and we read 1 Chron. xii. that upwards of three hundred and forty thousand came together on this occasion, and feasted before the king, with royal magnificence, for three days.

Part of this land belonging to the tribe of Judah, was taken before, (Judges i. 8.) but the strongest part, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, was not taken till now. Judges i. 21. xix. ro, 11. Joshua xvi. 63. David intending to make this his capital, and the centre of unity, determined to attack it, and summoned the city to surrender, according to the law of God."

Some writers suppose, that this refers to the great strength of their fortification, that they had need only to set up the lame and the blind to defend them. But this is an improbable sense, because David calls them the hated of his soul, to distinguish between them and the Jebusites, v. 8. It rather refers to their idols, which they had set on their walls, as the palladium or statue of Pallas, on the walls of Troy. The Israelites were near neighbours, and David and his people might have called these idols in contempt, the lame and the blind; whe had eyes, but could not see and hands, but could not handle; and feet, but could not walk. They retort upon David in their turn, for his reproach upon their religion; as if they had said. As blind as they are, they have eyes to watch us; and as lame as they are, they have hands to defend us.

When the assault was made, he said, as 1 Chron. xi. 6. Whoever smiteth the Jebusites first, shall be chief and captain, and let him throw into the gutter, or ditch, the lame and the blind, that is, throw down their idol gods: and Joab did this to regain David's favour.

Or, because they had said, The blind and the lame shall hinder him, so that he shall not be able to take the fort, that is, our idol gods shall prevent him. Others think it refers to the Jebusites, who being as stupid and senseless as their idols, had said so,

the fort, and called it The city of David; but not being large enough to contain his court and guards, he added many other buildings. And David built round about from Millo and inward.* 10 And David went on, and grew great, or, as the marginal reading is, he went going and growing, like a noble river, that swells and enlarges in its progress; and the Lord GoD of hosts [was] with him, enlarged his dominions, and gave him prosperity, reputation, and power.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with an address of congratulation on his accession and the conquest of Jrusalem; and, hearing that David was repairing the fort, and enlarging the city, he sent him cedar trees, and carpenters, and 12 masons: and they built David an house.† And David, reflecting on the providence of God in subduing his enemies, and raising -up friends, and recollecting his promise, perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13

And David took [him] more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet 14 sons and daughters born to David. And these [be] the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, 15 and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and Eljshua, 16 and Nepheg, and Japhia, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17

But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David,|| and David heard [of it,] and went down to the hold, to Adullam, 18 where the army might conveniently assemble. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in prodigious numbers in the 19 valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines; wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand; this was suf. 20 ficient encouragement. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters; as waters, which having once made a breach, widen, till nothing can stand before them. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim, that is, the plain of breaches; the name of the place was to put them in mind of God's interposition; (see Isaiah

Millo was a strong fortress, a royal palace, and armory. The fort was in the centre,, the city within the circle, and Millo in the circumference: perhaps that part of the kill which was easiest to attack. It was repaired by Solomon, and afterwards by Hezekiah It seems to be a general name for any strong fort or bulwark. The cxv. psalm was composed on occasion of this victory.

+ The Tyrians were famous as artificers, but the Jews were not, being farmers and grazier: He thought to strengthen himself by these numerous alliances, and that a number of children would be his glory and security. But it was an unworthy piece of policy, especially as the king was forbidden to multiply wives, though the number is not ascertained,

The Philistines did not stir during their civil war, hoping they would destroy one ano ther; but when they heard that the kingdom was united, that Jerusalem was taken, and an alliance formed with Hiram, they thought it time to bestir themselves, and raised all their forces to go and fight David,

VOL. III.

21 xxviii. 21.) And there they left their images, which they carried about with them as their guards and protectors, and David and his men burned them, according to the command of God. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again to recover their gods; probably with some fresk forces, or other nations confederate with 23 them, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up: [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees; though he had just gained such 24 a victory, yet he would not go without God's order. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going, like the noise of chariots and horsemen, in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before 25 thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer, to the very borders of their own country. We are told, 1 Chron. xiv. 17. the effect which this had ; his fame went through all nations, and his fear fell upon them.

1.

W

REFLECTIONS.

E may here observe, that God makes kings for the sake of mankind, and not men for the sake of kings. God made David king, and exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. So king David thought; and happy would it be were all kings of the same mind; would they but consider that they are the ministers of God for the good of mankind; that this is the end of their appointment; and that the pursuit of this end is their great duty, and the attaining of it their true glory. How different are these from the sentiments of many kings! They seem to think that their subjects are made for them to tyrannize over and to fleece them. Kings are appointed as shepherds to feed and rule; not to be the tyrants, but the guardians of their people. Let us pray that all kings may think and act thus; and be thankful if we find that our own does so.

2. The counsel of God, that shall stand. What a great many hindrances were there to David's settlement on the throne! He had some competitors, and for a long time great disaffection prevailed among the people; yet all were broken through; God determined that David should rule, and at length brought it about. Faithful is he who hath promised, and able to effect whatsoever he hath foretold, however unlikely it may appear to us.

3. In any settlement or advancement, so far from being secure, let us rather expect trouble and molestation. David was rich, had a numerous army, was settled in a strong fort, had wives and children about him, was never so comfortable and happy before, and seemingly quite secure. Then came the Philistines, who had taken no advantage of the distracted state of Israel before; but now, when least expected, they made a formidable attack. In every agreeable scene of life, we should expect alteration, and not be confident;