Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 16

AND when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of Asses sadled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

A Crafty Man; who being perswaded, that God would in due time appear for the Righteous Cause of so good a King, and scatter the Cloud which was now upon him, takes this occasion to make way for his future Advancement.

A large Bottle, or Vessel proportionable to the other Provisions.

Marginal references: Chap. 15. 35; Chap. 9. 2.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these?▪ And Ziba said, The asses be for the kings houshold to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, that such as be [illegible: 1+ letters]aint in the wilderness may drink.

For the King, and his Wives and Children were all on Foot; not that he had no[illegible: 1+ letters], or could not procure Asses for them at Ierusalem; but because he chose it as best becomming that State of Penitence and Humiliation in which they were.

3 And the king said, And where is thy masters son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father .

Which though it might seem a very unlikely thing, yet such vain Expectations do often get into the Minds of Men; nor was it impossible, that when David's Family was thus divided, and one part ingaged against another, they might destroy themselves by mutual Wounds; and the People being tired out with Civil Wars, might Restore the Kingdome to the Family of Saul their old Master, whereof this was the top-branch. And this was a time of general Defection of many whom the King had greatly obliged, witness Achitophel. And Mephibosheth's absence made the Calumny more probable.

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth . And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O King .

A rash Sentence, and unrighteous, to Condemn a Man unheard, upon the single Testimony of his Accuser, and Servant. But David's Mind was both clouded by the deep sense of his Calamity, and byassed by Ziba's great and seasonable kindness. And he might think, that Ziba would not dare to Accuse his Master of so great a Crime, which, if false, might so easily be disproved.

Thy favour is more to me, than this gift; which, as a token of thy favour, I accept with all thankfulness.

Marginal references: Heb. I do [illegible: 1 word].

5 And when king David came to Bahurim , behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

A City in Benjamin, Chap. 3. 16. and 19. 16. i. e. To the Territory of it, for to the City he came not till v. 14.

Marginal references: Or, he still came forth and cursed.

6 And he cast stones k at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people, and all the mighty men were on his righthand, and on his left .

Which is noted to shew the Prodigious Madness of the Man: though Rage, (which is truly said to be a short Madness) and the height of Malice hath oft transported men to the most hazardous and desperate Speeches and Actions.

h Not so much to hurt them, as to shew his Contempt of them.

7 An[illegible: 1+ letters] thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out , come out thou † bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

Or rather, go out, as the Word properly signifies. Be gone out of thy Kingdom, as thou deservest.

Marginal references: ‡ Heb. man of blo[illegible: 1+ letters]d.

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul , in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold, thou art taken in thy mischief , because thou art a bloody man.

Either, 1. The Blood of Abner, and Ishbosheth; which he Maliciously imputes to David, as if they had been Killed by David's contrivance: especially the former, because David did onely give Ioab hard Words, as in Policy he was obliged to do; but instead of Punishing him, did Reward and Prefer him. Or, 2. The Death of Saul's seven Sons, Chap. 21. 8. which though related after this, seems to have been done before: Of which, see the Notes on chap. 15. 7.

The same Mischief thou didst bring upon others, is now returned upon thy own head. Or, Thy Sin hath found thee out, and thou art now receiving the just Punishment of it.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] thee in thy evil

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you , ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him , Curse David. Who shall then say , Wherefore hast thou done so?

To wit, in this Matter I ask not your Advice, nor will I follow it; nor do I desire you should at all concern your selves in it, but wholly leave it to me, to do what I think fit.

Not that God commanded it by his Word; for that severely forbids it, Exod. 22. 28. or moved him to it by his Spirit; for neither was that necessary, nor possible, because God tempteth no man, Jam. 1. 13. but that the secret Providence of God did order and over-rule him in it. God did not put any Wickedness into Shimei's heart, for he had of himself an heart full of Malignity and Venome against David; but only left him to his own Wickedness; took away that common Prudence which would have kept him from so foolish and dangerous an Action; directed his Malice that it should be Exercised against David, rather than another man; at when God gives up one Traveller into the hands of a Robber, rather than another; inclined him to be at home, and then to come out of his doors at that time when David passed by him; and brought David into so distressed a condition, that he might seem a proper Object of his Scorn and Contempt. And this is ground enough for this Expression, the Lord said, not by the Word of his Precept, but by the Word of his Providence, in respect whereof he is said to command the Ravens, 1 King. 17. 4. and to send forth his Word and Commandment to senceless Creatures, Psal. 147. 15, 18.

Not unto Shimei, for it was justly said so to him afterwards, 1 King. 2. 9. but unto the Lord: who shall reproach Gods Providence for permitting this? Or, who shall by Words or Actions restrain him from executing Gods just Judgment against me?

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] thou.

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life : how much more now may this Benjamite ‖ do it? let him alone, and let him curse : for the LORD hath bidden him.

Which is a greater Mischief, than to Reproach me with Words. Of that Tribe and Family from which God hath taken away the Kingdom, and given it to me; which was likely to stir up his Rage and Hatred against me.

Do not now hinder him violently from it, nor punish him for it. It is meet I should bear the Indignation of the Lord manifested herein, and submit to his Pleasure, and possess my Soul with Patience; and by bearing these lesser Evils, prepare my self for greater, which are coming towards me.

12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction , and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

He speaks doubtfully, because he was conscious, that by his Sins he had forfeited all his Claim to God's Promises.

With an Eye of Commiseration.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]; Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hills side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust .

Not that he could reach, or hurt him with it; but onely as an expression of Contempt. And the like is to be thought concerning the Stones, wherewith he could not think to reach David, when he was Encamped with his Men on every side.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] him [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

To the City of Bahurim, v. 5.

16 And it came to pass when Hushai the Archite, Davids friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king , God save the king.

To wit, Absalom, whom he pretends to own for his King, and Liege Lord.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] King live.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

z Doth this Action answer that Profession of greatest Friendship which thou hast hitherto made to him? Dost thou thus requite his Favour and true Friendship to thee? He speaks thus onely to try him. And he saith, thy Friend, by way of Reflection upon David; as one who was a Friend to Hushai, and to Strangers, but not to his own Son, whom by his Severity, and Design to give away his Right to Solomon, he provoked to this Course; and therefore he doth not vouchsafe to call him his Father.

18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay, but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel chuse , his will I be, and with him will I abide.

Though as a private person, I owed and payed Friendship to David whilest he was King; yet I must make all my Obligations give place to the Authority of God, who putteth down, and setteth up Kings at his pleasure; and to the common Sence and Decree of the whole Body of the Nation. But Hushai expresseth himself very cautiously; for though he would be thought to understand Absalom, yet in truth this Character did not agree to him, whom neither God, nor all the People had chosen, but onely a part, and that the worst part of them.

19. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son ? as I have served in thy fathers presence, so will I be in thy presence.

Thou art his Son, and Heir, and Successor, and now in his place and stead: whereby my Friendship which was due to him, is devolved upon thee by Right of Inheritance; and I reckon, that my Friendship is not wholly alienated from him, when it is transferred upon one that came out of his Bowels.

21 And Ahitophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy fathers concubines , which he hath left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father , then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong e.

This Counsel he gave, partly to Revenge the Injury done to Bathsheba, who was the Daughter of Eliam, 2 Sam. 11. 3. who was the Son of Ahitophel, Chap. 23. 34. and principally, for his own, and the Peoples safety, that the Breach between David and Absalom might be made wide, and irreparable by so Vile an Action; which must needs provoke David in the highest Degree, both for the Sin, and shame of it; as the like Action had done Iacob, Gen. 49. 3, 4. and cut off all hopes of Reconciliation, which otherwise might have been expected by some Treaty between Absalom and his render-hearted Father; in which Case his Followers, and especially Ahitophel himself, had been left to David's Mercy.

And therefore obliged by thy own Interest to Prosecute the War with all possible Vigor, and to abandon all thoughts of Peace: as knowing that his Father, though he might dissemble, yet would never forgive so foul and scandalous a Crime. Yea, they will Fight with greater Courage and Resolution, when they are freed from the fear of thy Reconciliation, which otherwise would make their Hearts saint, and Hands slack in thy Cause. But by this we may see the Character of Absalom's Party, and how abominably wicked they were, whom such a loathsome and Scandalous Action tied the faster to him, whom for that very reason they should have deserted and abhorred. And we may further learn, how corrupt and filthy the Body of the People was, and how ripe for that severe judgment which is now hastening to them.

Marginal references: Heb. stinkest with thy father.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house , and Absalom went in unto his fathers concubines , in the sight of all Israel .

To wit, of the Kings Palace, the very place from whence David had spied and gazed upon Bathsheba, Chap. 11. 2. So that his Sin was Legible in the very place of his Punishment.

i. e. To one, or some of them. And by so doing did further make Claim to the Kingdom as his own; and, as it were, take Possession of it. It being usual in the Eastern Countries to account the Wives and Concubines of the late King, to belong of right to the Successor; See the note on Chap. 12. 8.

Who saw him go into the Tent; and thence concluded, That he lay with them, as he had designed to do.

Marginal references: Chap. 12. 11.

23 And the counsel of Ahitophel which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God : so was all the counsel of Ahitophel, both with David , and with Absalom.

It was received by the People with equal Authority and Veneration, and was usually attended with as certain Success. Which is mentioned as the reason why a Counsel which had so ill a face, should meet with such general approbation.

To whose Pious Disposition he [illegible: 1+ letters] ted himself, as Policy obliged him; but being weary of it, he takes this first occasion to Discover himself, and Execute that Wickedness which before lay in his Heart.

Marginal references: Heb. word.