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Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 23:6

Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Browse this work.

2 Samuel23:6

6 ¶ But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away , because they cannot be taken with hands.

Or, the Men of Belial, as it is expressed 2 Sam. 16. 7. and elsewhere. Having in the foregoing Verses described the nature, and felicity, and stability of that Kingdom which God himself had by a sure and everlasting Covenant setled upon him and his Seed; and especially, upon the Messiah, who was to be one of his Posterity; He now describes the quality, the mischievous nature, the hazardous and miserable condition, of all the Enemies of this Holy and Blessed Kingdom, whom he justly calleth sons of Belial, because they Rebelled against God's appointment, and against that King whom God had set over them: for which reason others are so called, 1 Sam. 10. 27. 2 Chron. 13. 7.

Which men do not use to handle, as they do other Trees, but thrust them away from themselves, by some Instrument chosen for that purpose. And so will God remove, or thrust away from himself, and from his People, and Kingdom, all those who shall either secretly or openly set themselves against it. And this may be here added, either 1. By way of Prescription to Rulers, whom, as before, he admonished to be just and kind to their People, ver. 3, 4. So here he requires them to be severe in Punishing, and Purging away Wicked and Incorrigible Men from about his Throne, and from among his People; the Encouraging of the Good, and the Punishing of the Bad, being the two chief Works of every good Magistrate, and the two Pillars of all Government. Or, 2. By way of Caution; to shew, That not withstanding the holiness, and happiness, and sureness of this Kingdom, yet there would be sons of Belial in it, who would endeavour to disturb, and overthrow it, but to no purpose; for all their Projects against it should be vain, and fall upon their own Heads.

Matthew Poole and continuators, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, 2 Samuel 23:6. Public domain.

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