1Sa 9:1, 14:50-51, 17:55, 2Sa 2:8-12, 3:7-8, 27, 33-38, 1Ch 9:39 | TSK | STEP | Saul despairing to find his father's asses, by the counsel of his servant, and direction of young maidens, according to God's revelation, comes to Samuel. Samuel entertains Saul at the feast. Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way. Kish. Cis. a Benjamite. or, the son of a man of Jemini. power.or, substance.

Ashurites.The LXX. read [ ,] {Thasiri;} and the Vulgate {Gessuri,} "Geshurites;" but it is probable that for {ashuri,} "Ashurites," we should read {ashairi,} "Asherites," or those of the tribe of Asher.

Ge 30:13; Nu 1:40

over Jezreel.

Jos 19:18

two years.Houbigant proposes to read {shesh shanah,} "six years" instead of {shetayim shanim,} "two years," of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words should be {shetayim shanah;} and this is the reading of twenty MSS.; but two is acknowledged by all the versions and MSS. yet collated.

time. Heb. number of days.

5:4,5; 1Ki 2:11; 1Ch 3:4; 29:27

A.M. 2951. B.C. 1053. An. Ex. Is. 438. Mahanaim.

17:14; Ge 32:2

Gibeon.

Jos 9:3; 10:2,4,12; 18:25

2 Samuel 3:7-8

Rizpah.

21:8-11

Wherefore.This action of Abner's seems a most evident proof that he intended to seize on the government; and it was so understood by Ish-bosheth; see Parallel Texts.

gone in.

12:8; 16:21,22; 1Ki 2:17,21,22

Abner.

Ps 76:10; Mr 6:18,19

Am I a dog's head.This was a proverbial expression among the Hebrews to denote whatever was deemed worthless and contemptible. Something similar to this was the answer of the Turkish commander at Beer, on the Euphrates, to a request made to see the castle. "Do they," said he, "take me for a child, or an ass's head, that they would feed me with sweet meats, and dupe me with a bit of cloth? No, they shall not see the castle."

9:8; 16:9; De 23:18; 1Sa 24:14,15; 2Ki 8:13

do shew.

9,18; 5:2; 1Sa 15:28; Ps 2:1-4; Isa 37:23; Ac 9:4,5

2 Samuel 3:27

took him.

20:9,10; De 27:24; 1Ki 2:5,32

quietly. or, peaceably.

Jer 41:2,6,7

and smote.Joab was afraid that Abner, after rendering such essential service to David, would be made the general of the army; and therefore, under pretence of avenging the death of his brother, he treacherously assassinated the unsuspecting and too-confiding Abner: and such was the power of this cool-blooded and nefarious murderer, that the king dared not bring him to justice for his crime. But, while Joab's conduct cannot be too severely reprobated, the justice of God is apparent in Abner's punishment; who, from ambition, had pertinaciously, against his conscience, opposed the declared will of God; and was induced by base resentment to desert Ish-bosheth, and offer his services to David: see ver. 6-10; 4:6.

for the blood.

2:19-23

2 Samuel 3:33-38

as a fool dieth.That is, as a bad man, as the word frequently signifies in Scripture.

13:12,13,28,29; Pr 18:7; Ec 2:15,16; Jer 17:11; Lu 12:19,20

hands.The hand of malefactors were usually secured with cords, and their feet with fetters; a custom to which David affectingly alludes in his lamentation over the dust of Abner. Thy hands, O Abner, were not bound, as found to be a malefactor, nor thy feet put in fetters; thou was treated with honour by him whose business it was to judge thee, and thy attachment to the house of Saul was esteemed rather generous than culpable: as the best of men may fall, so thou fellest by the sword of treachery, not of justice.

Jud 16:21; Ps 107:10,11

wicked men. Heb. children of iniquity.

Job 24:14; Ho 6:9

wept.

1:12

cause.

12:17; Jer 16:7; Eze 24:17,22

So do.

9; Ru 1:17

till the.

1:12; Jud 20:26

pleased them. Heb. was good in their eyes. as.