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Ver. 8. But Abner the son of Ner.] An ambitionist and an atheist; for he went against God’s express command, and the light of his own conscience, (2 Samuel 3:9) to bring about his own designs, and to keep himself in the saddle; but it turned to his own ruin, and his master’s also: so vain a thing is it to strive against God. But “all men have not faith,” and are therefore “unreasonable and wicked.” (2 Thessalonians 3:2) Took Ishbosheth.] Passing by Mephibosheth, the rightful heir, because young and lame, he setteth up Ishbosheth, a weak, unworthy man: as thinking to rule all under him, using him as a stale, or stalking horse: whence, (2 Samuel 3:6) not Ishbosheth but Abner is said to have made himself strong for the house of Saul. And brought him over to Mahanaim.] Which was beyond Jordan, and not far from Jabeshgilead: which town David had so courted, and Abner therefore might be jealous of, and would thus overawe.
Ver. 9. And over all Israel.] Except the tribe of Judah, and some few others. (1 Chronicles 12) This was an ill precedent, and as it were a preparative to that great schism in Rehoboam’s days, that could never be made up again.
Ver. 10. And reigned two years,] sc., Peaceably and quietly, before war fell out betwixt him and David. So Saul is said to have reigned two years, (1 Samuel 13:1) that is, free from foreign enemies, and unmolested by the Philistines. After this, there was five years’ war betwixt the house of Saul and the house of David, till Ishbosheth’s death. (2 Samuel 3:1) But the house of Judah followed David.] Yet were they not guilty of the sin of schism: no more are the Reformed Churches, for forsaking of Antichrist, to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth, to set the crown upon the Lord Christ’s head.
Ver. 11. Seven years and six months.] So long the Lord kept him off the full sovereignty, for the further trial and exercise of his faith and patience. Look we for the like, and bear up.
Ver. 12. Went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.] The same with Gibeah of Saul; hither he came with his host, to chastise Judah for their revolt from the house of Saul.
Ver. 13. And then sat down.] David and his men were loath to fight, unless it were in their own necessary defence. He remembered his oath to Saul, not to attempt against his house: and therefore came not hither himself in person, but sent Joab, with directions to hold off till needs must.
Ver. 14. Let the young men now arise, and play before us,] i.e., Spectaculi causa pugnent, let them hack and hew one another, to make us sport; as the sword players did among the Romans, till good Theodosius forbade that bloody pastime, as hateful to God, and abhorred of all good men. At the taking of Tripolis in Barbary, the Turks, having in their hands one John de Chabis, a Frenchman, brought him into the town, and when they had cut off his hands and his nose, put him quick into the ground to the waist, and there, for their pleasure, shot at him with their arrows; and afterwards cut his throat. The Spaniards day by day, for their pleasure, whip the poor Indians with cords, and drop their naked bodies with burning bacon; this being one of the least cruelties they exercise upon those wretches, to make themselves merry in the others’ misery. Let them arise.] Joab was true touch, as they call it, and soon accepted the challenge: but better he had not; for the issue was bloody. Many martialists, fleshed with such horrid acts and aspects, make little reckoning of bloodshed. O formosum spectaculum! Oh, brave sight! said Hannibal, when he saw a pit full of men’s blood. O rem regiam! Oh, kingly act! said Valesus, when he had slain three hundred men. Turk. Hist., p. 756.
Ver. 15. And twelve of the servants of David.] So the Romans and Albans tried it out by three of a side—viz., the Horatii and the Curiatii; but this practice is no way warrantable, as being against faith and against charity; a tempting of God, and a trusting to the arm of flesh.
Ver. 16. And they caught every one his fellow.] With such eagerness and fury met these gallants, that each in others’ side “ Capulo tenus abdidit ensem, ” sheathed his sword, for a proof of his valour. Talis fait Cadmaea Tugna. But was this valour, or madness rather? Courage or outrage, whether? Josephus saith—but not well—that Abner’s twelve men only were slain. Helkathhazzurim,] i.e., The field of strong men, or of rocks, i.e., of those that stood firm as rocks, till they fell in the place. Aliis placet agellum mucronum reddi. -Jun.
Ver. 17. And there was a very sore battle.] Ecce hic duellum transit in acre bellum totale. “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5) It is far easier to stir strife, than to stint it; to begin a war, than to end it.
Ver. 18. Light of foot as a wild roe.] Josephus saith he could make as much speed as a horse. Achilles was ποδας ωκυς, swift of foot; so was Jonathan. (2 Samuel 1:23) Harold, son of Canutus, the Dane, king of England, was surnamed Harefoot, for his agility and swiftness. This is excellent in a soldier.
Ver. 19. And Asahel pursued after Abner.] Too great a prize for him, who was impar conyressus Achilli: but he trusted too much to his own abilities-as being no less valiant of his hands, than swift of foot—and so perished. See Ecclesiastes 9:11.
Ver. 20. Art thou Asahel?] Abner had no mind to meddle with any son of Zeruiah, David’s sister: he therefore first turneth querist to this currist, -Luther’s words, -and then twice adviseth him to retreat from pursuing his own peril. But quisque suos patitur manes.
Ver. 21. Lay thee hold on one of the young men.] Meddle with thy match, and contend not with him that is mightier than thou. Patroclus is no meet match for Hector. When Carolostadius opposed Luther’s consubstantiation, but weakly and insufficiently, Zuinglius said he was sorry that so good a cause wanted shoulders. Heat of zeal sometimes, in the indiscreet pursuit of a just adversary, proves mortal to the agent, prejudicial to the service. Non satis humerorum haberet.
Ver. 22. Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground?] As I shall be forced to do, if thou desist not. If a man must kill or be killed, (1.) He must flee; (2.) Defend himself by all means possible, dissuading the party, as here, and otherwise as he may. That tenet of Navarrus is most false, that a man may lawfully kill another, for the avoiding of a box on the ear, and to recover his honour. And so is that of Soto, A man may kill another in his own defence, because it is a shame to flee from an adversary. These are your Popish casuists.
Ver. 23. Under the fifth rib.] Where the liver and gall are, a sure killing place; for a punishment of his pertinacy, and too eager pursuit of a yielding enemy. In inguine. -Vulg.
Ver. 24. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner.] Notwithstanding the loss of their brother Asahel; which could not but be a great grief to them. The public cause was their main care.
Ver. 25. And became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.] They were not so routed but that they could rally: and getting the hill, they stood upon their guard. Cuneati in collis vertice stabant. He that flieth may once fight again.
Ver. 26. Shalt the sword devour for ever?] The Hebrews ascribe a mouth to the sword. The Greeks call it πολεμος, q.d., πολυαιμος, from the much blood spilt by it. The Latins call it Bellum a belluis, from beasts, whose manner it is to gore and tear one another. Oh, pray that God would command the sword into the scabbard, making it to “rest and be still,” (Jeremiah 47:6) that he would “scatter those that delight in war.” Pompey was famous for finishing a war quickly. Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?] q.d., It is likely to be so, if my men, despairing not of victory only but of life, resolve to run any hazard, and to sell their lives as dear as they can, since they must needs part with them. It is no wisdom to fight with a desperate man. Ignaviam necessitas acuit: et saepe desperatio spei causa est. Victorem a victo superari saepe videmus. Justin telleth, that fifteen thousand Locrians did beat a hundred thousand Crotonians: Quia omissa spe victoriae in destinatam mortem conspirarunt, whilst they despaired of victory, and took care only how to die bravely. Take heed, therefore, saith this old soldier, lest ye have sour sauce at length to your deserts; as indeed all those are sure to have who feed on the murdering morsels of sin. Revenge is sweet; but the fruits thereof are sad, and all too late repented of. All wars are woeful; but especially those they call civil, “ Nullos habitura triumphos. ” Peccatoris cuiusque calix mellis, in faeces fellis desinet. Return from following their brethren.] Is it so good butchering their poor brethren? We read in the Roman history of one brother unawares killing another in battle; and that when he came to strip him to take his spoils, seeing that it was his brother, he slew himself for sorrow. Curt., lib. iv. Lib. xx.
Ver. 27. Unless thou hadst spoken,] q.d., Thou mayest thank thyself for the hurt that is done: for thou first madest the challenge. Aequum est ut faber quas fecit compedes ipse gestet.
Ver. 28. So Joab blew a trumpet.] After that Abner had first excused unto him the killing of his brother Asahel, as saith Josephus.
Ver. 29. And went through all Bithron,] i.e., Through the separate or divided country: sundered from Canaan by the river Jordan, as Junius rendereth it. They went back to Mahanaim, by weeping cross. Dubia est Martis alea, nec raro utrique parti noxia.
Ver. 30. There lacked of David’s servants, &c.] War is the slaughter house of mankind, and the hell of this present world, saith one: Mars Alpha malorum. It openeth the gates of infelicity that were shut up in times of peace. Wherefore Lactantius thought it not lawful for a just man to be a warrior: whose justice was to be his warfare. Some Anabaptists also hold the same. But God is called a man of war, (Exodus 15:3) and said to have war with Amalek; (Exodus 17:16) he sendeth the sword; (Ezekiel 14:17) mustereth the men; (Isaiah 13:4) ordereth the ammunition; (Jeremiah 50:25) batheth the sword in heaven. (Isaiah 34:5) David fought his battles. (1 Samuel 25:28) Captain Cornelius, who was of the Italian band, was highly accepted in heaven. John Baptist disliked not the soldiers’ calling, but directeth them how to manage it, &c. Instit., lib. vi. cap. 20.
Ver. 32. And buried him in the sepulchre of his father.] This they did, likely, after that they had first been with David at Hebron, to give him an account of that expedition.