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Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Information Sent to David. (b. c. 1023.)
INFORMATION SENT TO DAVID. (B. C. 1023.) We must now leave David's enemies pleasing themselves with the thoughts of a sure victory by following Hushai's counsel, and sending a summons, no doubt, to all the tribes of Isr…
Ahithophel's Death; Absalom's Pursuit of David. (b. c. 1023.)
AHITHOPHEL'S DEATH; ABSALOM'S PURSUIT OF DAVID. (B. C. 1023.) Here is, I. The transporting of David and his forces over Jordan, pursuant to the advice he had received from his friends at Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 17:22. He, a…
Preparations for Battle. (b. c. 1023.)
PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. (B. C. 1023.) Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribe…
The Death of Absalom. (b. c. 1023.)
THE DEATH OF ABSALOM. (B. C. 1023.) Here is Absalom quite at a loss, at his wit's end first, and then at his life's end. He that began the fight, big with the expectation of triumphing over David himself, with whom, if…
David's Grief for Absalom. (b. c. 1023.)
DAVID'S GRIEF FOR ABSALOM. (B. C. 1023.) Absalom's business is done; and we are now told, I. How David was informed of it. He staid behind at the city of Mahanaim, some miles from the wood where the battle was, and in t…
Joab's Reproof of David. (b. c. 1023.)
JOAB'S REPROOF OF DAVID. (B. C. 1023.) Soon after the messengers had brought the news of the defeat and death of Absalom to the court of Mahanaim, Joab and his victorious army followed, to grace the king's triumphs and…
David's Return to the Jordan. (b. c. 1023.)
DAVID'S RETURN TO THE JORDAN. (B. C. 1023.) It is strange that David did not immediately upon the defeat and dispersion of Absalom's forces march with all expedition back to Jerusalem, to regain the possession of his ca…
David Pardons Shimei. (b. c. 1023.)
DAVID PARDONS SHIMEI. (B. C. 1023.) Perhaps Jordan was never passed with so much solemnity, nor with so many remarkable occurrences, as it was now, since Israel passed it under Joshua. David, in his afflictive flight, r…
Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 19:24-30
The day of David's return was a day of bringing to remembrance, a day of account, in which what had passed in his flight was called over again; among other things, after the case of Shimei, that of Mephibosheth comes to…
Mephibosheth Meets David. (b. c. 1023.)
MEPHIBOSHETH MEETS DAVID. (B. C. 1023.) David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less genero…
Quarrel between Israel and Judah. (b. c. 1023.)
QUARREL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JUDAH. (B. C. 1023.) David came over Jordan attended and assisted only by the men of Judah; but when he had advanced as far as Gilgal, the first stage on this side Jordan, half the people of I…
Sheba's Rebellion. (b. c. 1023.)
SHEBA'S REBELLION. (B. C. 1023.) David, in the midst of his triumphs, has here the affliction to see his kingdom disturbed and his family disgraced. I. His subjects revolting from him at the instigation of a man of Beli…
Amasa's Death. (b. c. 1023.)
AMASA'S DEATH. (B. C. 1023.) We have here Amasa's fall just as he began to rise. He was nephew to David (2 Samuel 17:25), had been Absalom's general and commander-in-chief of his rebellious army, but, that being routed,…
Sheba Pursued. (b. c. 1023.)
SHEBA PURSUED. (B. C. 1023.) We have here the conclusion of Sheba's attempt. I. The rebel, when he had rambled over all the tribes of Israel, and found them not so willing, upon second thoughts, to follow him, as they h…
David's Court. (b. c. 1023.)
DAVID'S COURT. (B. C. 1023.) Here is an account of the state of David's court after his restoration. Joab retained the office of general, being too great to be displaced. Benaiah, as before, was captain of the guards. H…
A Famine in Israel; The Gibeonites Avenged. (b. c. 1021.)
A FAMINE IN ISRAEL; THE GIBEONITES AVENGED. (B. C. 1021.) Here I. Were are told of the injury which Saul had, long before this, done to the Gibeonites, which we had no account of in the history of his reign, nor should…
The Death of Saul's Sons. (b. c. 1021.)
THE DEATH OF SAUL'S SONS. (B. C. 1021.) Here we have, I. Saul's sons not only hanged, but hanged in chains, their dead bodies left hanging, and exposed, till the judgment ceased, which their death was to turn away, by t…
The Giants Subdued. (b. c. 1020.)
THE GIANTS SUBDUED. (B. C. 1020.) We have here the story of some conflicts with the Philistines, which happened, as it should seem, in the latter end of David's reign. Though he had so subdued them that they could not b…
David's Song of Praise. (b. c. 1020.)
DAVID'S SONG OF PRAISE. (B. C. 1020.) Observe here, I. That it has often been the lot of God's people to have many enemies, and to be in imminent danger of falling into their hands. David was a man after God's heart, bu…
David's Thanksgiving. (b. c. 1020.)
DAVID'S THANKSGIVING. (B. C. 1020.) Let us observe, in this song of praise, I. How David adores God, and gives him the glory of his infinite perfections. There is none like him, nor any to be compared with him (2 Samuel…
David's Last Words. (b. c. 1015.)
DAVID'S LAST WORDS. (B. C. 1015.) We have here the last will and testament of king David, or a codicil annexed to it, after he had settled the crown upon Solomon and his treasures upon the temple which was to be built.…
David's Mighty Men. (b. c. 1054.)
DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN. (B. C. 1054.) I. The catalogue which the historian has here left upon record of the great soldiers that were in David's time is intended, 1. For the honour of David, who trained them up in the arts o…
The People Numbered. (b. c. 1017.)
THE PEOPLE NUMBERED. (B. C. 1017.) Here we have, I. The orders which David gave to Joab to number the people of Israel and Judah, 2 Samuel 24:1-2. Two things here seem strange:—1. The sinfulness of this. What harm was t…
The Numbering of the People Punished. (b. c. 1017.)
THE NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE PUNISHED. (B. C. 1017.) We have here David repenting of the sin and yet punished for it, God repenting of the judgment and David thereby made more penitent. I. Here is David's penitent reflec…