18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s {k} servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].(k) That is, Cushi, who was an Ethiopian. read more
18:33 And the king was much {l} moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!(l) Because he considers both the judgment of God against his sin, and could not otherwise hide his fatherly affection for his son. read more
David had taken full advantage of the delay that Hushai had counselled to Absalom, with large numbers of the people being gathered to David. Now the time comes for war with Absalom, who has considered himself strong with support of many of Israel also. David divides his men into three bands, well organized and ready for battle. Joab is in charge of one band, Abishai his brother in charge of a second, and Ittai over the third. David's purpose to go out to battle also was however strongly... read more
O, ABSALOM , MY SON , MY SON ! LUST, MURDER AND DECEIT (2 Samuel 13:0 ) In the preceding lesson judgments were foretold as coming on David, and we are entering on that part of his career when the prediction is fulfilled in earnest. The foulness of this chapter we would not dwell upon more than we can help. Tamar of course, while sister to Absalom, was half-sister to Amnon, the two young men being sons of David by different wives. “A garment of divers colours” (2 Samuel 13:18 ) might be... read more
Pine Traits In the Character of David 2 Samuel 17-19 IT will have been observed that we have not spared king David in our judgment of the evil which he wrought in Israel. We have been careful to mete out to him the full penalty, so that the scoffer should have no advantage over the Christian in condemning the iniquity of the king. We ourselves have trembled under the thunders of the judgment which has been pronounced upon him. Sometimes as the hot sentences fell we almost cried out, Spare the... read more
(24) And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. (25) And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. (26) And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth... read more
REFLECTIONS READER! are you a parent, a father or a mother! And are you yourself a partaker of grace, while those of your household are graceless! If so, you will best be able to enter into a proper apprehension of David's feelings for his son. Oh! the unknown, the inexpressible agonies of the mind, in seeing those whom the LORD hath made near, and dear to us in the bonds of nature, totally void of union in the bonds of grace! Oh! did those pious parents, whom the LORD calls to the painful... read more
Two gates, one leading into the town, the other into the country. In the middle was a chamber for public meetings, and another above, Job xxix. 7. On the roof a guard was stationed on this occasion. read more
Mouth. If the army had been routed, all would have been in confusion. (Calmet) --- Now they are employed in plundering the vanquished. (Menochius) read more
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Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 18:27
18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a {i} good man, and cometh with good tidings.(i) He had experienced his fidelity, 2 Samuel 17:21. read more