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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:22-29

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 Sam. 17:22. He, and all that were with him, went over in the night, whether in ferryboats, which probably always plied there, or through the fords, does not appear. But special notice is taken of this, that there lacked not one of them: none deserted him, though his distress was great, none staid behind sick or weary, nor were any lost or cast away in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:27

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim ,.... When he first came thither, 2 Samuel 17:24 , that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon : who was either the son, or rather the brother of Hanun king of the Ammonites, that used David's ambassadors in so shameful a manner, whom David overcame and deposed, and set up this brother in his room; who had showed his dislike of his brother's conduct, and now makes a grateful return to David for his favours; though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:28

Brought beds ,.... For David and his men, who, fleeing from Jerusalem in haste, could bring none with them, and therefore were ill provided while in the plains of the wilderness; the Septuagint version says there were ten of them, and that they were of tapestry, wrought on both sides, and such the ancients used F26 Vid. Aristophan. in Pluto, p. 55. , see Proverbs 7:16 ; and so ten basins in the next clause: and basins, and earthen vessels ; to put their food and liquors in, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:29

And honey and butter ,.... Honey was much in use with the ancients; Homer F2 Iliad. 11. ver. 630. Odyss. 10. ver. 245. & Odyss. 20. ver. 72. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 3. c. 11. Sueton. Vita Nero. c. 27. speaks of it as a part of the provisions at a feast, and as food with which persons were nourished and brought up; and the ancient Scythians lived on milk and honey F3 Justin e Trogo, l. 2. c. 2. ; and this and butter were pretty much the food of the people in Judea; see... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 17:28

Brought beds - These no doubt consisted in skins of beasts, mats, carpets, and such like things. Basons - ספות sappoth . Probably wooden bowls, such as the Arabs still use to eat out of, and to knead their bread in. Earthen vessels - יוצר כלי keley yotser . Probably clay vessels, baked in the sun. These were perhaps used for lifting water, and boiling those articles which required to be cooked. Wheat , and barley , etc. - There is no direct mention of flesh-meat... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:15-29

The facts are: 1 . Hushai, having informed Zadok and Abiathar of his counsel, urges them to send quickly to David, advising him to flee at once beyond the river. 2 . Their two sons, staying out of the city in order to be of service as occasion required, are informed by a girl of the duty required, and at once go on their errand. 3 . In spite of being recognized by an enemy who told Absalom, they go on their way, and take refuge in a well at Bahurim, where they are secreted by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:24-29

( MAHANAIM .) Hospitality. Shobi ( 2 Samuel 10:1-4 ; 2 Samuel 12:26-31 ); Machir ( 2 Samuel 9:4 ); Barzillai ( 2 Samuel 19:31-40 ). On hearing of the arrival of David at Mahanaim, these three men came with one accord, brining presents, and "provided the king of sustenance while he lay" there ( 2 Samuel 19:32 ). "We are inclined to regard them as representative men: Shobi, of the extreme border inhabitants, or rather foreign tributaries; Machir, of the former adherents of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:27

Shobi . It is evident that the most powerful chieftains in Gilead were on David's side, and supported him with men as well as with provisions. Adherents, too, would constantly cross the Jordan, and gather round the old king; and thus, when Absalom arrived, he found himself in face of an army estimated at about twenty thousand men. Among these chiefs it is interesting to find Shobi, son of Nahash, the Ammonite king, and David's friend ( 2 Samuel 10:2 ). When Hanun, the elder son, on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:27-29

Supplies for the king's army. Mahanaim is memorable in the history of Jacob; derived, indeed, its name from the circumstance that there "the angels of God met him" ( Genesis 32:1 ) on his way back to the promised land, and just before his interview with Esau, about whose present disposition towards him he was doubtful. In our text also we read of veritable angels (messengers) of God, though human, coming to the same place to succour and encourage another of his servants when in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 17:28

Beds . These would be for the women and children, and were scarcely more than rugs and small carpets. Basons ; pots of metal for cooking, while the earthenware would be vessels for holding their food. Parched (corn) … and parched (pulse); Hebrew, kali … and kali. The word includes all kinds of parched grain. The Septuagint and Syriac rightly omit it in the second place, as it is probably a mere error of some ancient copyist; but for what word it has been substituted we have no means... read more

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