--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 317 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/317/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 317. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/317/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 1 of 2. ## 317. 2 Samuel · 2 of 24 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/317/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/317/#p-N [¶0] Ne exultent filiae incircumcisorum. [¶1] Montes Gilboani super vos [¶2] Nec ros, nec pluvia, neque agri primitiarum; [¶3] Ibi enim abjectus fuit clypeus fortium. [¶4] Clypeus Saulis, arma inuncti olec! [¶5] Sine sanguine Militum, [¶6] Sine adipe Fortium. [¶7] Arcus Jonathanis non retrocesserat; [¶8] Gladiusque Saulis non redierat incassum. [¶9] Saul et Jonathan [¶10] Amabiles erant et jucundi in vitis suis, [¶11] Et in morte sua non separati. [¶12] Prae aquilis veloces! [¶13] Prae leonibus fortes! [¶14] Filiae Israelis deflete Saulem; [¶15] Qui coccino cum deliciis vos vestivit, [¶16] Qui vestibus vestris ornamenta imposuit aurea! [¶17] Quomodo ceciderunt Fortes, in medio belli! [¶18] O Jonathan, super excelsa tua Miles! [¶19] Versor in angustiis, tui causa, Frater mi, Jonathan! [¶20] Mihi fuisti admodum jucundus! [¶21] Mihi tuus amor admodum mirabilis, [¶22] Mulierum exuperans amorem! [¶23] Quomodo ceciderunt fortes, [¶24] Et perierunt arma belli! [¶25] Dissertation I., p. 122. [¶26] In [2Sam 1:21] I have inserted כלי keley for בלי beli. Dr. Delaney rightly observes that the particle בלי beli is not used in any part of the Bible in the sense of quasi non, as though not, in which sense it must be used here if it be retained as a genuine reading: The shield of Saul as though it had not been anointed with oil. [¶27] In a MS. written about the year 1200, numbered 30 in Kennicott's Bible, כלי keley is found; and also in the first edition of the whole Hebrew Bible, printed Soncini 1488. Neither the Syriac nor Arabic versions, nor the Chaldee paraphrase, acknowledge the negative particle בלי beli, which they would have done had it been in the copies from which they translated. It was easy to make the mistake, as there is such a similarity between ב beth and כ caph; the line therefore should be read thus: The shield of Saul, weapons anointed with oil. [¶28] In [2Sam 1:22] נשוג nashog, to obtain, attain, seems to have been written for נסוג nasog, to recede, return. The former destroys the sense, the latter, which our translation has followed, and which is supported by the authority of 30 MSS., makes it not only intelligible but beautiful. [¶29] In [2Sam 1:19], [2Sam 1:22], and [2Sam 1:25], חלל and חללים chalal and chalalim occur, which we translate the Slain, but which Dr. Kennicott, I think from good authority, renders soldier and soldiers; and thus the version is made more consistent and beautiful. חלל chalal signifies to bore or pierce through; and this epithet might be well given to a soldier, q.d., the Piercer, because his business is to transfix or pierce his enemies with sword, spear, and arrows. [¶30] If it be translated soldiers in the several places of the Old Testament, where we translate it Slain or Wounded, the sense will be much mended; see [Jdg 20:31], [Jdg 20:39]; [Psa 89:11]; [Pro 7:26]; [Jer 51:4], [Jer 51:47], [Jer 51:49]; [Eze 11:6], [Eze 11:7]; [Eze 21:14]. In several others it retains its radical signification of piercing, wounding, etc. [¶31] After these general observations I leave the particular beauties of this inimitable song to be sought out by the intelligent reader. Much has been written upon this, which cannot, consistently with the plan of these notes, be admitted here. See Delaney, Kennicott, Lowth, etc.; and, above all, let the reader examine the Hebrew text. ### Introduction [¶33] David, by the direction of God, goes up to Hebron, and is there anointed king over the house of Judah, [2Sam 2:1-4]. He congratulates the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead on their kindness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines, [2Sam 2:5-7]. Abner anoints Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel; over whom he reigned two years, [2Sam 2:8-10]. David reigns over Judah, in Hebron, seven years and six months, [2Sam 2:11]. Account of a battle between Abner, captain of the Israelites, and Joab, captain of the men of Judah; in which the former are routed with the loss of three hundred and sixty men: but Asahel, the brother of Joab, is killed by Abner, vv. 12-32. ### Verse 1 [¶35] David inquired of the Lord - By means of Abiathar the priest; for he did not know whether the different tribes were willing to receive him, though he was fully persuaded that God had appointed him king over Israel. [¶36] Unto Hebron - The metropolis of the tribe of Judah, one of the richest regions in Judea. The mountains of Hebron were famed for fruits, herbage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, olives, and different kinds of grain, abounding in springs of excellent water, as the most accurate travelers have asserted. ### Verse 4 [¶38] Anointed David king - He was anointed before by Samuel, by which he acquired jus ad regnum, a right To the kingdom; by the present anointing he had jus in regno, authority Over the kingdom. The other parts of the kingdom were, as yet, attached to the family of Saul. ### Verse 5 [¶40] David sent messengers unto - Jabesh-gilead - This was a generous and noble act, highly indicative of the grandeur of David's mind. He respected Saul as his once legitimate sovereign; he loved Jonathan as his most intimate friend. The former had greatly injured him, and sought his destruction; but even this did not cancel his respect for him, as the anointed of God, and as the king of Israel. This brings to my remembrance that fine speech of Saurin, when speaking of the banishment of the Protestants from France by the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He thus at the Hague apostrophizes Louis XIV., their persecutor: Et toi, prince redoubtable, que j'honorai jadis comme mon roi, et que je respecte encore comme le fleau do Seigneur. "And thou, O formidable prince, whom I once honored as my king, and whom I still reverence as the scourge of the Lord!" ### Verse 7 [¶42] Now let your hands be strengthened - David certainly wished to attach the men of Jabesh to his interest; he saw that they were generous and valiant, and must be of great service to him whose part they espoused; and he was no doubt afraid that they would attach themselves to the house of Saul, in consideration of the eminent services Saul had rendered them in rescuing them from Nahash, king of the Ammonites. ### Verse 8 [¶44] Abner the son of Ner - This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul's army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions; he was probably envious of David's power, by whom he had often been out-generalled in the field.