--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 319 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/319/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 319. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/319/" --- # 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. ## 319. 2 Samuel · 4 of 24 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/319/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/319/#p-N ### Verse 29 [¶1] Let it rest on the head - All these verbs may be rendered in the future tense: it will rest on the head of Joab, etc. This was a prophetic declaration, which sufficiently showed the displeasure of God against this execrable man. ### Verse 31 [¶3] David said to Joab - He commanded him to take on him the part of a principal mourner. ### Verse 33 [¶5] The king lamented over Abner - This lamentation, though short, is very pathetic. It is a high strain of poetry; but the measure cannot be easily ascertained. Our own translation may be measured thus: - [¶6] Died Abner as a fool dieth? [¶7] Thy hands were not bound, [¶8] Nor thy feet put into fetters. [¶9] As a man falleth before the wicked. [¶10] So hast thou fallen! [¶11] Or thus: - [¶12] Shall Abner die a death like to a villain's? [¶13] Thy hands not bound, [¶14] Nor were the fetters to thy feet applied. [¶15] Like as one falls before the sons of guilt, [¶16] So hast thou fallen! [¶17] He was not taken away by the hand of justice, nor in battle, nor by accident: he died the death of a culprit by falling into the hands of a villain. [¶18] This song was a heavy reproof to Joab; and must have galled him extremely, being sung by all the people. ### Verse 36 [¶20] The people took notice - They saw that the king's grief was sincere, and that he had no part nor device in the murder of Abner: see [2Sam 3:37]. ### Verse 39 [¶22] I am this day weak - Had Abner lived, all the tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government. [¶23] Though anointed king - I have little else than the title: first, having only one tribe under my government; and secondly, the sons of Zeruiah, Joab and his brethren, having usurped all the power, and reduced me to the shadow of royalty. [¶24] The Lord shall reward the doer of evil - That is, Joab, whom he appears afraid to name. [¶25] We talk much of ancient manners, their simplicity and ingenuousness; and say that the former days were better than these. But who says this who is a judge of the times? In those days of celebrated simplicity, etc., there were not so many crimes as at present I grant: but what they wanted in number they made up in degree: deceit, cruelty, rapine, murder, and wrong of almost every kind, then flourished. We are refined in our vices; they were gross and barbarous in theirs: they had neither so many ways nor so many means of sinning; but the sum of their moral turpitude was greater than ours. We have a sort of decency and good breeding, which lay a certain restraint on our passions, they were boorish and beastly, and their bad passions were ever in full play. Civilization prevents barbarity and atrocity; mental cultivation induces decency of manners: those primitive times were generally without these. Who that knows them would wish such ages to return? ### Introduction [¶27] Some account of Rechab and Baanah, two of Ish-bosheth's captains, and of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, [2Sam 4:1-4]. Rechab and Baanah murder Ish-bosheth, and escape; and bring his head to David, [2Sam 4:5-8]. David is greatly irritated, and commands them to be slain, [2Sam 4:9-12]. ### Verse 1 [¶29] All the Israelites were troubled - Abner was their great support; and on him they depended; for it appears that Ish-bosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a sovereign. ### Verse 2 [¶31] Captains of bands - Principes latronum, captains of banditti, says the Vulgate; the Syriac is the same. Whether Ish-bosheth kept bands of marauders, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry off grain, provisions, cattle, etc., we know not; but such persons would be well qualified for the bloody work in which these two men were afterwards employed. ### Verse 3 [¶33] The Beerothites fled to Gittaim - Probably the same as Gath; as Ramathaim is the same as Ramah. ### Verse 4 [¶35] He fell, and became lame - Dislocated his ankle, knee, or thigh; which was never after reduced; and thus he became lame. Lovely Jonathan! unfortunate in thy life, and in thy progeny. ### Verse 5 [¶37] Lay on a bed at noon - It is a custom in all hot countries to travel or work very early and very late, and rest at noonday, in which the heat chiefly prevails. ### Verse 6 [¶39] As though they would have fetched wheat - The king's stores were probably near his own dwelling; and these men were accustomed to go thither for provisions for themselves, their cattle, and their men. This supposition which is natural, renders unnecessary all the emendations of Houbigant and others. [¶40] As these men were accustomed to bring wheat from these stores, from which it appears there was an easy passage to the king's chamber, (especially if we consider this a summer-house, as it most probably was), no man would suspect their present errand, as they were in the habit of going frequently to that place. ### Verse 8 [¶42] They brought the head - unto David - They thought, as did the poor lying Amalekite, to ingratiate themselves with David by this abominable act. ### Verse 9 [¶44] Who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity - This was, in David's case, a very proper view of the goodness and watchful providence of God towards him. His life was frequently in danger; murderers had often laid wait for it: but God, the living God, had always redeemed that life from all adversity; and called on him now to punish such evil-minded and blood-thirsty men.