2 Sam. 2 David, by God’s direction, with his company goeth up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah, 2 Sam. 2:1–4. He commendeth them of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul, 2 Sam. 2:5–7. Abner maketh Ish-bosheth king of Israel, 2 Sam. 2:8–11.

David inquired of the Lord, by Urim, as 1 Sam. 23:6, 1 Sam. 23:9, 1 Sam. 30:7–8. Thus David begins at the right end, and lays his foundation in God’s counsel and assistance, which now he seeks.

i.e. The cities or towns belonging and subject to Hebron, which was the metropolis, Josh. 21:11–12; for in Hebron itself there was not space for them all, because it was filled with priests, and with David’s court.

They anointed David king over the house of Judah: this they did upon just grounds, because not only the kingdom was promised to that tribe, Gen. 49:10, but David was designed and anointed by God, whose will both they and all Israel were obliged to observe and obey.

This kindness; this respect and affection to procure him burial. For as it is and ever was esteemed an act of inhumanity to deny burial to the dead; so it is an act of mercy and kindness to bury them.

Kindness and truth, i. e. true and real kindness; not in words only, but also in actions, as you have now done to your king, the Lord’s anointed. I also will require you this kindness; so far am I from being offended with you for this kindness to my late enemy, that I will requite it.

Be ye valiant; be not afraid lest the Philistines should punish you for this fact, but take good courage, I will defend yon. For your master Saul is dead, or though your master Saul be dead, and so your hearts may faint within you, as if you were now sheep without a shepherd.

Partly out of envy and malice against David; and partly out of his own ambition and desire of rule, because he knew that Ish-bosheth would have only the name of king, whilst he had the power. Ish-bosheth, called also Esh-baal, 1 Chron. 8:33, 1 Chron.

Gilead; largely so taken for all the land of Israel beyond Jordan, as it is Josh. 22:9, Judg. 10:8. The Ashurites, i.e. the tribe of Asher, as the Chaldee Paraphrast and others understand it.

Reigned two years, to wit, before the following war broke forth; compare 1 Sam. 13:1; for that he reigned longer, may appear both from the following verse and from 2 Sam.

The servants of Ish-bosheth, i.e. his officers and commanders, and their army. To Gibeon, in the country of Benjamin, Josh. 18:25, near Judah, to fight with David’s army, and to bring back the rest of the kingdom to Saul’s house.

Went out, to battle. Quest. How could or durst this one tribe oppose all the rest? Answ. First, This tribe was very numerous and valiant of themselves, and they had a king of extraordinary courage, and conduct, and success.

Abner trusting to his greater numbers, offers battle. Play before us, i.e. show their prowess and dexterity in managing their weapons, and fighting together. He speaks like a vain-glorious and cruel man, and a soldier of fortune, that esteemed it a sport to see men wounding and killing one another.

Abner selected all his combatants out of Benjamin, both because that was a warlike and valiant tribe, and that he might give the more honour to his own tribe.

By the head; by the hair of the head, which after their manner was of a considerable length, and therefore gave their enemy advantage; which every one of them endeavoured to get, and to improve against the other. Helkath-hazzurim, or the field of rocks, i. e.

Take thee his armour: if thou art ambitious to get a trophy or mark of thy valour, desist from me, who am an old and experienced captain, and go to some young and raw soldier; try thy skill upon him, and take away his arms from him.

He was loth to enrage Joab too much against him, because his guilty conscience told him that his cause was bad, and herefore he presaged ill success, and that he might need such a friend as Joab to make his peace with David.

The hinder end of the spear was sharp-pointed, after the manner. Under the fifth rib; the seat of the liver and bowels, where wounds are mortal. In the same place; upon the spot, not being able to go one step further.

Where, being upon the upper ground, they might better defend themselves.

It will be bitterness in the latter end; it will produce dreadful effects, and many bloody slaughters, if by a further prosecution thou makest them desperate; which is against all the rules of policy.

Unless thou hadst spoken; unless thou hadst made the motion that they might fight, 2 Sam. 2:14. It was thou, not I, that gave the first occasion of this fight.

Either, first, at that time; or rather, secondly, in any pitched battle.

Bithron; otherwise called the mountains of Bether, Song 2:17, which were beyond Jordan; or some other country now not known by that name, which is the case of hundreds of places.