2 Samuel 16

2 Samuel 16:2

King over Israel - That he might be a blessing to them, and they might be happy under his administration.

2 Samuel 16:3

David took, &c. - This may well be reckoned amongst David’s miscarriages, the multiplication of wives being expresly forbidden to the king, Deuteronomy 17:17. It seems to have been his policy, that hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by alliances with so many considerable families. But all these did not preserve him from coveting his neighbour’s wife. Rather they inclined him to it: for men who have once broke the fence, will wander carelesly.

2 Samuel 16:7

The hold - To some fortified place to which his people might conveniently resort from all places, and where he might intrench his army, which lay towards the Philistines.

2 Samuel 16:10

Baal - perazim - Whither the Philistines were come from the valley of Rephraim, 1 Chronicles 14:11. Baal - perazim, signifies the master of the breaches: So he ascribes all to God. As waters - As floods or rivers of waters, which break the banks, and overflow a land, and overturn all that stands in their way.

2 Samuel 16:11

Images - When the ark fell into the hand of the Philistines, it consumed them: but when these images fell into the hands of Israel, they could not save themselves from being consumed.

2 Samuel 16:12

And spread themselves - The expression intimates, that they were very numerous, and made a very formidable appearance. So we read, Revelation 20:9, of the church’s enemies going up on the breadth of the earth. But the wider they spread themselves, the fairer mark they are for God’s arrows.

2 Samuel 16:13

Go up - Directly against them, as the following words explain it. Behind - Where they least expect thee; God’s purposes and promises do not exclude men’s endeavours.

2 Samuel 16:14

The sound - A noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt he assured that I am coming to help thee; and the Philistines shall be affrighted, and not perceive the noise of thy army, until thou art upon them. Bestir - Fall upon them.

2 Samuel 16:18

On which, &c. - That is, by, or before which, they were to present their prayers to God for counsel and succour upon all occasions. And this is mentioned here as the reason why David put himself and his people to so great trouble and charge, because it was to fetch up the choicest treasure which they had.

2 Samuel 16:19

They set, &c. - Being taught, and encouraged to do so, by the example of the Philistines, who did so without any token of God’s displeasure upon them for so doing. But they did not sufficiently consider, that God might wink at the Philistines, because they were ignorant of God’s laws; and yet be angry with them for the same thing, because they knew, or might have known the law of God, which commanded the priests to bear it upon their shoulders. But their present transports of joy of the happy change of their affairs, and their greedy desire of having the ark of God removed, made them inconsiderate. In Gibeah - Or, on the hill, as 1 Samuel 7:1.

2 Samuel 16:21

Played before the Lord - Public joy should always be as before the Lord, with an eye to him, and terminating in him. Otherwise it is no better than public madness, and the source of all manner of wickedness.

2 Samuel 16:23

He died - This may seem very severe, considering his intention was pious, and his transgression not great. But, besides that, men are improper judges of the actions of God; and that God’s judgments are always just, though sometimes obscure: it is reasonable, God should make some present examples of his high displeasure against sins, seemingly small; partly, for the demonstration of his own exact and impartial holiness; partly, for the establishment of discipline, and for the greater terror and caution of mankind, who are very prone to have slight thoughts of sin, and to give way to small sins, and thereby to be led on to greater; all which is, or may be prevented by such instances of severity: and consequently there is more of God’s mercy, than of his justice, in such actions, because the justice is confined to one particular person, but the benefit of it common to mankind in that, and all future ages.