24 matching verse commentaries
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
David's Concern at Saul's Fate. (b. c. 1055.) 1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
David had paid due respect to the memory of Saul his prince and Jonathan his friend, and what he did was as much his praise as theirs; he is now considering what is to be done next. Saul is dead, now therefore David arise. I. By direction from God he went up to Hebron, and was there anointed king, ver. 1-4. II. He returned thanks to the men of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The battle between Joab and Abner did not end the controversy between the two houses of Saul and David, but it is in this chapter working towards a period. Here is, I. The gradual advance of David's interest, ver. 1. II. The building up of his family, ver. 2-5. III. Abner's quarrel with Ish-bosheth, and his treaty with David, ver. 6-12. IV. The...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
When Abner was slain David was at a loss for a friend to perfect the reduction of those tribes that were yet in Ish-bosheth's interest. Which way to adopt for the accomplishment of it he could not tell; but here Providence brings it about by the removal of Ish-bosheth. I. Two of his own servants slew him, and brought his head to David, ver. 1-8....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
How far Abner's deserting the house of Saul, his murder, and the murder of Ish-bosheth, might contribute to the perfecting of the revolution, and the establishing of David as king over all Israel, does not appear; but, it should seem, that happy change followed presently thereupon, which in this chapter we have an account of. Here is, I. David...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The obscurity of the ark, during the reign of Saul, had been as great a grievance to Israel as the insults of the Philistines. David, having humbled the Philistines and mortified them in gratitude for that favour, and in pursuance of his designs for the public welfare, is here bringing up the ark to his own city, that it might be near him, and be...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Still the ark is David's care as well as his joy. In this chapter we have, I. His consultation with Nathan about building a house for it; he signifies his purpose to do it (ver. 1, 2) and Nathan approves his purpose, ver. 3. II. His communion with God about it. 1. A gracious message God sent him about it, accepting his purpose, countermanding the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
David having sought first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, settling the ark as soon as he was himself well settled, we are here told how all other things were added to him. Here is an account, I. Of his conquests. He triumphed, 1. Over the Philistines, ver. 1. 2. Over the Moabites, ver. 2. 3. Over the king of Zobah, ver. 3, 4. 4....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The only thing recorded in this chapter is the kindness David showed to Jonathan's seed for his sake. I. The kind enquiry he made after the remains of the house of Saul, and his discovery of Mephibosheth, ver. 1-4. II. The kind reception he gave to Mephibosheth, when he was brought to him, ver. 5-8. III. The kind provision he made for him and his,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter gives us an account of a war David has with the Ammonites and the Syrians their allies, with the occasion and success of it. I. David sent a friendly embassy to Hanun king of the Ammonites, ver. 1, 2. II. He, upon a base surmise that it was ill intended, abused David's ambassadors, ver. 3, 4. III. David resenting it (ver. 5), and the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
What David said of the mournful report of Saul's death may more fitly be applied to the sad story of this chapter, the adultery and murder David was guilty of.—"Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon." We wish we could draw a veil over it, and that it might never be known, might never be said, that David did such things as...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The foregoing chapter gave us the account of David's sin; this gives us the account of his repentance. Though he fell, he was not utterly cast down, but, by the grace of God, recovered himself, and found mercy with God. Here is, I. His conviction, by a message Nathan brought him from God, which was a parable that obliged him to condemn himself...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The righteous God had lately told David, by Nathan the prophet, that, to chastise him for his son in the matter of Uriah, he would "raise up evil against him out of his own house," (ch. xii. 11). And here, in the very next chapter, we find the evil beginning to rise; henceforward he was followed with one trouble after another, which made the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
How Absalom threw himself out of his royal father's protection and favour we read in the foregoing chapter, which left him an exile, outlawed, and proscribed; in this chapter we have the arts that were used to bring him and his father together again, and how, at last, it was done, which is here recorded to show the folly of David in sparing him...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Absalom's name signifies "the peace of his father," yet he proves his greatest trouble; so often are we disappointed in our expectations from the creature. The sword entailed upon David's house had hitherto been among his children, but now it begins to be drawn against himself, with this aggravation, that he may thank himself for it, for, had he...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In the close of the foregoing chapter we left David flying from Jerusalem, and Absalom entering into it; in this chapter, I. We are to follow David in his melancholy flight; and there we find him, 1. Cheated by Ziba, ver. 1-4. 2. Cursed by Shimei, which he bears with wonderful patience, ver. 5-14. II. We are to meet Absalom in his triumphant...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The contest between David and Absalom is now hasting towards a crisis. It must be determined by the sword, and preparation is made accordingly in this chapter. I. Absalom calls a council of war, in which Ahithophel urges despatch (ver. 1-4), but Hushai recommends deliberation (ver. 5-13); and Hushai's counsel is agreed to (ver. 14), for vexation...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter puts a period to Absalom's rebellion and life, and so makes way for David to his throne again, whither the next chapter brings him back in peace and triumph. We have here, I. David's preparations to engage the rebels, ver. 1-5. II. The total defeat of Absalom's party and their dispersion, ver. 6-8. III. The death of Absalom, and his...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We left David's army in triumph and yet David himself in tears: now here we have, I. His return to himself, by the persuasion of Joab, ver. 1-8. II. His return to his kingdom from his present banishment. 1. The men of Israel were forward of themselves to bring him back, ver. 9, 10. 2. The men of Judah were dealt with by David's agents to do it...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
How do the clouds return after the rain! No sooner is one of David's troubles over than another arises, as it were out of the ashes of the former, wherein the threatening is fulfilled, that the sword should never depart from his house. I. Before he reaches Jerusalem a new rebellion is raised by Sheba, ver. 1, 2. II. His first work, when he comes...