John Wesley

But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah?

“And this is ground enough for this expression, the Lord said, not by the word of his precept, but by the word of his providence, in respect whereof he is said to command the ravens, 1 Kings xvii, 4, and to send forth his word…”

“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

“Is this - Doth this action answer that profession of friendship which thou hast hitherto made to him? He speaks thus only to try him.”

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

“Israel - Who saw him go into the tent; and thence concluded, that he lay with them, as he had designed to do. God had threatened by Nathan, that for his defiling Bathsheba, David's own wives should be defiled in the face of the sun.”

If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be…

“As dew - That is, plenteously, suddenly, irresistibly, and on all sides; for so the dew falls. Bring ropes - It is an hyperbolical expression, suited to the vain-glorious temper of this insolent young man: implying, that they would do so if they could not…”

When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.

“Shobi - Who, as it may seem, disliked and disowned that barbarous action to the ambassadors; and therefore, when the rest were destroyed, was left king or governor of the residue of the Ammonites.”

The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!

“Over the gate - Retiring himself from all men and business, that he might wholly give up himself to lamentation.”

So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

“King - Is not my kingdom, which was in a manner wholly lost, just now restored and assured to me? And when God hath been so merciful to me in forgiving my sin, shall I shew myself revengeful to Shemei?”

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his…

“Stolen - That is, conveyed thee over Jordan hastily, not expecting our concurrence. David's men - All thy officers, guards, and soldiers.”

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us?

“More right - As in the general we have more right in the king and kingdom; so particularly, we have more right in David than you, because you were the first beginners, and the most zealous promoters of this rebellion; howsoever, as he is king…”

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no…

“Commentary on Chapter XX 1. Happened - His presence was casual in itself, though ordered by God's providence.”

And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt.

“Girded - After the manner of travelers and soldiers. Went forth - To meet and salute Amasa, who was coming towards him to do him honour.”

But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the…

“Stood still - Wondering at the spectacle, and enquiring into the author and occasion of it. Removed - Perceiving, that it both incensed them against Joab and hindered the king's service.”

a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

“Then cried a wise woman - It seems none of all the men of Abel, offered to treat with Joab: no, not when they were reduced to extremity: but one wise woman saved the city.”

I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel.

“A mother - Great cities are commonly called mothers; as lesser towns or villages subject to them, and depending upon them, are called their daughters. Inheritance - That is, a considerable part of, that land which God hath chosen for his particular possession.”

During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD.

“And indeed that this was done, and Saul's seven sons hanged by David's order before that time, seems to be intimated by that passage, chap.”

Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

“Spared - For the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, it was at David's choice whom to spare. Of Jonathan - This is added, to distinguish him from the other Mephibosheth, ver. 8.”

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock.

“Spread it - As a tent to dwell in: being informed that their bodies were not to be taken away speedily, as the course of the law was in ordinary cases, but were to continue there until God was intreated, and removed the present judgment.”

When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done,

“David - Who heard it with so much approbation, that he thought fit to imitate her piety, being by her example provoked to do what hitherto he had neglected, to bestow an honourable interment on the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and, with them, upon…”

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish.

“After that - After those things were done which were before related; that is, after they were hanged up: for by that God was pacified, and not by their burial.”

Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part.

“It is ordered, well ordered in all things; admirably well, to advance the glory of God and the honour of the mediator, together with the holiness and happiness of believers.”

David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

“Said - Being hot and thirsty, he expresses how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him; but was far from desiring, or expecting that any of his men should hazard their lives to procure it.”

So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David.

“Poured it - As a kind of drink offering, and acknowledgment of God's goodness in preserving the lives of his captains in so dangerous an enterprize; and to shew, that he esteemed it as a sacred thing, which it was not fit for him to…”

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits.

“Pit - Where he put himself under a necessity, either of killing, or being killed. Of snow - When lions are most fierce, both from the sharpness of their appetite in cold seasons, and from want of provisions.”

Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

“That David had more worthies than those here mentioned; and as some of these were slain in the former part of David's reign, as Asahel was; so others came up in their stead; and some were added to this number, as appears from 1 Chron.”