lenge. The event of things often alters men's opinions. This may be applied to civil war, and to all contentions and differences; when once begun, we know not where they will end, but they certainly will produce bitterness. This is true of every sin. If men would consider the remorse of conscience which attends it, the loss of reputation and comfort, and, what is of infinitely greater consequence, the loss of their souls, surely they would not be so easily led into sinful practices. God hath made us capable of looking forward, of considering what will be the consequence of things, and where they will end; and by neglecting this, we run ourselves into innumerable sorrows. Let us then always remember that sin will be bitterness in the end; that at the last it will bite like a serpent, and sting like an adder. May we therefore stand in awe, and

ain not.

CHAP. III.

We have here an account of David's family, and of Abner's revolt from Ishbosheth; his league with David; his attempt to bring the Israelites to submit to David; of his murder by Joab; and the respect and funeral honours which David paid him.

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OW there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker; there were many skirmishes between them, but David got the better, and many forsook Abner and came over to him.

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn 3 was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai 4 king of Geshur; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; 5 and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

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And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul; he went through the tribes of Israel, en7 deavouring to establish the interest of Ishbosheth. And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? He perceived that he was aspiring to the throne, and had taken this step to strengthen his interest, and to give him an opportunity of throwing off the mask when he be came strong enough. Then was Abner very wroth for the words

Some are of opinion this was Michal: though she had no child after the contempt she showed to David, yet she might have had before that time.

of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a dog's head, such a mèan, con temptible creature, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me today with a fault concerning this woman? that thou shouldst think it a disgrace to thy family for me to lie 9 with thy father's concubine? So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. This is a most shameful speech. It shows that he fought against his king and his conscience in opposing David; and now declares, that, as he had raised Ishbosheth to the throne, he 11 would pull him down again. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him, and was unwilling to provoke him

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And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose [is] the land? saying, [also,] Make thy league with me, give me honourable terms, and, behold, my hand [shall be] with 13 thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Mi14 chal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. And

David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver [me] my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred 15 foreskins of the Philistines. And Ishbosheth, who durst not refuse, lest Abner should forsake him, sent, and took her from [her] 16 husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her hus band went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto himn, Go, return. And he returned.

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And Abner went back to persuade the Israelites to submit to David, and had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you; after the death of Goliath, and when Saul and Jonathan were dead, had 18 there been no other competitor, you would have chosen him: Now then do [it] for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies; reminding them of the divine oracle, probably delivered by Samuel, and urging the propriety of their doing it, as the Phil 19 istines were so troublesome to them. And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin, which was his own tribe :† and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin; he informed David how the people stood affected to

David consented to a league upon this reasonable condition, that Michal, his first and be loved wife, who had hazarded her life to save his, and who now lived in adultery, should be restored to him. This was a prudent step, to ingratiate himself with the Israelites. Abner probably told him that he must apply to ishhosheth, and that he would second the message.

Here he went from family to family, and not only to the elders; as of the other tribes, because they were most attached to the house of Saul.

him, and so effectually brought over Benjamin, that they never 30 forsook him afterward. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him, to bring Michal. And David made Abner, and the men that [were] with him, a feast, in token of 21 kindness, and as a confirmation of the league of friendship. And Abner said unto David, I will arise, and go, and will gather all the chief men of Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

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And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from [pur suing] a troop of the Philistines, or some other enemies of Israel, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner [was] not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was 23 gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that [was] with him were come, they, some of the officious courtiers, told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath 24 sent him away, and he is gone in peace. Then Joab, full of pride for his late success, came to the king, and, in the most insolent manner, said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? intimating that David was a weak, credulous man, 25 and did not understand his true interest. Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest, that he may take advantage of it: then, without waiting for an 26 answer, he went out, And when Joab was come out from Da. vid, he sent messengers after Abner, in the king's name, which brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David knew [it] 27 not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, piretending secret business, and smote him there under the fifth (rib,] that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.*

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And afterward when David heard [it,] he said, I and my kingdom [are] guiltless before the LORD for ever from the 29 blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. He first appealed to God for his innocence, and trusted that neither he nor his kingdom should suffer for it; then uttered a prophetick curse, that the guilt might rest on the head of the 30 murderer and his family. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle; the murder was plotted between them, and Abishat was ready to assist if there had been occasion.

Joab's pretence for doing this was fidelity to the king, and care for his interest, and also for the murder of his brother Asahel, though that was in open war, and Abner would have avoided it if he could. But probably the true motive was ambition: he thought Abner would have great induence with David, for bringing in all Israel, and he feared so powerful a rival,

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And David ordered the whole court to go into mourning, and said to Joab, to make him sensible of his sin, and weaken his interest in the hearts of the people, and likewise to all the people that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David [himself} 32 followed the bier, attended as chief mourner. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept 33 at the grave of Abner ; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner in a funeral oration, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Should Abner have died like a fool, like a coward? 34 what a pity so valiant a man is some to such an end! Thy hands [were] not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters; he was not aprisoner, yet he could not help himself: as a man falleth before wicked treacherous men, [so] fellest thou; he was not overcome in an honourable manner, but fell by seeret treachery, as the best of men may do. This was probably said in the presence of Joab, to humble and mortify him. And all the people wept again over 35 him. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, If I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down; he resolved to keep a strict fast on this mournful occasion. 36 And all the people took notice [of it,] and it pleased them to see the king so much affected as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people; by his carriage herein he gained so great an interest in the people's affections, that they put the best construction upon 37 all his words and actions. For all the people and all Israel understood that day by his grief, that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner, that he neither ordered it, consented to it, 38 nor approved of it. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in 39 Israel ?* And I [am] this day weak, in an unsettled condition as yet, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah [be] too hard for me, have too much interest, especially among the soldiers, for me to punish and break with him ; I must leave this to God: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

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REFLECTIONS.

was these tempted him to revolt; he could not bear reproof. Pride also tempted Joab to murder Abner; he could not bear a rival. To what treachery, and often villany, do the pride and ambition of men lead them! Let it be our endeavour to cultivate an humble spirit, and not to mind high things. Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not; for with the lowly is wisdom, and safety, and happiness.

His courtiers probably thought that he bewailed his fall too much; he therefore tells them, they were not sufficiently sensible of the loss, of Abner's birth, his power, authority, and valours and what service he had been of to him and Israel.

2. How odious is it to make religion the tool of policy! Abner had no more religion than most ministers of state have; yet how godly does he talk when he would gain over Israel. He had no regard to the oracle of God before; but, when it would serve his turn, he quoted it, and urged upon the people a regard to it. Who would have expected to hear such good words out of Abner's mouth. He showed no signs of godliness, till his ambition and revenge led him to it. O, how abominable is it to cloak selfish views with the name of God. This is the way of hypocrites in general, they have God near to their mouths, but it is far from their thoughts to honour and obey him. Men may thus be deceived, but God cannot : the hypocrite his soul hateth.

3. How vain are all the purposes of mortal men! Abner now thought himself of the most consequence, considered himself as the hinge upon which the affairs of Israel turned; that he had influence enough to bring about a great revolution; yet he was not secure of his own life even for an hour. In the midst of his towering expectations he died by the hand of treachery, and all his deep projects and high prospects fell at once. Hence we learn, not to put our trust even in princes, nor to be too confident in our own schemes; for honour is but a vapour, and the stoutest, the most prudent, yea, the best of men, may be cut off on a sudden. Let us labour to secure something that cannot be taken from us; be firm in our purposes for God and religion; relying on his providence, let us say of the Lord, He is my buckler and my shield, in him will I trust.

4. We may justly lament the fall of great and honourable men, whatever their private characters may be. Abner had been faithful to Saul, and had great abilities for public services, had they been well employed; and David lamented his fall. Honour is due to the remains and memory of a man of valour and merit, though he feared not God. But we should especially lament the fall of those who are truly great, great in the sight of God and all good men. Considering the loss which the public will sustain, all respect is due to their remains; the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

CHAP. IV.

In which we have an account of the barbarous murder of Ishbosheth, and the punishment of the murderers by David,

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ND when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Heb

general, his spirits and courage failed him and all the Israelites were troubled, lest they should be embroiled in new wars.

And Saul's son had two men [that were] captains of bands, the captains of his guard; persons of his tribe, whom he had ad vanced and placed confidence in the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon