Isaiah 45:7; Psalm 135:5,6; Daniel 2:21
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): God had chosen David to be king.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): David was anointed three times. First, privately at Bethlehem by Samuel, 1 Samuel 16:13. Second, by the men of Judah, 2 Samuel 2:4. Third, by the elders of Israel, 2 Samuel 5:3. Between the first and the third anointings of David, or between Samuel’s consecrating of him to the kingly office, and his actually ascending the throne, there was a period of severe trials.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): From the forbearance which David manifested during all the persecutions which he experienced from Saul, we can have no doubt that he would have rested satisfied with the government of one tribe, till God in His providence should open the way for the full possession of the throne of Israel. At last, however, a circumstance occurred, which seemed likely to effect the promised union of all the tribes under David.
THE EDITOR: When Abner came to him, David surely thought that God’s time had come, and Abner would be God’s instrument to deliver Israel into his hands. But he did not consult God about Abner’s proposal, and acted entirely on his own carnal reasonings, as he also did regarding Joab. David did not want Abner killed. But God knew exactly what Joab would do.
CHARLES SIMEON: The establishment of David on the throne of Israel was now nearly completed; yet in the very moment of its completion, as it were, was it counteracted by that horrid crime; the influence that was to accomplish the measure was destroyed; and the rival monarch deterred from his purpose. No prospect now remained but that of continued war: and the very counsels of Heaven appear to have been defeated. But God’s counsel shall stand, though the expected instrument of its accomplishment be taken out of the way.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): “When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled,” 2 Samuel 4:1. All the strength they ever had was from Abner’s support, and now that he was dead, Ish-bosheth had no spirit left in him. Though Abner had, in a passion, deserted his interest, yet he hoped to make good terms with David; but now even this hope fails him—all the Israelites that adhered to him were troubled and at a loss what to do, whether to proceed in their treaty with David or no.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): “And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin,” 2 Samuel 2:2—men of Ish-bosheth’s own tribe, whom therefore he trusted the more; and this gave them opportunity to execute their wicked design.
THE EDITOR: They “came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon…and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped—they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got them away through the plain all night,” 2 Samuel 4:5-7.
MATTHEW HENRY: “And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed,” 2 Samuel 4:8. They aimed at nothing but to make their own fortunes and to get preferment in David’s court.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): To the doing of this villainous act, some think they might have been encouraged by Joab’s impunity.
MATTHEW POOLE: It may seem strange they were not discouraged by David’s punishing of the Amalekite for killing Saul, 1 Samuel 1:13-16; and by his sharp reproof of Joab for murdering Abner; but they thought the first case much differing from theirs, because Saul was anointed king by God; whereas Ish-bosheth was not, but was a mere usurper; regarding Joab’s murder of Abner, they thought David’s sharp words proceeded from policy, rather than from any real dislike of the thing, because David contented himself with words, and Joab did not only go unpunished, but continued in his former place.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): David’s just detestation of this cruel and unprovoked deed of Rechab and Baanah, could not have been expressed in a stronger manner: “As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?” 2 Samuel 4:9-11.
THE EDITOR: Abner and Ish-bosheth were leaders that the house of Saul might rally around for further rebellion. To fully secure Israel to David’s throne, they both must die, but not by David’s hand, less political bitterness spring up as a result of it. God knows the hearts of all men, and the end from the beginning; He knew what Ish-bosheth’s captains would because Joab had escaped retribution; when rulers do not punish criminals, it emboldens others to crime. But this time, David didn’t flinch from his duty, showing himself guiltless not only with words, but by executing the murderers: “they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron,” 2 Samuel 4:12.
A. W. PINK: Upon the death of Abner and Ish-bosheth, the tribes of Israel were left without a leader.
THE EDITOR: Whatever men do, God is neither hindered, nor delayed. Now His actual appointed time had come for David to receive the kingdom. “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel,” 2 Samuel 5:1-3.
CHARLES SIMEON: Whatever obstructions arise, God’s purposes shall be accomplished.
MATTHEW HENRY: His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor His ways as our ways, Isaiah 55:8. He is a better judge than we, what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of His glory.
THE EDITOR: Even so, it does not excuse David’s failure to punish Joab. Later, David would pay dearly for that.
ALEXANDER WHYTE (1836-1921): It came out afterwards to be a terrible blunder.
MATTHEW HENRY: He ought to have done his duty, and trusted God with the issue. If the law had taken its course against Joab, perhaps the murder of Ishbosheth and others would have been prevented.
