Teks -- 2 Samuel 3:35-39 (NET)

3:35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!” 3:36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. 3:37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation. 3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? 3:39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: 2Sa 3:36 - Pleased them

They were satisfied concerning David's integrity.

Wesley: 2Sa 3:38 - Know ye not, &c.

_But how little, how mean are they made by death, who were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

Wesley: 2Sa 3:39 - Weak

In the infancy of my kingdom, not well settled in it. The metaphor is taken from a young and tender child or plant.

Wesley: 2Sa 3:39 - These men

Joab and Abishai, the sons of thy sister Zeruiah.

Wesley: 2Sa 3:39 - Too hard

That is, too powerful. They have so great a command over all the soldiers, and so great favour with the people, that I cannot punish them without apparent hazard to my person and kingdom; especially, now when all the tribes, except Judah, are in a state of opposition against me. But although this might give some colour to the delay of their punishment, yet it was a fault that he did not do it within some reasonable time, both because this indulgence proceeded from a distrust of God's power and faithfulness; as if God could not make good his promise to him, against Joab and all his confederates; and because it was contrary to God's law, which severally requires the punishment of willful murderers. It was therefore carnal wicked policy, yea cruel pity that spared him. If the law had had its course against Joab, it is probable the murder of Ishbosheth, Ammon, and others, had been prevented. So truly was he in these, and some other respects, a bloody man, which may be observed to the glory of the Divine grace, in his forgiveness and conversion.

Clarke: 2Sa 3:36 - The people took notice

The people took notice - They saw that the king’ s grief was sincere, and that he had no part nor device in the murder of Abner: see 2Sa 3:37.

Clarke: 2Sa 3:39 - I am this day weak

I am this day weak - Had Abner lived, all the tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government

Clarke: 2Sa 3:39 - Though anointed king

Though anointed king - I have little else than the title: first, having only one tribe under my government; and secondly, the sons of Zeruiah, Joab and his brethren, having usurped all the power, and reduced me to the shadow of royalty

Clarke: 2Sa 3:39 - The Lord shall reward the doer of evil

The Lord shall reward the doer of evil - That is, Joab, whom he appears afraid to name

We talk much of ancient manners, their simplicity and ingenuousness; and say that the former days were better than these. But who says this who is a judge of the times? In those days of celebrated simplicity, etc., there were not so many crimes as at present I grant: but what they wanted in number they made up in degree: deceit, cruelty, rapine, murder, and wrong of almost every kind, then flourished. We are refined in our vices; they were gross and barbarous in theirs: they had neither so many ways nor so many means of sinning; but the sum of their moral turpitude was greater than ours. We have a sort of decency and good breeding, which lay a certain restraint on our passions, they were boorish and beastly, and their bad passions were ever in full play. Civilization prevents barbarity and atrocity; mental cultivation induces decency of manners: those primitive times were generally without these. Who that knows them would wish such ages to return?

TSK: 2Sa 3:35 - cause // So do // till the

cause : 2Sa 12:17; Jer 16:7; Eze 24:17, Eze 24:22

So do : 2Sa 3:9; Rth 1:17

till the : 2Sa 1:12; Jdg 20:26

TSK: 2Sa 3:36 - pleased them // as

pleased them : Heb. was good in their eyes

as : 2Sa 15:6, 2Sa 15:13; Psa 62:9; Mar 7:37, Mar 15:11-13

TSK: 2Sa 3:38 - a prince

a prince : 2Sa 3:12, 2Sa 2:8; 1Sa 14:50, 1Sa 14:51; Job 32:9

TSK: 2Sa 3:39 - I am // weak // the sons // too hard // the Lord

I am : Exo 21:12; 2Ch 19:6, 2Ch 19:7; Psa 75:10, Psa 101:8; Pro 20:8, Pro 25:5

weak : Heb. tender, 1Ch 22:5; Isa 7:4 *marg. Rom 13:4

the sons : 1Ch 2:15, 1Ch 2:16

too hard : 2Sa 19:6, 2Sa 19:7, 2Sa 19:13

the Lord : 1Ki 2:5, 1Ki 2:6, 1Ki 2:33, 1Ki 2:34; Psa 7:16, Psa 28:4, Psa 62:12; 2Ti 4:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Sa 3:35 - To eat meat // Till the sun be down

To eat meat to refresh and cheer up his depressed spirits, as they used to do at funerals. See Jer 16:5 Eze 24:17 .

Till the sun be down i.e. till evening; for then fasting days ended of course.

Poole: 2Sa 3:36 - Took notice of it // Whatsoever the king did

Took notice of it observed what the king said and did. It pleased them; they were satisfied concerning David’ s integrity, and the method he used here for his own just vindication.

Whatsoever the king did either in this matter; or rather, in all things following this action. The meaning is, by his carriage herein he gained so great an interest in the hearts of his people, that they judged most favourably of, and put the best construction upon, all his words and actions; as, on the contrary, when people have a prejudice against or an ill will towards their prince, they are apt to judge most harshly of all his counsels and doings.

Poole: 2Sa 3:37

Not done by his design or good will.

Poole: 2Sa 3:38 - A great man

A great man both for his illustrious quality, and for his high courage and wise conduct; and especially now for his great usefulness and serviceableness to me in giving me the entire and peaceable possession of all Israel. But still observe David’ s prudence and piety, that he doth not commend him for his virtues and graces, as men of vendible consciences and tongues use to do upon funeral occasions; but only for the kind of worth which was really in him. Compare 2Sa 1:23 .

Poole: 2Sa 3:39 - Weak // The sons of Zeruiah // To hard for me

Weak or tender , in the infancy of my kingdom, not well rooted and settled in it. The metaphor is taken from a young and tender child or plant.

The sons of Zeruiah Joab and Abishai, the sons of my sister Zeruiah.

To hard for me i.e. two powerful. They have so great a command over all the soldiers, and so great favour with the people, that I cannot punish them without apparent hazard to my person and kingdom; especially now when all the tribes, except Judah, are yet in a state of opposition against me. But this, although it might give some colour to the delay of their punishment for a season, yet it may seem to have been one of David’ s infirmities, that he did not do it within some reasonable time, both because this indulgence proceeded from a distrust of God’ s power and faithfulness; as if God could not, or would not, make good his promise of the kingdom to him, without and against Joab and all his confederates; and because it was contrary to God’ s law, which severely requires the punishment of wilful murderers, Gen 9:6 Exo 21:14 Num 35:21 , which David had no power to dispense with. And David might and should have remembered how dear Saul paid for this very thing, that he dispensed with God’ s command, and spared these whom God commanded him to slay, 1Sa 15 . And it seems David’ s conscience oft smote him for this; which made him watch for a fit opportunity to remove, and then punish him, and having neglected it till death, he declareth his sorrow for that neglect, by giving Solomon a charge to execute it after his death, 1Ki 2:5,6,34 .

Haydock: 2Sa 3:35 - David

David. Hebrew, "to cause David to eat meat" (Haydock) at the feast, which usually accompanied funerals, Genesis l, 3. (Calmet)

Haydock: 2Sa 3:38 - Israel

Israel. And that all this pomp is not unseasonable. (Menochius) ---

The chief, if not the only virtue of Abner, was military skill, or a blunt valour.

Haydock: 2Sa 3:39 - King

King. Septuagint, "and that I am to-day a relation, (by my wife) and appointed king by the king?" (Haydock) ---

He seemed as yet to have little more than the title. His throne was not well established; (Calmet; Worthington) and to undertake to punish the offenders now, might have had so pernicious consequences as the attempt of Isboseth to correct his general. (Haydock) ---

IT is better to temporize than to increase the distemper, (Calmet) by a fruitless zeal for justice. (Haydock) ---

The punishment was only deferred, 3 Kings ii. 5. (Menochius) -- Hard. Powerful or insupportable. (Calmet) ---

This year was memorable for the death of Codrus, king of Athens. (Salien, the year of the world 2985.)

Gill: 2Sa 3:35 - 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 ought else, till the sun be down

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day,.... The custom was to bury in the daytime, and after the funeral was over to provide and send in food to the relations of the deceased, and come and eat with them; as was also the usage with the Greeks and Romans ^w; See Gill on Jer 16:5 and See Gill on Jer 16:7; and kings themselves used to attend those feasts; for the Jews say ^x,"when they cause him (the king) to eat, all the people sit upon the ground, and he sits upon the bed;''but in this case David refused to eat with them:

David sware, saying, so do God to me, and more also; may the greatest evils, and such as I care not to mention, befall me; and even more and worse than I can think of and express:

if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down; perhaps the funeral was in the morning, as funerals with the Jews generally now are; for otherwise if it was now towards evening, his abstinence from food till that time would not have seemed so much, nor required much notice, and still less an oath.

Gill: 2Sa 3:36 - And all the people took notice of it // and it pleased them // as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people

And all the people took notice of it,.... Not only of his oath, that he would not eat food till evening, but of his whole conduct at the funeral of Abner; the sorrow he expressed for his death, and the oration he made on account of it, in which he pretty severely reflected on his murderer:

and it pleased them; that he showed such a concern for his death, and that it was a clear case he had no hand in it:

as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people; what he did at this time, burying Abhor with so much pomp and ceremony; and indeed he had so much the hearts of the people, and such a share in their affections, and they had such an high opinion of him, that all that he did in public and private affairs they reckoned well done; they were highly approved of by them, such an interest had he in them.

Gill: 2Sa 3:37 - For all the people and all Israel understood that day // that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner

For all the people and all Israel understood that day,.... Not the people of Judah only, but of Israel also, to whom the knowledge of these things came; they knew and were satisfied by his conduct and behaviour, by his words and actions:

that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner; it was not by the counsel or advice of the king, as the Targum; it was without his knowledge and consent, was contrary to his mind and will; that he had no manner of concern in it, and that if it had been in his power he would have prevented it.

Gill: 2Sa 3:38 - And the king said unto his servants // know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel

And the king said unto his servants,.... His courtiers, giving a reason why he mourned as he did; or "had said" ^w, and so is a reason why the people concluded, and were fully satisfied, he had no hand in his death; but the first is best, because what follows was said not to the people at the grave, but to his servants at court:

know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? a "prince", being of the royal family, his father was Saul's uncle, and he his own cousin; a "great" man, being general of the army, a very valiant and skilful commander, a man of great wisdom and parts. David says nothing of his grace and virtue, only of his grandeur, his high birth and civil excellencies; he praises him in what he was commendable, and proceeds no further; and this was sufficient to show there was just cause of mourning on civil accounts; and this they might easily know and perceive, that the fall or death of such a man, which had that day happened in Israel, was a public loss, and matter of lamentation; and the rather as he was employing all his excellent talents in civil affairs, and all his interest in the people of Israel, to unite them to Judah, and bring them under the government of David.

Gill: 2Sa 3:39 - And I am this day weak, though anointed king // and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me // the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness

And I am this day weak, though anointed king,.... Which seems to be given as a reason, or for an excuse why he did not inflict just punishment upon the murderer, according to the law of God, because he was "weak"; not in body or mind, but with respect to the kingdom, that was like a tender branch, or in its infant state; and great care and caution were to be used that it was not overturned: he was a king by unction, not by birth; a son of the late king was yet up against him, and was possessed of the far greater part of the kingdom; he was indeed anointed by Samuel to be king over all Israel; but as yet he was not put into the possession of the kingdom he was anointed to; he was anointed and made king over Judah, and invested with the office of king there, and settled in it; and yet his power was not very great there, for as follows:

and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me; his sister's sons, Joab and Abishai, they were a check upon him; he could not do what he would, their influence was so great, both in the court and in the camp; the one was general of the army, and the other a considerable officer in it, and both variant men, and very respectable among the people, for their achievements in war, and the success they had; so that they were very much out of the reach of David to bring them to justice, without shaking his kingdom; and therefore in point of prudence he thought it best to connive at this fact until he was more established in the kingdom. Whatever may be said for this conduct, it is certain he was too dilatory, and which did not sit easy upon his mind, and therefore gave it in charge to Solomon before his death not to suffer Joab to go to his grave in peace, 1Ki 2:5. Some take these words, "weak" and "hard", in a different sense, that David was weak or "tender" ^x, as it may be rendered, tenderhearted, of a merciful disposition, and therefore spared Abner when he was in his hands, though he had done him so much harm, who was the Lord's anointed; but these men, his sister's sons, were of cruel tempers, more unmerciful than he, and therefore slew him; but the first sense seems best:

the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness; which may be considered either as an imprecation of evil on Joab, or a prediction, that sooner or later righteous judgment would be rendered to him by the Lord; with whom he leaves it to take vengeance on him, satisfying himself with this for the present, that though it was not in his power to do it, the Lord would in his own time and way: but after all that can be said in favour of David, he seems to have been too much in fear of men, and too distrustful of the power and promise of God to establish him in his kingdom, and was too negligent of public justice; which had it been exercised, might have prevented other sins, as the murder of Ishbosheth, to which the authors of it might be encouraged by this lenity.