Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
2 Samuel
Book: 2 Samuel
Chapter: 21
Overview:
The Gibeonites avenged.
(1-9) Rizpah's care for the bodies of
Saul's descendants.
(10-14) Battles with the
Philistines.
(15-22)
1-9 Every affliction arises from
Sin, and should lead us to
repent and humble ourselves before
God; but some troubles
especially show that they are sent to bring
Sin to remembrance.
God's judgments often look a great way back, which requires us
to do
So, when we are under his rebukes. It is not for us to
object against the people's smarting for the
Sin of their
King;
perhaps they helped him. Nor against this
Generation suffering
for the
Sin of the last.
God often visits the sins of the
fathers upon the children, and he gives
No account of any
matters. Time does not wear out the guilt of
Sin; nor can we
build hopes of escape upon the delay of judgments. If we cannot
understand all the reasons of
Providence in this matter, still
we have
No right to demand that
God should acquaint us with
those reasons. It must be right, because it is the will of
God,
and in the
End it will be proved to be
So.
Money is
No
satisfaction for
Blood. It should seem,
Saul's posterity trod in
his steps, for it is called a bloody
House. It was the
Spirit of
the family, therefore they are justly reckoned with for his
Sin,
as
Well as for their own. The Gibeonites did not require this
out of malice against
Saul or his family. It was not to gratify
any revenge, but for the public good. They were
Put to
Death at
the beginning of
Harvest; they were thus sacrificed to turn away
the wrath of Almighty
God, who had withheld the
Harvest-mercies
for some years past, and to obtain his favour in the present
Harvest. In vain do we expect
Mercy from
God, unless we do
Justice upon our sins. Executions must not be thought cruel,
which are for the public welfare.
10-14 That a guilty land should enjoy many years of plenty,
calls for gratitude; and we need not wonder misused abundance
should be punished with scarcity; yet how few are disposed to
ask of the
Lord concerning the sinful cause, while
Numbers
search for the second causes
By which he is pleased to work! But
the
Lord will plead the cause of those who cannot or will not
avenge themselves; and the prayers of the
Poor are of great
power. When
God sent
Rain to water the
Earth, these bodies were
buried, for then it appeared that
God was entreated for the
land. When
Justice is done
On Earth, vengeance from
Heaven
ceases.
God is pacified, and is entreated for us through
Christ,
who was hanged
On a tree, and
So made a
Curse for us, to do away
our guilt, though he was himself guiltless.
15-22 These events seem to have taken place towards the
End of
David's reign.
David fainted, but he did not flee, and
God sent
help in the time of need. In spiritual conflicts, even strong
saints sometimes
Wax faint; then
Satan attacks them furiously;
but those who stand their ground and resist him, shall be
relieved and made more than conquerors.
Death is a
Christian's
last enemy, and a son of
Anak; but through Him that triumphed
for us, believers shall be more than conquerors at last, even
over that enemy.