Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:9-12

We have here justice done upon the murderers of Ish-bosheth. I. Sentence passed upon them. There needed no evidence, their own tongues witnessed against them; they were so far from denying the fact that they gloried in it. David therefore shows them the heinousness of the crime, and that blood called for blood from his hand, who was now the chief magistrate, and was by office the avenger of blood. And, perhaps, he was the more vigorous in the prosecution because for reasons of state he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:10

When one told me, saying, behold, Saul is dead ,.... No more is related, not that he killed him, or assisted in killing him, only that he was dead; by which it appears, as Abarbinel thinks, that the Amalekite did not slay Saul, and that David did not put him to death on that account, but for what follows: thinking to have brought good tidings ; which would have been very acceptable to David, that he would have rejoiced and exulted at it as he did; but he was mistaken; instead of that, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:10

A reward for his tidings - Ὡ εδει με δουναι ευαγγελια , Septuagint. Here is a proof that ευαγγελιον , evangelium or gospel, signifies the reward which the bringer of good tidings is entitled to receive. See my preface to St. Matthew's Gospel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

The facts are: 1 . On the death of Abner, consternation seizes Ishbosheth and his friends. 2 . The only other representative of the house of Saul was a mere boy, whose age and bodily infirmity rendered his coming to the front out of the question. 3 . Two of Ishbosheth's officers, forming a secret design, visit Ishbosheth as though on business connected with their duties, and slay him. 4 . Stealing away by night, they carry the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and think to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:9-10

And David answered. David's answer is worthy of him. His appeal to Jehovah, as One that had saved him in all time of adversity, was a declaration that he had no need of criminals. And throughout he had carefully abstained from taking any steps to bring about the accomplishment of God's will, and had been upright and forbearing alike to Ishbosheth and Saul. How noble his conduct was we see by the contrast with Macbeth, whose better nature was poisoned and spoiled by the hope that he should be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:9-11

( HEBRON .) A good man's motto. "As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity," etc. 1 . An oath, such as David took, is properly an act of worship—a direct and solemn appeal to God as a witness, in confirmation of an assertion or of a promise or expressed obligation. There is implied an imprecation of Divine displeasure if the truth be not spoken or the engagement be not fulfilled. It was customary from ancient times ( Genesis 14:22 ; Genesis 21:23 );... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

End of the line of Saul (3:2-4:12)On becoming king of Judah, David followed the pattern of neighbouring kings by taking a number of wives (2-5). (For the more important people of David’s family and relatives see the appendix at the end of the commentary on 2 Samuel.) Meanwhile Abner became so powerful among Ishbosheth’s supporters, that Ishbosheth accused him of trying to gain the throne for himself. (According to an eastern custom, one way a person signified his claim to the throne was by... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

2. David’s punishment of Ish-bosheth’s murderers ch. 4"Saul the king is dead, Jonathan the heir apparent is dead, Abinadab and Malki-Shua (two of Jonathan’s brothers) are dead (1 Samuel 31:2), Abner the commander of the army is dead-and no other viable claimants or pretenders continue to block David’s accession to the throne except Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth and Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. Chapter 4 removes them from the scene, one explicitly and the other implicitly." [Note: Youngblood, p. 843.]... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

The Murder of Ish-bosheth2, 3. Beeroth was near Gibeon. The object of this note is to explain how the Beerothites came to be Benjamites. Properly they should have been Canaanites, for Beeroth was included in the treaty with Gibeon (Joshua 9:17, Joshua 9:27). But owing to the persecution of Saul (2 Samuel 21:1) the Canaanites of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, and the town passed into the possession of Benjamin. Gittaim] in Benjamin.4. Mephibosheth] His name is given in 1 Chronicles 8:34 as... read more

Group of Brands