2 Samuel 18

A gracious soul thinks he can never kill sin enough. He deals with sin as Joab with Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14). He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom.

For then Paul and diverse of the saints of God, should have done works of supererogation, more than the law requires, in loving their neighbors more than themselves (Romans 9:1). And if it were a rule, it were but a leaden and false rule: for we are in some cases bound to love o…

Yet I cannot admit this of Job's children: surely he who had bestowed so much care in their upbringing, and had them still under his eye, could not suspect them of degenerating so soon into such palpable idolatry. [in non-Latin alphabet] (Psalm 46:2). (2 Samuel 18:18). Secondly,…

The other word trembling added to fear, adds emphasis, showing that it is no small fear that is required of servants: and it gives them to know that their masters having a power to punish them, they must so carry themselves as they provoke not their master to wrath, but be very…

When David suffered not Hushai his good friend, and wise counselor, to go with him when he fled from Absalom, but bade him return to the city and there abide, he had an eye to the good consequence that might follow thereupon (2 Samuel 15:33-34). And when Joab commanded Cushi rat…

2. In deep sorrow, as Job 3:3, Elijah, 1 Kings 19:4: He requested for himself, that he might die; and he said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers. (3.) From the peevishness of fond and doting love (2 Samuel 18:33): And the King was…

It is a great remedy against all temptation of gain, and worldly profit, and temporal convenience. Look as that man that had a fear of the King upon his heart (2 Samuel 18:12): "Why did you not smite him to the ground?" says Joab; and the man answered, "Though I should receive a…

For his: the meaning of that particle is [reconstructed: in] two things. - 1. In their room, in their stead, (2 Samuel 18, last verse) would God I had died for you: (Romans 5:7-8) Christ [reconstructed: died] for us: we being sinners should have died and suffered ourselves; but…

Though others may outrun us, yet if we hold on to the end of the race we shall receive the reward. Some saints are like Asahel, light of foot as a roe (2 Samuel 2:18); they run swifter in the race of obedience, as Ahimaaz outran Cushi (2 Samuel 18:23). But this is the comfort of…

[In non-Latin alphabet] for notes most frequently vice, loco, in the place and stead. As also, [in non-Latin alphabet] (2 Samuel 18:33): would God I had died for you, Absalom. The Septuagint, the Syriac version, and the Chaldee paraphrase: in your stead, I would I had died, and…

He who is surety for another (as Christ was for us, Hebrews 7:22) is to undergo the danger that the other might be delivered. So David, wishing he had died for his son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33), intended a commutation and substitution of his life for Absalom's, so that Absalom mi…

Who would plead for him that seeks his life? We are ready to say to the Minister concerning sin, as David to Joab concerning Absalom, 2 Samuel 18:5. Deal gently with the young man.

Washing in Jordan must do it, and there be better rivers in his own land, in Damascus: Not only God, but all his instruments, that he works by, must be eye-sweet to us, and carry God and omnipotency on their foreheads, else the mercy is no mercy to us. 2. Mercies cease to be mer…