Wesley Corpus

Chapter IX David sends for Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, ver. 1 - 6. Restores to him all the land that was Saul's, and appoints him to eat at his own table, ver. 7 - 13. Of Saul - He saith not of the house of Jonathan, for he knew not of any son he had left, and therefore thought his kindness and obligation was to pass to the next of his kindred. As for Mephibosheth, he was very young and obscure, and possibly concealed by his friends, lest David should cut him off, as hath been usual among princes. Machir - This Machir appears to have been a generous man, who entertained Mephibosheth out of mere compassion, not of disaffection to David: for afterwards we find him kind to David himself, when he fled from Absalom. David now little thought, that the time would come, when he himself should need his assistance. Let us be forward to give, because we know not what we ourselves may sometime want. Bowed himself - It is good to have the heart humbled under humbling providences. If when divine providence brings our condition down, divine grace brings our spirits down, we shall be easy. Chapter X David's ambassadors are abused by Hanun, ver. 1 - 4. The Ammonites prepare for war and are routed, ver. 5 - 14. Their allies, the Syrians rally and are defeated again, ver. 15 - 19. David sent - There had hitherto been friendship between David and him: and therefore the spoils of the children of Ammon are mentioned, chap.8:12, by way of anticipation, and with respect to the story here following. Shaved - To fasten this is a reproach upon them, and to make them ridiculous and contemptible. Cut off, &c. - This was worse than the former, because the Israelites wore no breeches, and so their nakedness was hereby uncovered. And served them - And thus at length was fulfilled the promise made to Abraham, and repeated to Joshua, that the borders of Israel should extend as far as the river Euphrates. The son of David sent his ambassadors, his apostles and ministers, to the Jewish church and nation. But they intreated them shamefully, as Hanun did David's, mocked them, abused them, slew them. And this it was that filled the measure of their iniquity, and brought upon them ruin without remedy.