Wesley Corpus

Art taken - The same mischief thou didst bring upon others, is now returned upon thy own head. What have I, &e. - In this matter I ask not your advice, nor will I follow it; nor do I desire you should at all concern yourselves in it. The Lord - God did not put any wickedness into Shimei's heart, for he had of himself an heart full of malignity against David; but only left him to his own wickedness; and brought David into so distressed a condition, that he might seem a proper object of his scorn. And this is ground enough for this expression, the Lord said, not by the word of his precept, but by the word of his providence, in respect whereof he is said to command the ravens, 1Kings 17:4, and to send forth his word to senseless creatures, Psal 147:15,18. Who shall reproach God's providence for permitting this Or, who shall restrain him from executing his just judgment against me My life - Which is a greater mischief, than to reproach me with words. Benjamites - Of that tribe and family from which God hast taken away the kingdom, and given it to me. Let him - Do not now hinder him violently from it, nor punish him for it. It is meet I should bear the indignation of the Lord, and submit to his pleasure. Came - To the city of Bahurim. Is this - Doth this action answer that profession of friendship which thou hast hitherto made to him He speaks thus only to try him. And he saith, thy friend, by way of reflection upon David; as one who was a friend to Hushai, and to strangers but not to his own son, whom, by his severity he provoked to this course; and therefore he doth not vouchsafe to call him his father. Go - This counsel he gave, partly to revenge the injury done to Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, 2Sam 11:3, who was the son of Ahithophel, chap.23:34, and principally for his own, and the people's safety, that the breach between David and Absalom might be irreparable. For this would provoke David in the highest degree and cut of all hope of reconciliation, which otherwise might have been expected by some treaty between Absalom and his tender - hearted father.