Wesley Corpus

Chapter II David goes up to Hebron and is crowned there, ver. 1 - 4. Thanks the men of Jabesh - gilead, ver. 5 - 7. Ishbosheth is set up in opposition to him, ver. 8 - 11. An encounter between David's men and Ishbosheth's, in which the latter are beaten, ver. 12 - 17. Asahel is killed by Abner, ver. 18 - 23. Joah sounds retreat by the advice of Abner, who retires to Mahanaim, ver. 24 - 29. The loss on each side, ver. 30 - 31. Asahel buried, ver. 32 Enquired - By Urim. Thus David begins at the right end, and lays his foundation in God's counsel and assistance. Shall I go - He asked not whether he should take the kingdom; for that was appointed before; and he would not offend God, nor dishonour his ordinance with unnecessary enquiries; but only where he should enter upon it; whether in Judah, as he supposed, because of his relation to that tribe, and his interest in it; or in some other tribe: for he doth not limit God, but resolves exactly to follow his counsels. Hebron - Which was next to Jerusalem (part whereof the Jebusites now possessed) the chief city of that tribe, and a city of the priests, and in the very center of that tribe, to which the whole tribe might speedily resort, when need required. And the sepulchres of the patriarchs adjoining to Hebron, would remind him of the ancient promise. Dwelt in - That is, the cities or towns belonging to Hebron, which was the Metropolis. For in Hebron itself there was not space for them all, because it was filled with priests, and with David's court. Anointed - This they did upon just grounds, because not only the kingdom was promised to that tribe, but David was designed and anointed by God, whose will both they and all Israel were obliged to obey. And they resolved not to neglect their duty, though they saw the other tribes would. Yet their modesty is observable, they make him king of Judah only, and not of all Israel. And therefore there was need of a third anointing to the kingdom over all Israel, which he had chap.5:3, that first anointing; 1Sam 16:13, was only a designation of the person who should be king, but not an actual inauguration of him to the kingdom.