Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Samuel
Book: 2 Samuel
Chapter: 16
Overview:
Ziba's falsehood.
(1-4) David cursed
By Shimei.
(5-14)
Ahithophel's counsel.
(15-23)
1-4 Ziba belied
Mephibosheth. Great men ought always to be
jealous of flatterers, and to be careful that they hear both
sides.
5-14 David bore
Shimei's curses much better than Ziba's
flatteries;
By these he was brought to pass a wrong
Judgment On
another,
By those to pass a right
Judgment On himself: the
world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Once and
again
David spared
Saul's
Life, while
Saul sought his. But
innocence is
No defence against malice and falsehood; nor are we
to think it strange, if we are charged with that which we have
been most careful to keep ourselves from. It is
Well for us,
that men are not to be our
Judges, but He whose
Judgment is
according to
Truth. See how patient
David was under this abuse.
Let this remind us of
Christ, who prayed for those who reviled
and crucified him. A humble
Spirit will turn reproaches into
reproofs, and get good from them, instead of being provoked
By
them.
David observes the
Hand of
God in it, and comforts himself that
God
would bring good out of his affliction. We may depend upon
God
to repay, not only our services, but our sufferings.
15-23 The wisest counsellors of that
Age were
Ahithophel and
Hushai:
Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has
both;
On them he relies, and consults not the
Ark, though he had
that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both.
Hushai
would never counsel him to do wisely.
Ahithophel counselled him
to do wickedly; and
So did as effectually betray him, as he did,
who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to
Sin, certainly advise them to their hurt. After all, honesty is
the best policy, and will be found
So in the long run.
Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to
Absalom; to render himself
So
hateful to his
Father, that he would never be reconciled to him;
this cursed policy was of the
Devil. How desperately wicked is
the human
Heart!