Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 21:12
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
12. David went ] Touched by Rizpah’s maternal devotion, and wishing to shew that he had no personal enmity to the house of Saul.
the men of Jabesh-gilead ] The citizens, lit. lords or possessors of Jabesh-Gilead; a term peculiar to the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel (Jos 24:11; Jdg 9:2 ff; Jdg 20:5; 1Sa 23:11-12). For their bold rescue of the bodies see 1Sa 31:11-13. Cp. 2Sa 2:4.
the street ] The bodies were hung on the wall (1Sa 31:10) in the square or open place just inside the gate, the public meeting-place of all the citizens. Cp. 2Ch 32:6; Neh 8:1; Neh 8:3; Neh 8:16.
Beth-shan ] Now Beisn, four miles west of the Jordan in the Wady Jld. See note on 1Sa 31:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
From the street of Beth-shan – This was the wide place just inside the gate of an Oriental city, bounded therefore by the city wall (compare the marginal reference). Here, as the place of concourse, the Philistines had fastened the bodies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Took the bones of Saul] The reader will recollect that the men of Jabesh-gilead burned the bodies of Saul and his sons, and buried the remaining bones under a tree at Jabesh. See 1Sa 31:12-13. These David might have digged up again, in order to bury them in the family sepulchre.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
12. David went and took the bones ofSaul and the bones of Jonathan his son, c.Before long, thedescent of copious showers, or perhaps an order of the king, gaveRizpah the satisfaction of releasing the corpses from theirignominious exposure and, incited by her pious example, David orderedthe remains of Saul and his sons to be transferred from their obscuregrave in Jabesh-gilead to an honorable interment in the family vaultat Zelah or Zelzah (1Sa 10:2),now Beit-jala.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabeshgilead,…. Which, according to Bunting t, was fifty two miles from Jerusalem; though perhaps David did not go thither in person to fetch them, but by his messengers, see 2Sa 21:14;
which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa; the history of all which see in 1Sa 31:8.
t Travels, &c. p. 122, 143.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) Took the bones of Saul.Moved by the story of Rizpahs tender care, and wishing to show that he cherished no enmity against the house of Saul, David buried honourably the remains of Saul and of his descendants. In 1Sa. 31:10 it is said that the Philistines fastened the body of Saul to the wall of Beth-shan; here, that the men of Jabesh-gilead took them secretly from the street. The two statements are quite consistent, for the exact place where the Philistines hung up to public view the body of the slain and defeated monarch was the broad space or square, just inside the gate, where the people were wont to gather; and it was from the same place that they were taken. Most MSS. of the LXX. add to the previous verse: And they were taken down, and Dan the son of Joa, of the descendants of the giant, took them down.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Took the bones See 1Sa 31:10-13, and notes there.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(12) And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: (13) And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. (14) And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land. (15) Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. (16) And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. (17) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. (18) And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. (19) And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. (20) And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. (21) And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. (22) These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
It is worthy the Reader’s remark, that as David’s first exercise in the field of battle, was with the giant, so his last should be. In the spiritual warfare, it is the same. The great champion we contend with, the devil, begins the war, and sometimes gives striking testimonies that he fights with us, as we end the war. But what a precious thought is it, that more is He that is with us, than all that are against us! You may, my brother! like David, wax faint; and the enemy may think to slay you. But no new sword, nor old one, while David’s LORD fights your battles, can subdue you; for the promise is absolute: No weapon formed against thee shall prosper. The heritage, and the righteousness of the servants of the LORD , is of the LORD . Isa 54:17 . Reader! are you faint by reason of sin; or, from the opposition of the giants, your enemies; the world, the flesh, and the devil? Live upon the fulness of JESUS; upon JESUS himself; who brings with him all his promises, which are yea, and amen; and depend upon it, every tittle of his sacred word will be fulfilled: and the GOD of peace will bruise Satan, under your feet shortly. Rom 16:20 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
Ver. 12. And David went and took the bones of Saul, &c. ] To show that he loved his enemies, which is no small conquest: it is an act of heroical charity. Full ill might Joab have told David that he hated his friends, for he loved his enemies.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men = lords, or masters (Hebrew. baalim). Compare 1Sa 31:10, 1Sa 31:13.
street. The open space by the gate (2Ch 32:6. Neh 8:1, Neh 8:3, Neh 8:16).
when = in the day.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
More Giants Slain
2Sa 21:12-22
It was in unsettled weather that Rizpah began her watch; but no hardship daunted her, no cost was too great. She shielded the dear remains from bird and beast till the falling rain gave assurance that the long famine was ended, 2Sa 21:10, r.v. Her devotion seems to have aroused David to treat with similar honor the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and all were buried together in the sepulcher of Kish.
Love ignites love, as fire kindles fire, without impoverishment. How often a voice raised in prayerful and passionate affection to Jesus has made volcanic fires leap out where all had seemed extinct! Do not stint your alabaster-boxes, for though they drive a Judas to desperation, they will stimulate a David or a Peter to a forgotten duty.
Monstrous sin stalked the world in the person of these giants, 2Sa 21:16-22. They beset the old age of David, as they did his youth, though we may not be assailed by the identical temptations as at first, there never will be a time when the progeny of sin will not molest us-if not passion, then jealousy, or avarice, or pride.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Philistines
Cf. 1Sa 31:3-5 (See Scofield “1Sa 31:3”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the bones of Saul: 2Sa 2:5-7, 1Sa 31:11-13
Bethshan: Jos 17:11, Beth-shean, 1Sa 31:10
in Gilboa: 2Sa 1:6, 2Sa 1:21, 1Sa 28:4, 1Sa 31:1, 1Ch 10:1, 1Ch 10:8
Reciprocal: 1Sa 31:13 – their bones 1Ch 10:12 – the oak Psa 32:3 – When
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 21:12. He defended it So that the Philistines could neither burn the corn, nor carry it away, nor tread it down. The Lord wrought a great victory By his hand. How great soever the bravery of the instruments is, the praise of the achievement is to be given to God. These fought, but God wrought the victory. It must be observed that this Shammah, although one of the three most mighty men, is not particularly named in the book of Chronicles; it being the manner of the Scriptures, as the Jews observe, to notice that briefly in one place, which hath been explained at large in another; as this action of Shammah is here in this book.